Smoke deflectors

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DRG Class 01 locomotive fitted with "Wagner" type-smoke deflectors - the large vertical plates attached to the front of the locomotive
DRG Class 01 locomotive fitted with "Wagner" type-smoke deflectors - the large vertical plates attached to the front of the locomotive
DRG Class 45 locomotive fitted with smaller "Witte" type-smoke deflectors
DRG Class 45 locomotive fitted with smaller "Witte" type-smoke deflectors

Smoke deflectors are vertical plates attached to the front of a steam locomotive on each side of the smokebox. They are designed to lift smoke away from the locomotive at speed so that the driver has better visibility unimpaired by drifting smoke.

Smoke deflectors became increasingly common on later steam locomotive designs as efficiency gains through improved smokebox design and reduced back pressure on the cylinders in turn reduced the uplift of smoke exiting the chimney.[1]

There have been various styles of smoke deflectors used by different railway operators worldwide. However, many are essentially a variation of one of two designs of "Windleitbleche" (smoke deflector) originating from the Deutsche Reichsbahn-Gesellschaft (German Imperial Railway): the earlier, larger "Wagner" type deflector, and the later, smaller "Witte" type deflector.[2] [3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ "S class steam locomotives". Retrieved on 2007-03-31.
  2. ^ Monday Train Blogging: Design Dictators. European Tribune - Community, Politics & Progress. Retrieved on 2007-03-31.
  3. ^ Doch was ist eine Baureihe?. Retrieved on 2007-03-31.


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