# Steam locomotive question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steam-locomotive-question/246775>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 24, 2004, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steam-locomotive-question/246775 "2004-05-24T12:30:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 8

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**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\
**Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steam-locomotive-question/246775/8 "2022-02-02T04:23:51Z")

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The question was well answered in this thread by @Francis_Vaughan:

> [@Steam trains](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steam-trains/944265):
>
> I’ve noticed that on a lot old stream trains there is bell looking device on top of the smokestack. Does it serve a purpose, or is it decorative? [[image] ](https://i1.wp.com/www.denverpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/ap17237525355665.jpg?w=620&crop=0%2C0px%2C100%2C9999px)

I’m closing this thread pending further review by FQ mods.

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