Why Did Steam Locomotives Need Smoke Deflectors? | History in the Dark

[@shimesu443]

I saw a picture once of 844 right after she rolled out of Alco's factory, and she didn't have her ears on yet. I didn't recognize her without them. 😂

[@FabianHunor]

The situation was somewhat similar with me, but with a different class and different country. The most recognizable steam locomotive in my homeland is the MÁV 424 class, and they had smoke deflectors, but the early examples weren't equipped with them. So when I first saw the preserved 424-009, I almost didn't realize it was a 424 class.

[@jr_estudio]

@A_Lazy_dude who cares, its a train

[@RailfanEngineer]

yea, 844 and the rest of her class, aka the FEF, were basically just standard unstreamlined 4-8-4, and FEF literally just stands for 'four eight four'

[@JosipRadnik1]

The pronounciation of "Windleitbleche" alone was worth watching 😁

[@mightyV444]

It was correct, too! 😊

[@JosipRadnik1]

@@mightyV444well... almost... but astonishingly good indeed 🙂

[@mightyV444]

​​@@JosipRadnik1 - I'm originally German but have been living in NZ for 22 years; My 18-year-old Son (the _real_ rail enthusiast in the family) only speaks English, and he had heard "Windleitblech" together with some other German rail-related terms somewhere recently, and he's now become kinda obsessed with it and keeps throwing "Windleitblech!" at me all the time! 🙈😅

[@adalbertbuchaniec1199]

Fun fact: The Flying Scotsman originally did not have smoke deflectors until it received a double chimney. When Alan Pegler bought him from British Railways, he returned the locomotive to LNER condition with the single chimney and the deflectors were not needed. When she regained the double chimney, the deflectors were then added again due to the lightened draft.

[@Tom-Lahaye]

Also when locomotives grew in size with larger diameter boilers the chimney or stack whatever you call it went shorter. This also increased the likeliness of smoke descending down on the train rather than being lifted. In Germany essentially all large standard Reichsbahn locomotives had them, like the classes 44,50 and 52 2-10-0s, 41 2-8-2 and 01 and 03 4-6-2s. But also some earlier classes from the Landerbahnen of Prussia, Württemberg and Bavaria got them later on. In the UK they were used on some types of the LNER and LMS Pacifics, the larger SR 4-6-0 classes and the BR standard Clan and Britannia Pacifics and the 9F. Here in the Netherlands only 3 locomotive classes got them, the 3900 and 4000 4-6-0s and 6300 4-8-4T

[@DiscordC]

no it’s called a FUNNEL, the correct term is Funnel, Not chimney, Not Smoke stack, it’s called the Funnel

[@DiscordC]

it’s called a FUNNEL

[@TryboBike]

To add why deflectors were necessary - apart what Darkness said - more powerful locomotives also produced more smoke and exhaust as - well - moar powah, moar steam, moar fuel burned.

[@bowlinerailfan]

Some of the Union Pacific Challengers had deflectors as well. Their first official steam excursion was back in the 50's with one of these, the since scrapped 3967. For the 40th anniversary of that trip, 3985 was renumbered to 3967 and fitted with deflectors to represent her fallen sister for the run.

[@UnionPacificRailfan2018]

Don’t forget big boys as well because 4019 has one

[@moosecat]

Darkness showed quite a few British Railways trains. i think he has a secret crush on them...

[@up844productions8]

it might be because BR steam actually worked so it's not his ongoing torture with the diesels :)

[@alexhajnal107]

Much pulling of pigtails!

[@rwill156]

This was a nice find for me. I've wondered what those were, and their purpose. Not knowing what they were called I looked on line for them, found many locomotive diagrams showing them but never with a label identifying them. So now thanks to you I know what they are.

[@LazyOcto]

In Poland we do have a locomotive with smoke deflectors, like Pt-46, or the Pm-36.

[@thejdmguru621]

My country had an attraction for Smoke Deflectors, it’s was used on basically all our big choo-choos. Heck, even one of our narrow gauge locos had them. Just look at the Apple Express.

[@fenrirslip]

I for one believe that smoke deflectors make a steam locomotive look more beautiful and grandiose in addition to them doing what they were meant to do. This isn't surprising considering that UP's FEF Series and New York Central's Niagaras are two of my favorite steam locomotives ever and they also have smoke deflectors. Some engines would look naked if they didn't have them. xD

[@mikebrown3772]

The problem for the crew if smoke clings to the boiler isn't breathing it in but seeing the signals.

[@CaseyJonesNumber1]

Yes, that is the principal reason.

[@nathanlynn7374]

Great video! Although I believe one important detail that i think you forgot is that both the 3900 class and even Big Boy had elephant ear deflectors 4019 was the only documented/photographed big boy to ever be seen with those deflectors as UP made their own design for the Big Boys with the stack deflectors it really shows the innovation of UP and the evolution of smoke detectors on locomotives

[@Gordanovich02]

Reputedly, smoke deflectors had even been considered on the LNER A4 class (Mallard and her siblings). Instead they tried altering the body right behind the blastpipe, inspired by a thumbprint inadvertently made in a plasticine model, and found that it worked to lift the smoke clear of the cab!

