More browsing around…Interesting twist on an alternate fuel for steam locomotives that I had not come across before. You could keep boiler pressure up and smoke some ribs in the firebox. I wonder what else you could burn. Someone ( about a decade ago ) was seriously studying burning combustable landfill waste…imagine the smell…I can see why that one died on the vine. http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_4387502
A pellet stove, only bigger! Methinks they may have to look at a coating of some sort for the “logs” though. Imagine a pile of them getting caught in the rain - instant mush.
Really, once the capital cost of the machine that makes the ‘pellets’ is paid, it’s almost a free resource.
Re: burning landfill waste - I recall a “Railroad Reading” story in either Trains or CT not long ago about an enterprising crew who threw some tires into the firebox. Smoke? I guess so! Then there were those steel belts. The grate shakers apparently weren’t too happy…