Re: D&RGW 346 approaching No Auga tank

The 3' gauge engines at Knott's burn #2 fuel oil (aka "diesel fuel").

The pic Jeff posted above of a very smoky 340 would not be possible with propane.

I think the Crown engine burns propane.


BillD Wrote:
=======================================================
> Jeff,
>
> Actually the type of fuel used in a locomotive
> does make a difference, but not that you would
> notice at Knotts. Different fuels have different
> heat generation capacities... i.e. more or less
> BTU's per unit mass. Propane, which I think is
> what your folks use down at Knotts, has the
> lowest, which is a good trade-off for your use,
> since it is easy to use and generates virtually no
> smoke. Coal is next, then oil, which has the
> highest BTU content. Coal does have it's issues,
> in that the cinders tend to damage the internal
> tubes, flues and superheater pipes (oops... you
> guys don't run superheaters). Oil tends to clog
> the flues and tubes, but is easier to fire than
> coal, and it's fuel space requirement is smaller
> than with coal.
>
> I'm not so sure that with propane firing a
> locomotive originally designed for coal firing
> could maintain a full head of steam during heavy
> usage... but then the 40 and 340 are enjoying
> their retirement down among the palm trees and
> don't need to work hard anymore. And they no
> longer have to contend with snow...