[@joshmeister4449]

Id love to see Ed stick a pair on 4014 for a trip. 4019 tested a set much like that the passenger challengers wore, so it would be accurate to say the least.

[@MrSEANDEERE]

I'm a sucker for elephant ears. I will pay the extra for a model with them if needed. I love the look. Especially on 4-6-4 Hudsons, FEFs and Niagras.

[@genoobtlp4424]

Fun fact, the original wort: Windleitblech pretty much says what they do („Wind guiding sheet metal“) it’s a metal sheet to guide the airflow…

[@theo1113miller]

Thanks for answering a question I had been wondering about them for years

[@TheEerieMaster]

I think they actually complete the look of some engines... A BR 9F without smoke deflectors doesn't look right

[@andrewbowen4544]

I don't think they work in Tunnels has seen in Top Gear UK

[@Straswa]

Great video Darkness, a fascinating watch. Love that fooonnnnnd farewell.

[@jacehackworth6413]

2 of the QJ’s in the US still have their smoke deflectors.

[@robertwilloughby8050]

Also, dear Darkness, it stops smoke hanging about the front end and obscuring the signals. That was a really bad problem on railways in the UK.

[@donglegromger6571]

As a kid, I had always referred to them as Mohawks. Personally, I had always been quite fond of them. Particularly, the larger Wagner types. Even when I was hunting down a model of a German class 01, I specifically was looking for one with the Wagner deflectors.

[@FreihEitner]

I like 844's "elephant ears". I also liked when 844 was 8444 and was painted gray, so take that as you will. :-)

[@ericcriteser4001]

This was awesome. Thanks for sharing!

[@TheGs4_4449]

"...some people found them ugly." How? They look so cool!

[@kwisatz_haderach1445]

Do love those early, large wheeled engines. They just have that late 19th century look about them.

[@allenhall4689]

I live in south Australia and the 620 class would look strange with out them.... Steam Ranger hertige still runs 621.

[@legothoron1]

did wonder about them, an engine i grew up with used to have them, CP 3100, i saw in old photos that she used to have them but no longer does and she looks odd with them after so many years of her not having them

[@chrisfrank6449]

Most of the locos on Victorian Railways (Australia) in the latter days had them. I always thought they looked great!

[@mightyV444]

I reckon you pronounced 'Windleitblech' pretty well, and I am.German myself! 😊👍 It also describes the purpose more accurately than the English term by pointing to wind instead of smoke 🙂

[@tidepoolclipper8657]

I like how the UP-844 and DRG Class 01 look with the smoke deflectors.

[@kratzikatz1]

@@tidepoolclipper8657 wich ones on the 01? Wagner or Witte design?

[@23GreyFox]

@@kratzikatz1 You will find the 01 with both. In the video he only showed the 01 with the Wagner type.

[@Mandem_Nj]

at 2:16 I think that's lnwr cornwall a 2-2-2 tender engine built in 1847

[@jordandorsett3106]

2:26, and there's Hardwicke for the Race to the north

[@737Garrus]

I call them TIE Fighter Wings.

[@generalprincecodyhedgewolf2944]

Don’t forget the JNR D51 Steam Locomotives

[@WhiteWolf-gx8ll]

Most of JNR's later and faster locomotives in general, D51 , D52, D60, D61, C11, C51, C54, C55, C56, C57, C58, C59, C60, C61 and C62 classes were all fitted with smoke deflecters.

[@manicmechanic448]

I was actually wondering this, the other day.

[@kevwebb2637]

NKP 172, and a Mohawk still have their smoke lifters. Union Pacific actually called theirs Smoke lifters not smoke deflectors as the smoke deflectors are in the stack which can be raised or lowered by the locomotive crew. Japan's Smoke Wings looks better than the British designs. The Hokkaido, and Nagano pattern smoke deflectors is very impressive.

[@zaylion1987]

On Asia exactly in Indonesia, Japan, and china smoke deflectors are commonly used to their steam locomotive and I'm as an indonesian seeing a steam locomotive with smoke deflector like a common steam locomotive and seeing them without smoke deflector look weird. (Maybe because adding smoke deflector on an indo steam loco like a tradition) but whatever because every locomotive in each country is unique In my country there's still have a rack railway with working rack rail steam locomotive you can meet them on Ambarawa and sawahlunto

[@marc_abby]

POV : seeing UP 844 with Witte Windleitbleche or smokedeflectors 😂 I love the the big ones 😁

[@josephburke7224]

I knew they were needed for short stacks. I always thought short stacks were for tunnel and bridge clearance. Thus the smoke problem with crew and passengers. It did not solve the tunnel problem. I cannot think of anything that could.

[@jeremyjohnson457]

Believe It or Not Southern Pacific GS class had something similar to that

[@TrainMedia00]

This video came out on my birthday just now.

