Coal consumption on 0-6-0 switcher

[jockellis]

I'm building an HO gauge Atlas track plan switching layout and trying to figure out what kind of coal and water consumption a real 0-6-0 slopeback tendered switcher would have pulling and pushing usually one car around at a time and always on the go. This will give my engineers, hopefully my neighbors, something else to do on this layout which will be built by Boy Scouts working on their Railroading merit badges.
Jock Ellis

[Anonymous]

Boy Scouts have a railroading merit badge???

Damn, I knew I should have signed up!

[tpatrick]

I can't answer your question but I would bet someone at Steamtown can. They have an 0-6-0 that they use to demo yard ops for the visitors. Give them a call. They have been very helpful to me when I had a question. Let us know what you find out.

[jockellis]

Thanks for the tip of calling Steamtown. I did and was told that their #23 held 6 tons of coal and 3,000 gallons of water. This coal would last a 12-hour shift while the tank would have to be filled three times with water. So on my layout, the engineer will have to top off coal every morning and get a drink of water at that time and again after the train crew comes out of the greasy spoon where they eat dinner (that may be lunch for you northerners). I'll have them working an 8-hour shift.
Incidentally, has anyone ever seen a photograph of a fat fireman on a handbomber?
Jock Ellis