I have a question. Last summer I rode the narrow gauge steam railroad at Silver Dollar City, near Branson, MO. After the ride, I asked the engineer what fuel he used since it was obvious it wasn't coal, but some fluid. He said that all of the engines ran on your standard, everyday, diesel fuel. My question is...does that make it a diesel locomotive??? [I don't know how to use those smile icons] Buzz
Did the fuel heat a boiler? Or run an internal combustion engine? If the latter, well, it's a diesel as far as I'm concerned.... Boxcab E50
The UP Steam crew uses diesel as a last resort in the 3985 and 844, and it makes a mess of the boiler and associated components. It also makes VERY LITTLE power. When the local fuel dealer on an over-the-road trip mistakenly brings a tanker of diesel versus oil, UP has to come to the rescue with a helper... So to answer your question, it prolly ain't much of a steamer, if it runs on diesel fuel.
Actually, I believe all the Disney World and Disneyland engines run on #2 Diesel. And they run very very well. of course, they were Built/rebuilt with the intention of running on it. Cleanest burning Steamers I've ever seen.
I stand corrected. But lemmetellya, a 1943-built Alco steamer with the number 3985 on its flanks sure doesn't like diesel fuel!
We use reclaimed motor oil to fire our steam loco. Once in awhile, we are forced to use diesel. Diesel fuel has way less BTU's than oil and it is difficult to keep steam pressure up during a hard pull. Most steam engines were designed to use bunker oil as a fuel source, which required heating the oil via steam lines inside the tender so that it would flow to the atomizer in the firebox.
