Super how is the firebox stoked?
Maybe by using a mechanical stoker to transfer fuel from the bunker(s) direct to the firebox…
‘A mechanical stoker is a device designed to move large amounts of coal from the tender into the firebox. To do this an opening is put into the bottom of the tender to allow the coal to drop to a long auger that looks much like a large screw. When activated, the auger rotates like a drill and breaks the coal into smaller chunks as it is moved from the tender, below the engineer and fireman in the cab, and into the firebox.’
‘Once in the firebox, the fireman turns on steam jets to push the coal deeper into the firebox to ensure an even, hot fire to make steam. Without mechanical stokers, large steam locomotives would not have been possible.’
The same principle is used in forward-bunker designs.
