The steam engine cab smelled like a burger joint in there. You can cook food with a clean shovel and oil, and put it in the firebox. That’s how some drivers make breakfast or lunch on the footplate.
I remember on one of the videos Great Scenic Railway Journeys: The West, it featured steam locomotive #18. Now that #18 has been sold to Rio Grande, only #29 and #4960 remain at Williams. #4960 is currently the only operable steamer with #29 currently stored at Williams. #29 hasn't run since 2008, and I hope the railroad gets to double head it with #4960.
Beautiful railway and beautiful canyon. Perth Canyon is much the same size and with some depths going down 4000 Metres. That's nearly 2.5 miles. Trouble is it can't be reached by train. Its all under water just of the west coast of Australia and only 20 miles away from here.
I want to drive the 4960 with their f40ph, power car & their GCR streamlined coaches... But first when would 4960 get her 1472 day inspection or restoration
BTW, I got to ride behind #4960 in 2011. And I agree, vegetable oil for steamers should be required as a law for each state to keep the environment safe. I like the idea that coal is historical, but coal is not going to last long though, and it isn't really safe.
Coal isn't really safe? That is by far one of the dumbest things I've ever heard...as a coal fireman who has dabbled a little in oil as well, coal can be just as efficient as firing on oil. When you have a good fireman and good grade of coal efficient firing with coal and burning clean is possible, and when you look at the amount of coal used as compared to gallon of oil burned...it's about the same. Steam locomotives are just as dangerous no matter what they burn...the only thing that may make oil burners "safer" is that if you come into a low water situation you can remove the heat source (i.e. the fire) a little quicker than you can with coal...but the same with most coal burning locomotives you can "dump a fire" rather quickly too. The annoying thing is that no matter how you look at what you burn...Bunker C, Waste Motor Oil (which is better to burn than general strained french fry oil), or Vegetable Oil...you are still putting carbon into the atmosphere regardless. My thoughts are that if I owned an Oil burner...I would have no problem collecting used motor oil and some "French Fry" oil to burn just because around where I live... there are limited emissions/environmental standards (thus easier to obtain these fuels for free) I would use them just to keep the costs down for operating and not give a rats ass about the environment.
Biocoal for steam locomotives. Check the Coalition for Sustainable Rail website. It's a research project affiliated with the U. of Minn. department of engineering. Their goal is to closely duplicate the combustion efficiency profile of coal, ideally with cleaner emissions, using a biocoal/biochar product derived mostly from waste cellulosic biomass such as wood and plant waste.
There's more to it than that. Coal burning steam locomotives tend to give off a lot of sparks, and if even one manages to get out through the smokestack it can start a fire along the tracks, and the fire can easily get out of control very fast. With oil burning steam locomotives you don't have that problem. That's part of why Union Pacific converted the Challenger to burn oil back in 1990, and it's part of why they're doing the same with the Big Boy as well.
I happened to catch this series on PBS today and had to find MORE! What a great way to rekindle the past.
The Grand Canyon Railway located in Williams, Arizona, Home of the LS&I 2-8-0 29 and Burlington Route 2-8-2 4960.
Rob's scream at 5:11
The steam engine cab smelled like a burger joint in there. You can cook food with a clean shovel and oil, and put it in the firebox. That’s how some drivers make breakfast or lunch on the footplate.
Someday I will ride on Grand Canyon Railway again ❤️🚂
I remember on one of the videos Great Scenic Railway Journeys: The West, it featured steam locomotive #18. Now that #18 has been sold to Rio Grande, only #29 and #4960 remain at Williams. #4960 is currently the only operable steamer with #29 currently stored at Williams. #29 hasn't run since 2008, and I hope the railroad gets to double head it with #4960.
Erich Diebold cool
Beautiful railway and beautiful canyon. Perth Canyon is much the same size and with some depths going down 4000 Metres. That's nearly 2.5 miles. Trouble is it can't be reached by train. Its all under water just of the west coast of Australia and only 20 miles away from here.
They should run steam at least every other weekend
I want to drive the 4960 with their f40ph, power car & their GCR streamlined coaches... But first when would 4960 get her 1472 day inspection or restoration
BTW, I got to ride behind #4960 in 2011. And I agree, vegetable oil for steamers should be required as a law for each state to keep the environment safe. I like the idea that coal is historical, but coal is not going to last long though, and it isn't really safe.
Coal isn't really safe? That is by far one of the dumbest things I've ever heard...as a coal fireman who has dabbled a little in oil as well, coal can be just as efficient as firing on oil. When you have a good fireman and good grade of coal efficient firing with coal and burning clean is possible, and when you look at the amount of coal used as compared to gallon of oil burned...it's about the same. Steam locomotives are just as dangerous no matter what they burn...the only thing that may make oil burners "safer" is that if you come into a low water situation you can remove the heat source (i.e. the fire) a little quicker than you can with coal...but the same with most coal burning locomotives you can "dump a fire" rather quickly too. The annoying thing is that no matter how you look at what you burn...Bunker C, Waste Motor Oil (which is better to burn than general strained french fry oil), or Vegetable Oil...you are still putting carbon into the atmosphere regardless.
My thoughts are that if I owned an Oil burner...I would have no problem collecting used motor oil and some "French Fry" oil to burn just because around where I live... there are limited emissions/environmental standards (thus easier to obtain these fuels for free) I would use them just to keep the costs down for operating and not give a rats ass about the environment.
+DRGW168 #29 will return this 2016!!! trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2016/03/09-grand-canyon-steam
Biocoal for steam locomotives. Check the Coalition for Sustainable Rail website. It's a research project affiliated with the U. of Minn. department of engineering. Their goal is to closely duplicate the combustion efficiency profile of coal, ideally with cleaner emissions, using a biocoal/biochar product derived mostly from waste cellulosic biomass such as wood and plant waste.
There's more to it than that. Coal burning steam locomotives tend to give off a lot of sparks, and if even one manages to get out through the smokestack it can start a fire along the tracks, and the fire can easily get out of control very fast. With oil burning steam locomotives you don't have that problem. That's part of why Union Pacific converted the Challenger to burn oil back in 1990, and it's part of why they're doing the same with the Big Boy as well.