Modeling asthetics aside would a regional railroad be more efficient running QJ steam locomotives imported from China that are converted to LNG? Would it be realistic if I made my railroad do this? Also just to throw out there, how realistic would it be if my railroad built its own steam locomotives to use for freight service?
You are modeling closer to modern day times, right? (Based on the LNG powred loco.) If so, Something is telling me, “I don’t think so, Tim.”
Steam is more labor/maintenance intensive, and most regionals are trying to make money, not spend it…
That said, there is absolutely nothing wrong with a steam powered excursion, or a steam locomotive that has been “restored” by a group and running, or even being “borrowed” by your company, as a PR initiative, or as way to make the extra money that fan trips ticket sales bring in… Just know that even that is expensive, so many RR’s today shy away from that, as insurance for this (as a protection from the idiots out there) is very expensive to acquire, and most RR’s do not already have that type of insurance. (Hey, even have the “restored” unit as the extra power you need during busy season, have an “agreement” with the historical society, they allow the use, the regional supplies the crews for the fan trips, and provides normal maintenance on it as a consideration of the use.)
But, if you would like a model steamer on your regional, it is within reason that they would have one at some point or another. So, I say, if it makes you happy, think of a reason the steamer is there. I gave you a couple… And use them on my layout. Fan trips provided by RR as a consideration to the historical society allowing the steam to be “borrowed” by my freelanced route.
Ross Rowland was making an attempt to do just that with his ACE 3000 project. He was using the C&O 614 to collect data and engineer a unitized steam locomotive using modern combustion principles.
SO… it would be entirely possible to imagine that a modern steam locomotive had been developed.
http://www.american-rails.com/ace-3000.html
Have Fun, Ed
Yes, lots of imagination involved with this one. Even the most modern steam loco is pressed hard by diesels in terms of efficiency. Except for a museum operation, I don’t see running freight ops as Steam-powered as plausible. There are just too many extra expenses in operating steam, from increased crew sizes to the skilled crews in the shop to regular boiler inspections.
Even cheap fuel isn’t going to offset the diesel advantage. Realistically, there’s a lot of coal still in the Midwest, although pollution regs might prevent using it.
Never mind.
A pleasant day dream for those of us too young to remember that the “Romance of Steam” was actually hard dirty work.
As I gather the Chinese themselves have phased out steam for main line use, I don’t think I need to say any more.
Though in that post apocalyptic Steampunk World who knows…[;)]
Just my [2c]
Cheers, the Bear.[:)]
Model Railroads are complete fantasies to start with, no matter how dedicated to a prototype a model railroad is, it is still just a fantasy. The fact that you had this idea about something you thought might be interesting, should not be influenced by what others think about it.
However, like others have talked about, if the railroads had thought this was to be something to look into, they would have done so.
In your world, possibly it makes sense to pursue this idea. I would say go ahead, whatever “Trips your Trigger”!
For your first two questions, I think the answer would be “Not too likely in the real world; anything is possible in your world.”
For your third question, you have just described the N&W in the 1940’s and early 1950’s.
Tom
China, the last big steam loco holdout, has converted almost all of their fleet to diesel or electric. The reason railroads converted away from steam was not the fuel, but the high labor cost to keep them maintained and running.
Trackr 76,
Maybe your steamer could burn grain alocohol. Leave Indy. Gas up at ADM in Peoria. Reality, probably cost prohibitive. As an experimental unit, why not? In reality whatever became of those Chinese Steamers? Were there 3?
Bobster
This example is of course the exception to the rule, but the Strasburg Railroad moves freight with steam - coal powered steam.
The Strasburg is primarily a tourist passenger line, but they are a fully chartered common carrier - one of the oldest in the country, and they still move freight. Basically they act as a team track extension off the old PRR mainline, now NS.
Typically, a 1924 Baldwin 2-10-0 or a 4-8-0 moves freight on a regular basis between Paradise PA and Strasburg PA.
And their passenger operation runs daily from Marh to April, not just weekends or a few special trips.
http://www.strasburgrailroad.com/
Sheldon
Though on longer trains they ‘cheat’ and stick the SW8 on back to help it up the grades. It’s a fairly stiff grade.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVFnvEdGPFA
There is a group that sets up at many local train shows that has a more or less to scale depiction of the SRR, including the RR Museum of PA across the street. Very nice layout. A small line like Strasbug is small enough to build full length with no compression needed. However, there aren’t a lot of common carriers that short.
–Randy
The ‘reality’ of using LNG as fuel is pretty stark. It takes 6+ lbs of LNG to equal 1 gallon of diesel fuel. Diesel weighs about 8 lbs/gallon. The big issue is the large insulated tender to transport the LNG, and the pre-heat system to prepare it for injecting in the burner pots in the boiler of your steam engine. Take a look at the large LNG ‘fuel tenders’ that are running behind most diesel-electric engines/LNG test locomotives!
The next issue is the real killer - The cost of maintenace of a steam engine is quite high - lots of large moving parts that pound themselves apart.
And the ‘thermal’ efficiency of a steam locomotive is around 15-16%. A diesel is about 30%. And that steamer’s thermal efficiency will drop in cold Iowa winters - Ross Rowland calculated 614T’s to be about 6% in winter time!
So, as a ‘hair brained’ railfan idea - It is great. The ‘practical’ side - The jury is out!
Jim
Fuel type is irrelevant, given that steam required a secondary fuel: water. Given that steam has to be loaded with two materials to operate, it’ll always be more expensive to operate.
Great video, and 1300 tons is about 26 to 30 cars from the era when that loco was in regular service, so pretty respectable even with the diesel switcher helping.
That steam loco handles 9 to 11 50’ wood coaches on that run as a regular asignment.
Sheldon
While what everyone is telling you is true, there is a notable exception. Before being sold to Genessee and Wyoming, the Ohio Central was privately owend by J.J. Jacobsen and he kept a private fleet of vintage steamers on the roster, mostly from Canada. Although I never saw it, I heard that occasionally the steamers would be used in revenue service. A private owner can do that. A corporation would be unlikely to take that step.
While I never saw any of those steamers run, one of them was made available when the old B&O station in Mt. Vernon was reopened I believe as an art studio. The steamer and several vintage pieces were there for the public to see. I actually had my picture taken in the engineer’s seat.