Re: Gas/Steam Possible?
David Bennetts (davibenn@pcug.org.au)
13 Apr 98 22:25:14 GMT
John Fenn <j-k-fenn@vianet.net.au> wrote in article
<6gso5o$q5j$1@yeppa.connect.com.au>...
> I am new to this newsgroup but have had a lifelong interest in rail,
> particularly steam. I live in a small tourist town in WA called York. It
is
> the second of 4 towns that are on the Great Southern line all about 30 -
40
> Ks apart. Namely Beverley, York, Northam and Toodyay. We dont have any
> passenger service but as we are in a wheat growing area we see 2 or 3
trains
> a day carting wheat.
>
> Here are my big questions. Can anyone tell me :-
>
> Can you run a steam engine on liquefied natural gas?
> Is anyone doing it that you know of? Where?
>
> 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.
>
> 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.
>
> Any feedback or resources would be gratefully accepted.
>
>
> John Fenn
>
Last year I visited the US where two railroads in amusement parks are run
on propane gas. These are the Disneyland railroad (four locos) and the
smaller one (can't remember its name) at Knott's Berry Farm in nearby Buena
Park.
The FFestioniog Railway and the Vale of Rheidol, both in Wales converted
their locos to burn oil some years back - they both run through forested
country and had problems during the summers; I believe their insurance
premiums were unaffordable if they wished to run in summer (when they get
90% of their business).
I'm not sure what oil the Vale of Rheidol uses, but the Ffestioniog used a
mixture of half used sump oil and half bunker fuel. They used their own
tanker to collect the sump oil from local garages (service stations).
Nowadays bunker fuel is expensive and probably difficult to obtain in small
quantities, so diesel could be a better and cheaper alternative.
Can't see why you couldn't use CNG, I don't know about whether you get more
heat than with propane (or LPG).
Hope this helps
David Bennetts
Canberra