Re: Fuel Oil Costs for Steam Locomotives

I am indeed still here on the scene! When the 786 was running we used recycled motor oil and had no trouble making or maintaining steam with a full tonnage train up the ruling (2.2 percent) grade. She fired easy and made very little smoke,even when working all out,with the exhaust barely visible except when sanding the flues. At my current employer the Texas state Railroad we recently started using recycled motor oil in 300 and when work finishes on 201 that will become her diet as well. The firemen had to get used to firing up with oil but we have seen a little better fuel usage but I believe oil burns better in a bigger firebox than a smaller one. My working experience tells me that you can do pretty well on recycled motor oil up to an engine size of about the 1522 or 786. After that,the grate area needs an oil with higher BTU's or she just can't keep up with the demand for steam.