Ash pit vs service pit

How to add the atmosphere.
nberrington
Posts: 575
Joined: Thu Dec 04, 2008 2:15 pm

Ash pit vs service pit

Postby nberrington » Mon Jan 21, 2019 3:18 pm

Greetings all. I fear my understanding of steam operation might be lacking a tad. I am scratching the old head regarding the MPD at Swanage. Alongside the coal dock and water tower is a loco pit between the rails. Whenever I am there it seems relatively clean, but I gather ash and coals were dumped in here by locos.

Although it is hard to see, there also seems to be a pit in the loco shed. Would this serve a different purpose? (i.e. loco repairs and service) - Does the MPD in fact thus have two pits?

I'm curious as to what prototypical practice might have been, as preservation lines operate a little differently.

User avatar
steamraiser
Posts: 558
Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 4:49 pm

Re: Ash pit vs service pit

Postby steamraiser » Mon Jan 21, 2019 5:18 pm

I would think the pit in the shed was used for oiling and fit to run inspection, while the pit outside would be us for dropping ash out of the ash pan at the end of the days running.

Gordon A

User avatar
Knuckles
Posts: 1262
Joined: Fri Nov 18, 2011 9:15 pm

Re: Ash pit vs service pit

Postby Knuckles » Tue Jan 22, 2019 4:40 pm

May I presume that for sheds with no pit yet there being an ash pit outside the crew just had to oil/repair engines with ashen boots?

I sort of would like to be more clear on things too. Such things may be obvious to most though.
“He who dares not offend cannot be honest.” Thomas Paine

https://www.sparkshotcustomcreations.com/
Mostly 3D Printed Loco kits etc.

SCC Price list (7/4/22)
https://www.sparkshotcustomcreations.co ... e77d42.pdf

Dave Holt
Posts: 555
Joined: Thu May 28, 2009 9:44 pm

Re: Ash pit vs service pit

Postby Dave Holt » Tue Jan 22, 2019 7:52 pm

I think that to some extent, the use of the pits at a depot depended on its size, although I imagine that ashing out would only be done over an outside pit. Oiling up can be done inside or out doors whereas maintenance would preferably be done indoors unless the loco could not be moved inside.
At larger depots, there were often dedicated disposal and preparation areas. In later days (1930's on?) larger depots might be equipped with mechanical ash handling plant to avoid the drudgery of shoveling the ash and clinker up out of the pit and then again into a wagon - see Barrow Road, for instance.
I stand to be corrected!
Dave.

User avatar
Julian Roberts
Posts: 1389
Joined: Sat Jan 09, 2010 11:33 pm

Re: Ash pit vs service pit

Postby Julian Roberts » Sat Jan 26, 2019 3:31 pm

FWIW, to corroborate other comments, on both Welsh narrow gauge steam railways where I volunteer the ash and general filth is kept outside. Locos are towed outside to be lit up and steam raised. Inside is for relatively clean jobs. At the Bala Lake Railway the loco ashpan doors open between the rails so emptying is done over the pit outside. On the WHR the Garratts ashpan doors are on the sides, and there was no pit at Dinas last time I was there. At Porthmadog the pit has room for a wheelbarrow to hopefully catch all the c..p as the fireman spoons it out. At Dinas he has to shovel it up from the concrete apron onto a wheelbarrow. and in both cases take it to the ashpile. At Bala the ash is used to fill holes in the car park or lay a base for the next new siding. Quite a lot of emphasis on both railways on keeping the place clean - not sure, before the days people did this for 'fun', how much this would have been the case...?!

John Palmer
Posts: 825
Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2011 11:09 pm

Re: Ash pit vs service pit

Postby John Palmer » Sat Jan 26, 2019 4:48 pm

An outside pit is preferable for plenty of maintenance and preparation activities simply because, during daylight hours, more natural light penetrates the gloom between the frames.

When designing the layout of a depot, ashing out should ideally be the last activity undertaken before berthing of a locomotive.


Return to “Scenery and Structures”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: ClaudeBot and 0 guests