Gothic boiler
Encyclopedia
A gothic boiler is an early form of steam locomotive boiler with a prominently raised firebox of "Gothic arch", "haystack
", or "coppernob" shape. The term haystack is most commonly used, but is avoided here as it is confusingly used for three quite different forms of boiler. This particularly large outer firebox served as the steam dome and was often highly decorated with polished brass
. These were popular for early railway locomotives, from 1830 to around 1850.
's 0-4-0 locomotive Liverpool. This was the progenitor of his bar-frame locomotives and shared their distinctive boiler design. The inner firebox was D-shaped in plan, with a flat tubeplate. Fireboxes of this time did not yet have a brick arch and so the Bury firebox was relatively short in length but tall, to give an adequate length of combustion path. The outer firebox was a vertical cylinder, formed into a tall hemispherical dome above it. Later Bury designs were flattened on top and became known as "haystacks".
, the carry-over of water with the steam. Many varieties of steam dome on the boiler barrel were tried to avoid this, by taking the steam outlet from as high as possible above the waterline. Stephenson's Rocket
of 1829 had used such a small steam dome. In the 1830s, domes became extravagantly large. A drawback to fitting such large domes was the weakening of the boiler shell where such a large hole was cut into it.
In 1840, Stephenson
produced their 2-2-2 design which avoided the dome altogether, in favour of a raised firebox in the Bury style of ten years earlier. Boiler power had increased considerably over the decade, now requiring a larger fire grate area. The inner and outer fireboxes were square in plan, with flat sides that required staying. At the top these four sides were vault
ed inwards to a point, having a profile approximating a then-fashionable Gothic arch. These provided a large steam space above the waterline, but their flat surfaces limited working pressure.
Stephenson used the Gothic arch firebox for their long-boiler locomotive
s as well, including their 2-2-2 North Star of 1841Not the better-known GWR North Star
and outside-cylindered 2-2-2s for the Yarmouth and Norwich Railway in 1844.
The Gothic arch firebox was also notably used by a number of Gooch
's Great Western Railway broad-gauge locomotives
, including the Firefly
, Leo
and Hercules
classes of 1840-1842.
One well-known locomotive that did not use a Gothic boiler, despite its appearance, was the L&MR Lion
of 1838. This used a semi-cylindrical raised firebox, hidden beneath a purely decorative brass facsimile of the Gothic boiler.
resembled an enlarged Bury design with outside cylinders and still retained their small D-shaped inner firebox. Kitson also built a number of long-boiler 0-6-0s around 1845, also using the hemispherical haystack firebox.
of 1846, one of the few surviving locomotives of this style and period. This locomotive acquired the name "Old Coppernob" or "Coppernob", on account of its polished copper
outer cladding, which it then gave generically to this style of boiler.
, making the flat surfaces of the Gothic firebox unsupportable. Future locomotives returned to the use of the steam dome.
Haystack
Haystack or Haystacks may refer to:Agriculture:* A stack of hayPeople:* Haystak, an American rapper* William Calhoun, a professional wrestler who used the name of "Haystack" or "Haystacks" CalhounPlaces:...
", or "coppernob" shape. The term haystack is most commonly used, but is avoided here as it is confusingly used for three quite different forms of boiler. This particularly large outer firebox served as the steam dome and was often highly decorated with polished brass
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
. These were popular for early railway locomotives, from 1830 to around 1850.
Haystack firebox
The prominently raised firebox first appeared in 1830, in BuryEdward Bury
Edward Bury was an English locomotive manufacturer.Edward Bury was born in Salford, Lancashire, the son of a timber merchant, and was educated at Chester. By 1823 he was a partner in Gregson & Bury's steam sawmill at Toxteth Park, Liverpool, but in 1826 he set himself up as an iron-founder and...
's 0-4-0 locomotive Liverpool. This was the progenitor of his bar-frame locomotives and shared their distinctive boiler design. The inner firebox was D-shaped in plan, with a flat tubeplate. Fireboxes of this time did not yet have a brick arch and so the Bury firebox was relatively short in length but tall, to give an adequate length of combustion path. The outer firebox was a vertical cylinder, formed into a tall hemispherical dome above it. Later Bury designs were flattened on top and became known as "haystacks".
Gothic arch firebox
A regular problem with early steam locomotives was that of primingPriming (steam engine)
Priming is a condition in the boiler of a steam engine in which water is carried over into the steam delivery. It may be caused by impurities in the water, which foams up as it boils, or simply too high a water level...
, the carry-over of water with the steam. Many varieties of steam dome on the boiler barrel were tried to avoid this, by taking the steam outlet from as high as possible above the waterline. Stephenson's Rocket
Stephenson's Rocket
Stephenson's Rocket was an early steam locomotive of 0-2-2 wheel arrangement, built in Newcastle Upon Tyne at the Forth Street Works of Robert Stephenson and Company in 1829.- Design innovations :...
of 1829 had used such a small steam dome. In the 1830s, domes became extravagantly large. A drawback to fitting such large domes was the weakening of the boiler shell where such a large hole was cut into it.
