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Re: (erielack) Erie Texas, Berk Combustion chambers

	You touch on some valid points which have great
bearing on the future adaptation of the original Erie
design, which I will address next week with regards to
the corrolation between those factors you mentioned
and their relationships (  cause and effect ) with
others. And it is the understanding of those factors
and what effect they have on the over all performance
and impact even slight changes had.

	But quickly the firebox size is determined by the BTU
out put of the coal they used. And using CB&Q engines
as an example. Frisco 4500 Class northerns and B&LE
Texans were exact copies of CB&Q Texans and 5600 class
O1a Northerns to the tee, Except for the fireboxes,
directly because of the BTU fuel out put. CB&Q burned
a lower grade btu and higher ash content coal and
there for had almost 15 to 17 square feet of grate
surface and thus  also higher heating surface than
their counterparts and were rated the same.


	The Erie reengineered two berks with combustion
chambers and two additional short thermic siphons in
37 or 38 during a class shopping that included full
firebox replacement. I think though can't confirm that
one or both engines had been involved in mishaps. In a
letter to the AMC it was determined that though the
increase in steaming ability and fuel economy was
significant, the expense of reoutfitting all the berks
was not justifiable to make back the money to do so
and still see  savings on the back end. Also I feel
and can't confirm, that the engineering design at the
begining, they were not built with them was based on a
decision that. As they were the first engines with
that large of a firebox sqare foot/heating surface to
boiler capacity ratio that the berks simply didn't
need them. Combustion chambers have a signifigantly
more involved maintenence than a straight rear tube
sheet. 

I like the steam discussions also, especially Erie.

Rich Young


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