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TYPES OF TANK There are a number of types of tank locomotive, based on the location and style of the water tanks. These include the ''side tank'', the ''saddle tank'', the ''pannier tank'', the ''well tank'' and others. Side tank The water is contained in rectangular tanks mounted on each side of the locomotive, next to the boiler. This is the most common configuration. The side tanks can restrict access to the Motion . Saddle tank The water tank sits on top of the boiler like a saddle. Generally the tank is curved in cross-section, like an inverted 'U'. This was a fairly popular arrangement especially for smaller locomotives, and especially in industrial use. It gave a greater water supply, but restricted the maximum size of the boiler and restricted access to it for cleaning. The water is pre-heated by the boiler, but the locomotive has a higher Centre Of Gravity and hence must operate at lower speeds. Pannier tank This variety of tank, used almost exclusively by the British Great Western Railway , involved box-shaped tanks attached to the sides of the boiler. Unlike the side tank, they did not go all the way down and there was space between the tank and the Footplate . This lowered the centre of gravity compared to a saddle tank, whilst allowing access to the motion. Well tank In this design, used in earlier and smaller locomotives, the water is stored in a 'well' on the underside of the locomotive, generally between the locomotive's frames. This does not restrict access to the boiler, but space is limited there and the design is therefore not suitable for locomotives that need a good usable range before refilling. Wing Tank Wing Tanks are side tanks that run the length of the smokebox, instead of the full length of the boiler. They were mainly used on Narrow Gauge industrial locomotives that could be frequently re-filled with water and where side or saddle tanks would restrict access to inside valve gear. Inverted Saddle Tank The inverted saddle tank was an variation of the Wing Tank where the two tanks were joined underneath the smokebox and supported it. This rare design was used for the same reasons as the wing tank but provided slightly greater water capacity. PROS AND CONS The benefits of this idea include:
There are, of course, corresponding disadvantages:
POPULARITY Worldwide, tank locomotives varied in popularity. They were more common in areas where space was at a premium, mostly Europe and other areas where the railways came later and had to fit into the towns rather than the towns growing around the rails. With their limited fuel and water capacity, they were not favored in areas where long runs between stops were the norm. They were very common in the United Kingdom , France , and in particular Germany , where some attained quite prodigous size. In the United States they tended to be restricted to Push-pull suburban service, always the tank engine's forte, and also for Switching Service in terminals and locomotive shops. They were also very popular in logging, mining and industrial service. In Australia, the main engines used on the rebuilt West Coast Wilderness Railway in Tasmania are reconditioned tank locomotives. PRESERVATION Tank locomotives are popular with Heritage Railway s for a number of reasons. They are usually cheaper to purchase than a Tender Locomotive due to their smaller size. This is also an advantage when working out the cost of Transportation to the heritage line, many of which are isolated from the National Rail network. Most heritage railways only have Short Lines and do not often have Turntable s at both ends of the line. A tank locomotive has good visibility for the driver in both directions. As the trains being hauled are usually light the tank locomotive is more Fuel Efficient than a large tender locomotive. Add to this the lower cost of maintaining the engine and the lower amount of wear and tear on the track. Another fact to consider is that many tank locomotives were bought from former industrial railways rather than the national network. Due to the higher availablity it would be easier to secure a suitable locomotive for a reasonable price. TANK LOCOMOTIVES IN FICTION is an example of a fictional pannier tank Locomotive .]] The most famous Fiction al tank locomotive is Thomas The Tank Engine from The Railway Series by Rev. W. Awdry . Thomas is based on a London, Brighton And South Coast Railway class E2 0-6-0 side tank. The railways on the Island Of Sodor are home to many different types of tank locomotive. Percy The Small Engine is an 0-4-0 saddle tank, and Duck The Great Western Engine is an 0-6-0 pannier tank. Another famous tank locomotive is Ivor The Engine who worked for the ''Merioneth and Llantisilly Rail Traction Company Limited''. He was featured in his own Eponym ous TV Series created by Oliver Postgate . |
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