>On Mon, 13 Apr 1998 18:18:46 +0800, "John Fenn"
><j-k-fenn@vianet.net.au> took time out from wrapping gaffer tape
>around gerbils and wrote:
<Background info deleted.>.
>> Here are my big questions. Can anyone tell me :-
>> Can you run a steam engine on liquefied natural gas?
Yes. The Bally Hooley steam tourist train service at Mossman in Queensland was
gas fired. I am not sure of the actual gas used, but I suspect it was LPG.
Unfortunately, the train has stopped running.
>A steam engine can run on any fuel. All it needs it heat for the
>boiler. Of course, solid fuels like timber and coal are the easiest
>to use due to their simple storage requirements. Oil fired
>locomotives have been used overseas (not sure if they were ever used
>here???).
The WAGR U class locos were oil fired. Also some members of the J and C class
locos of the VR. I suspect some other railways also used oil on some locos at
some stage.
>> Due to the extremely hot dry conditions here steam cannot be used except in
>> the dead of winter due to the fire risk. In addition the cost of
>> transporting coal and the associated costs of handling it would be too high.
>In the US in the past in high fire risk areas, such as coal mines,
>another type of locomotive was used. A compressed air loco. Rather
>than the boiler/firebox, they had large cylinders mounted in their
>place. These were pressurised to around 600psi. One hassle with them
>was running out of air.
>> It has occurred to me that an engine running on gas, pulling a large tank of
>> the stuff, towing a couple of cars would be a useful addition to our valleys
>> tourist attractions.
>Such a unique attraction would be sure to attract people.
John McCallum