A smokebox collects smoke from burning coal in a steam locomotive and releases it through a stack. It contains a blast tube that forces exhaust out through the chimney and an exhaust pipe that collects exhaust from the steam cylinders. The smokebox is removable for maintenance and may contain a superheater for better propulsion and efficiency.
A smokebox is a component in the propulsion system of a steam locomotive. It is essentially the exhaust system of the locomotive, as it is responsible for collecting smoke byproducts from burning coal and releasing it into the atmosphere through a stack. The smoke box is usually mounted at the nose of the train, just below the smokestack, and may or may not contain a blower system to help collect the smoke and push it in and out of the box. The blast tube is inside the box, and this component forces the exhaust out through the chimney.
Smoke from the firebox in the locomotive passes through the pipes, which heats the water boiler in the locomotive’s engine. This heating produces the steam that is used to drive the locomotive forward. Once the smoke passes through the pipes to heat the water, the smoke enters the smokebox for propulsion up and out of the locomotive. The blower system helps to push the smoke out of the firebox, and also helps to ventilate the fire, fueling it even more. Once the smoke reaches the smokebox, the gases and smoke are exhausted from the locomotive, preventing overheating and system failure.
The exhaust pipe is also mounted inside the smokebox. This exhaust pipe collects the exhaust from the steam cylinders that drive the locomotive, and pushes this exhaust through the smokebox and out of the stack. Most often it is mounted directly below the chimney to promote quick exhaust escape. The characteristic sound of a steam locomotive engine is due to exhaust escaping through the smoke jet pipe into the smokebox.
Smoke boxes are often hinged or otherwise removable to allow a maintenance person to open the box for cleaning and maintenance. This is the only way to access some of the internal components in case a problem arises. In addition to the jet tube and other vent pipes, some trains feature the head of an element known as a superheater, which converts wet steam to dry steam for better propulsion and efficiency. Dry steam expands more easily than wet steam, so propulsion properties are much higher; The superheater uses a series of headers and pipes to perform the conversion, making the overall steam production process more efficient. Often when maintenance is required on the superheater, it is accessed through the smokebox. Ash buildup can affect the efficiency of all components inside the case, so cleaning is sometimes necessary to improve function.
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