[@JordysRailVideos]

Happy birthday

[@SoldierFox1393]

CN 6218 and 6200 have the smoke deflectors they are 4-8-4 Northern type steam locomotives

[@joshjones3408]

That's kinda like saying window blankets instead of keratins

[@leightonolsson4846]

The 'German' style 'Elephant Ears' sort used on Gresley's A1/A3 Pacifics.... (ie The Flying Scotsman) are not the most elegant or stylish ones in my aesthetic opinion. The Peppercorn A1 (Tornado ) & A2 (Blue Peter) look helluva lot better. But it's not surprising ones built into the original design would look more comfortable to the eye than ones bolted on out of necessity when locomotives were rebuilt or their chimneys upgraded

[@richiem86]

I agree with you on the A1s & A2s, there’s some locos that look a bit weird without them such as the LMS Coronations, the S.R. Schools class, and the BR 9Fs & Britannias (Sorry! For mentioning them Darkness)

[@leightonolsson4846]

@@richiem86 Thanks for the reply. Locomotive/train videos are always fun to watch even if you know it all already. The ones that crack me up are Europeans complaining about faults on new budget trans continental/intercity rolling stock... Dear me I'd love to see their reaction to riding across the Pennines in a Pacer...

[@23GreyFox]

@@leightonolsson4846 Do you believe continental Europeans hadn't something similar to the Pacer for decades?

[@leightonolsson4846]

@@23GreyFox No doubt, in many European countries on many routes. But not an important intercity route between two of the largest conurbations in the UK (in the 5th richest country in the world, I'm not comparing to the poorer parts of the EU (oh how you are missed) but France, Germany etc) into the late 2010s

[@23GreyFox]

@@leightonolsson4846 I know how it is to ride a Railbus for 100km in Germany. They were build in the early 60s and were used way into the 90s, i sat on a simple wood bank the entire time.

[@AnLMSengine]

The smoke deflectors in my opinion look so good on steam engine

[@Dannyedelman4231]

3985, a challenger type 4-6-6-4 locomotive had smoke deflectors for one trip

[@camf7522]

1:28 🇦🇺 I’ve always referred to them as ‘elephant ears’ too. But I thought they were for aerodynamic stability as trains got faster??

[@voidjavelin23]

eh not really, but they do theyre job on highspeed operation

[@alexhajnal107]

Your German pronunciation is improving! Do the _W_ letters as V, the _V_ letters as F, and let the syllables flow together and you'll be pretty darned close.

[@TheMrPeteChannel]

Wasn't there another device that was on the side of the chimney/stack on some locomotives?

[@foxgaming1084]

3:07 “I CAN’T BREATHE!”

[@theromanorder]

I questioned this then one day i found a animation that shows this

[@sinamonigibson8231]

My favourite trains have smoke deflectors i just think they are nice

[@therailfanman2078]

IMO 844 doesn't look the same without her ears. For me, it's like unstreamlining a NYC Hudson.

[@alexhajnal107]

The louvers in front of the stack on those served the same purpose (albeit with a slightly different working principle).

[@joshjones3408]

They are there to make people ask questions..

[@timkis64]

with the coal smoke that belcbes out of some of the locomotives, its a wonder the crew didnt get black lung or lung cancer in a year on the job.& yet the state wont renew my tags if i have a slow 02 sensor.just goes to show emission laws are to make money, not for emissions control.

[@k.b.tidwell]

They also conveniently ignore how all the volcanoes going off around the world spew out more in a day than we ever have in history.

[@dannyjones3840]

As a NYC fan- I can't stand a Niagara or Mohawk with their ears!

[@CollinBlack-j1y]

So which version was the most efficient?

[@subz555]

Just thinking about it I don’t think NZR fitted any smoke deflectors to any of there locomotives?

[@Krazytalk444]

Looking pretty being more important than being able to breathe is the same rationale for the invention of a corset.

[@23GreyFox]

I like smoke deflectors. A German class 01 or 03 without them just doesn't look right.

[@Irobert1115HD]

your pronounciation of windleitbleche was alsmost perfect. you inly messed up the ch.

[@pkat]

They're called Smoke LIFTERS

[@gonzoengineering4894]

Not in any official capacity they aren't. Some companies called them smoke lifting plates, and smoke lifters appears to come from model companies paying writers by the letter

[@LoPhatKao]

ok... but *how* does it work

[@Tonymeows43]

Visit 524 6th St, New Westminster, BC V3L 3B4, Canada PLEASE

[@brucesim2003]

I do like the the Wagner type. The Witte, not so much.

[@Jeppe-Covid1959]

Wagner and Witte was DRG/DRB CEOs. Wagner died in 1942.

[@harrisonallen651]

They’ve got ears

[@k.b.tidwell]

A train is a tool like a hammer. Why in the world does aesthetics matter? Get the job done = profit.

[@Vincent-_-123]

Excuse me, but wtf did you say in german there?

[@genislebastard3491]

Cp 3101

[@jonichielochielo3209]

di indonesia semua lokomotif kelasD52mempunyai nya

[@jeverett59]

Dam, your german vetter than some of english😅

[@Freddyco905]

Worst trains ever part 27 & is the SR Battle of Britain og bad

[@TruenoD12]

I know that if this is for pushing the smoke out of the cab

[@DiscordC]

it’s called a Funnel, NOT a chimney

[@voidjavelin23]

they can be called chimney sometimes

[@s.s.amazon5152]

4th