>
>
>John McCallum wrote:
>
>> In article <3534e55f.27203343@news.magna.com.au>, kingpin1@ozemail.com.au wrote:
>>
>> >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.
The extent of oil firing on the VR was somewhat greater than this, but
brought about by much the same reasons - shortage of good quality coal
due to strikes, and the shortage of coal of a suitable quality for
firing steam locomotives in Victoria generally.
The S class pacifics were converted to oil firing in their last years
2 R class (719 and ?) were also converted and were 2 of the last 3 in
regular traffic.
Significant numbers of the A2 and N classes were converted, especially
the later batches of North British built Ns.
Oil firing of the C class gave them a new lease of life. As coal
fired engines they had a reputation of being a little 'short of
breath' on extended long grades. In fact the oil fired Cs actually
outlived the more modern X class which were not converted and
consequently unpopular with crews due to the amount of work involved
feeding the huge firebox. As an aside, the VR did conduct several
experiments with Stug pulverized brown coal firing with an X and R
class, but the experiments were abandoned, possibly due the apparent
superiority of diesel-electric traction.
30 of the 60 strong J class were delivered as oil burners.
In fact the only broad gauge VR steam classes operating post war with
no oil burning conversions were the D3, K and X classes. The D4, E
and Y class shunting locos (of no consequence numerically) were also
never converted.
<more snippage>
David Arblaster, Melbourne, Australia - Remove 'NoSpam' to reply
"What does it mean when a man unearths an ancient urn but buries
his thermos flask in the process ?" Michael Leunig