Mechanical Stoker

A system for feeding coal into the firebox, removing the need for it to be done manually by the fireman. It was generally accepted that a grate area over 50 sq. ft. required mechanical firing as it was too large to be manually supplied.

Most systems were steam powered and were controlled from the cab. Some consisted of a chain belt and some operated with a steam jet. The most successful was the Archimedean screw type that appeared from about 1918. In all cases, the coal had to be broken into small sizes to enable it to be used.

Mechanical stokers appeared in the US from 1905. In the UK, mechanical firing was not tried until after World War II and then only a few locomotives were fitted.