I found this photo on LokSound's web site (its linked from there). Why are there fans on the tender? For condensing recycled steam? I find this 2-6-8-0 fascinating. Can anyone tell me more about it. Can someone link a photo of the real thing? I'd like to see more than a model cutaway. Does anyone know who makes this loco model?
From a brief search of Google, and resulting forums, I found the following..... The 2-6-8-0 was in prototype development at the German Brosig works outside of Berlin in 1943. Development stopped when an Allied bombing raid during WW-II completely destroyed the Brosig factory. The Class BR 53-0001 was being developed as a condensing steam cycle locomotive, hence the fans in the tender where you would expect to have a water tank. From what I read, the design goal was for this locomotive to be the performance equivalent of the ALCO 4-8-8-4 Big Boy or LIMA 2-6-6-6 Allegheny. Marklin brought out an HO model in 1970 which they marketed for many years, Apparently the model was an excellent performer, but now rare as hen's teeth. I assume the image you have in your post is a rendering of that Marklin model.
Here's a better picture (but the fans are missing): I just posted everything Hank told us to Kato's "Request a Model" page. Nothing ventured...
i think it would be for cooling off the decodor if the fans are on the real thing than it would be difrent
That is a condensation tender, for recycling spent steam into water again. I know they were used on the BR52 Class 2-10-0 and were planned for the BR53 Class 2-6-8-0 locos, but never emplimented, so that loco above is the correct one for the class 53.
One of the sites I read last night implied that Brosig had actually built the condensing tender for later use when testing the Class BR53 prototype. The site talked about the 3/2 axle tender being one-of-a-kind unique to Brosig. Apparently it also was destroyed during the bombing raid. Perhaps further searching would turn up more information.....?
South Africa Class 25s had similar tenders - naturally, being German-designed (but mostly British-built) condensers. They had five fans. http://www.sa-transport.co.za/trains/sa_steam/class_25/class_25-3511_kimberley_stn_rn_87.JPG