In 1840, Stephenson
Robert Stephenson and Company
Robert Stephenson and Company was a locomotive manufacturing company founded in 1823. It was the first company set up specifically to build railway engines.- Foundation and early success :...
produced their 2-2-2 design which avoided the dome altogether, in favour of a raised firebox in the Bury style of ten years earlier. Boiler power had increased considerably over the decade, now requiring a larger fire grate area. The inner and outer fireboxes were square in plan, with flat sides that required staying. At the top these four sides were vault
Vault (architecture)
A Vault is an architectural term for an arched form used to provide a space with a ceiling or roof. The parts of a vault exert lateral thrust that require a counter resistance. When vaults are built underground, the ground gives all the resistance required...
ed inwards to a point, having a profile approximating a then-fashionable Gothic arch. These provided a large steam space above the waterline, but their flat surfaces limited working pressure.
Stephenson used the Gothic arch firebox for their long-boiler locomotive
Long Boiler locomotive
The Long Boiler locomotive was the object of a patent by Robert Stephenson and the name became synonymous with the pattern.-History:It is generally perceived that it arose out of attempts to match the power of broad gauge locomotives within the limitations of the loading gauge of Stephenson railways...
s as well, including their 2-2-2 North Star of 1841Not the better-known GWR North Star
GWR Star Class
The Great Western Railway Star Class of 2-2-2 broad gauge steam locomotives were used for passenger train work. Designed by Robert Stephenson, the class was introduced into service between November 1838 and November 1841, and withdrawn between April 1864 and September 1871.A total of twelve Star...
and outside-cylindered 2-2-2s for the Yarmouth and Norwich Railway in 1844.
Daniel Gooch
Sir Daniel Gooch, 1st Baronet was an English railway and transatlantic cable engineer and Conservative politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1865 to 1885...
's Great Western Railway broad-gauge locomotives
Locomotives of the Great Western Railway
The first Locomotives of the Great Western Railway were specified by Isambard Kingdom Brunel but Daniel Gooch was soon appointed as the railway's Locomotive Superintendent. He designed several different broad gauge types for the growing railway, such as the Firefly and later Iron Duke Class 2-2-2s...
, including the Firefly
GWR Firefly Class
The Firefly was a class of broad gauge 2-2-2 steam locomotives used for passenger services on the Great Western Railway. The class was introduced into service between March 1840 and December 1842, and withdrawn between December 1863 and July 1879....
, Leo
GWR Leo Class
The Great Western Railway Leo Class 2-4-0 broad gauge steam locomotives for goods train work. This class was introduced into service between January 1841 and July 1842, and withdrawn between September 1864 and June 1874....
and Hercules
GWR Hercules Class
The Hercules Class were four broad gauge steam locomotives for the Great Western Railway. They were the first 0-6-0 locomotives, being built in 1842 by Nasmyth, Gaskell and Company...
classes of 1840-1842.
One well-known locomotive that did not use a Gothic boiler, despite its appearance, was the L&MR Lion
LMR 57 Lion
The Liverpool and Manchester Railway 57 Lion is an early 0-4-2 steam locomotive. One of a pair designed for hauling freight , built by Todd, Kitson & Laird of Leeds in 1838.-History:...
of 1838. This used a semi-cylindrical raised firebox, hidden beneath a purely decorative brass facsimile of the Gothic boiler.
Other makers of haystack fireboxes
Some makers retained the Bury pattern of a hemispherical firebox. The American-built 4-2-0 Norris locomotives for the Birmingham and Gloucester RailwayBirmingham and Gloucester Railway
The Birmingham and Gloucester Railway is a railway route linking Birmingham to Gloucester in England.It is one of the world's oldest main line railways and includes the famous Lickey Incline, a dead-straight stretch of track running up the 1-in-37 gradient of the Lickey Ridge...
resembled an enlarged Bury design with outside cylinders and still retained their small D-shaped inner firebox. Kitson also built a number of long-boiler 0-6-0s around 1845, also using the hemispherical haystack firebox.
Coppernob
Bury also built Furness Railway Nº 3Furness Railway No. 3
Furness Railway No.3, "Old Coppernob", is a preserved English steam locomotive. It acquired its nickname because of the copper cladding to its dome-shaped "haystack" firebox....
of 1846, one of the few surviving locomotives of this style and period. This locomotive acquired the name "Old Coppernob" or "Coppernob", on account of its polished copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
outer cladding, which it then gave generically to this style of boiler.
Demise
By around 1850 the haystack and Gothic boiler had fallen from favour. Boiler working pressures had risen from 80 psi to the 120 psi of the Jenny LindJenny Lind locomotive
The Jenny Lind locomotive was the first of a class of ten steam locomotives built in 1847 for the London Brighton and South Coast Railway by E. B. Wilson and Company of Leeds, named after Jenny Lind who was a famous opera singer of the period...
, making the flat surfaces of the Gothic firebox unsupportable. Future locomotives returned to the use of the steam dome.