GN, CBQ, and SPS steam locomotives that burned oil

[NP Eddie]

As an X-NP clerk, I know that NP steam engines all burned coal that came from on line coal mines.

Can anyone tell me how many GN, CBQ, or SPS steamers burned oil and what territory they operated on?

Thank you,

 

Ed Burns

ATCS host in Anoka, MN.

[CAZEPHYR]

NP Eddie

As an X-NP clerk, I know that NP steam engines all burned coal that came from on line coal mines.

Can anyone tell me how many GN, CBQ, or SPS steamers burned oil and what territory they operated on?

Thank you,

 

Ed Burns

ATCS host in Anoka, MN.

Ed

I don't have dates for any locomotives being switched from coal to Oil, but the NP did have a few Oil burners at the end of the service life of steam.   At least two NP Z8's (5140 and 5148 I think ) and the 2626 burned oil at the end of their service life.  All of these were converted from coal.   

 

My books show the SP&S having all oil burners including the Z6 and Z8 class locos and the three E1's, which were almost twins to the A3's except the SP&S locos were ordered new as oil fired locomotives.   If my data is correct, the SP&S locos all used oil for most of their service life, even the older ones.  I don't know what year they converted to oil, but it was before the 1930 era when the E1 and Z6 class were new.  

The GN had at least two Z6's on lease for some time from the SP&S and several other clases that burned oil including the 4-8-2's and older power.  It was probably due to certain restrictions on the western end of the railroads with large forest area.  Coal powered locomotives start a lot of fires.      

You can purchase the Pacific Northwest Railroads book by Mcgee and NIxon to get a lot more information about the S, NP and SP&S railroads.   it is a great book.

Sorry I could not help more but I have to run.

CZ

[wjstix]

I'd have to do some research, but quite a few of the larger GN engines burned oil. I think this was primarily done in the western divisions, perhaps because they were closer to sources of oil than of coal, which at that time primarily came from the east. IIRC many GN passenger engines burned oil, the thinking may have been that oil burned cleaner (no ash) so back in the pre-air conditioning days gave patrons a better trip (i.e. no soot blowing in the windows onto them).