Kato 2007-1

[John Bruce]

Maybe 30 years ago, I picked up a Kato 2007-1 C57 with an odd exhaust deflector over the stack that reminded me of some US locos. Revisiting this, I see on Google that this is described as a "Yamaguchi type".   However, I haven't been able to find any prototype photos of a C57 like this. I would like to attach a number plate to this loco, but I don't know what particular numbers the prototype may have had. I assume "Yamaguchi" refers to the Yamaguchi Line, but beyond that I can't find any other info. Does anyone know specific C57 numbers that had this feature, and especially does anyone have photos? https://www.ebay.com/itm/333408620788

[lighthouse]

Hello John,

 

my research showed this information:

 

C57-1 received this in 1979 and this construction was dismantled in 2007. Funnily enough, I first had to find pictures from the corresponding years, as many statements on the Internet contradict each other.

 

Quote "Matuno Kura":

 

In 1979, the "SL Yamaguchi ' began operation, and Japan National Railways achieved full-scale preservation of its working condition. At this time, the smoke collector installed in the chimney caused controversy among fans.

 

C57-1 (1967)

https://cdn-ak.f.st-hatena.com/images/fotolife/r/railway-photo/20210408/20210408070648.jpg

 

C57-1 (1979)

https://cdn-ak.f.st-hatena.com/images/fotolife/r/railway-photo/20210408/20210408070831.jpg

 

C57-1 (11.1986)

http://yangrou.la.coocan.jp/photo/C571-1.jpg

 

C57-1 (1988)

https://raillab.jp/img/user/train_photo/1336_197456/680.jpg?20220908080806

 

C57-1 (09.2007)

https://pds.exblog.jp/pds/1/200801/13/49/d0144549_224819.jpg

 

C57-1 (11.2007)

https://pds.exblog.jp/pds/1/200801/13/49/d0144549_22193252.jpg

 

regards,

 

Ulli

Edited February 27 by lighthouse

[John Bruce]

So this was only a post-preservation mod to just one loco, or did any other C57s, or for that matter other steam, have such a thing in regular service?? Why was it added to C57 1 for post-preservation use?

[SwallowAngel]

The smoke collector was a one off thing for C57 1 as far as I know. Other loco types were fitted with similar devices, but the C57‘s weren’t during their service with JNR. 

I am not quite sure why it was fitted to C57 1 in preservation, however it I am guessing it was measure to prevent line side fires. For most locos a spark arrestor of some sort is fitted in preservation, but as to why they went with this contraption in particular i don‘t know…

 

Please see comment correcting information, whatever was said here was a bad guess with false info

Edited March 5 by SwallowAngel

[lighthouse]

Some D51 had this equipment I guess 

[SwallowAngel]

Bit of an odd time to comment, however I wanted to correct myself as I don't want to spread misinformation.

 

Correction 1:

Other C57s were actually fitted with these smoke collectors, though they did differ in design from C57 1's device. See C57 7 and C57 34. The original blueprints for smoke collectors couldn't be found according to the Wiki entry on C57 1. Thus a new design was made causing the somewhat odd mismatch. I still can't find the exact reason the device was removed later on, so that's still something I'll have on my research list.

 

Correction 2:

After more research, I discovered that "Smoke Collecting Devices" are NOT used to stop sparks. Instead they were used as another form of smoke deflector for tunnels.

 

According to the japanese Wikipedia Smoke Colecting devices were used on lines with a lot of tunnels. The problem with SLs in tunnels is that soot and smoke can quite easily enter to cab, causing health issues and obscuring vision. This is mainly caused by the smoke being blown onto the roof of the tunbel and then being able to fly off wherever, filling the whole tunnel with smoke.

To prevent this from happening, these devices were installed to direct the smoke in the direction of travel (See this graphic). Instead of "violently" hitting the tunnel roof, the smoke is more softly and evenly distributed alongside the top of the tunnel, thus reducing the amount of smoke entering the cab.

 

Hope this helps someone not be misinformed due to my prior comments

 

[Kamome]

Possibly known as a Takatori smoke collector. Some D51s and C58s had a similar designs although the one on the preserved C57-1 seemed larger. 

C57-11 was fitted with one as allocated to pull the limited express Kamome although in later years it was assigned to freight before steam was totally abolished 

 

Essentially there was a door on the top that could be closed so that smoke wouldn’t enter the cab whilst going through tunnels. 

 

I assume due to the geographical landscape in south western Japan, lots of small, low but steep-faced mountains which meant railways ran through multiple short tunnel sections. This is still the case today in areas like Yamaguchi. The shinkansen runs through lots of short tunnels between Shimonoseki and Yamaguchi city.