Preserved 0-4-0 T "Fireless" steam locomotive. Tinley Park Illinois USA. August 2006.

I took this photo one evening in August of 2006. Seen here on south Oak Park Avenue just west of the Tinley Park Illinois Metra commuter rail station, is this colorful 0-4-0 t Porter Locomotive Works Fireless industrial steam switching locomotive. These locomotives would have a steam hose connected to the port valve from the boiler house or steam plant of an industry. There, steam would be charged into the boiler upon opening the valve. Once the boiler recieved a full steam charge, the valve would be shut off and the hose disconnected. These little locomotives could chuff around for 2 to 3 hours on a charge of steam, and were used in industries where fires were considered too much of a hazzard. This locomotive is decorected in attractive colors for display, but in their service lives, they pretty much wore just basic black paint.