Biodiesel Steam?

[wallyworld]

 From Ultimate Steam Page:

Mt. Washington Cog Railway, New Hampshire USA- Nigel Day has worked for several years modernizing locomotive No. 9, affectionately called "Vickie" (short for "the victim") but officially known as "Waumbek".  The video segment below shows the engine after the installation of a Lempor exhaust system and improved exhaust "plumbing".  More recently the locomotive has been converted to burn biodiesel fuel. (The engine nozzle assembly is pictured above).

Video of improved No 9 in action.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afBOdwb-loQ

Any other examples of biodiesel steam? Does anyone know comparitive costs of Bunker C, good grade coal and Bunker C? I have not heard of this fuel being used before in a steam locomotive

[jrbernier]

  They also have a 'Bio-Diesel' fueled diesel.  The arrangement is in co-operation with the State of NH and a Bio-Diesel fuel production facility in the state.  I am sure they are getting a good price on the fuel, and it is a lot easier to ship than the coal used in the steam engines. 

Jim

[carnej1]

Disney Corporation just announced that they will start refining fryer oil from park restaurants for use as Steam locomotive fuel at Disneyland and I would imagine that this will occur at some or all of their other parks as well (though I do not know if every park has actual steamers)..

[nedthomas]

Will the smoke smell like French Fries?

[wallyworld]

 Maybe the fuel savings will be offset if the crew members weigh over 300 pounds by compulsively stopping at McDonalds after every run.They might not need the sander.I can see them all stuffed into a car at the drive up window..geez.one says to no one in particular...this job is killing me.

[Tulyar15]

I believe the Harz narrow gauge railway in Germany runs its steam locos on bio diesel, while the Ffestiniog Railway in Wales uses a mix of diesel oil and waste oil from automobile gear boxes etc.

[carnej1]

nedthomas

Will the smoke smell like French Fries?

Although I have yet to experience it firsthand I have read that the exhaust from Biodiesel(of the cooking oil variety) fueled vehicles does indeed smell like french fries.....

[tdmidget]

 

This "biodiesel" crap is just a head in the clouds , feel good, look at me ,I'm green farce. THINK about it . Disney world running trains on vegetable oil? If a deep fryer hold 5 gallons, that's a lot. But it sure won't make 1 lap around the park. In most states you can add from 5 to 15 % vegetable oil to diesel and suddenly it's "biodiesel". Of course there is very little bio there. Also it not like this is thrown in the dump. There is a ready market for it in the soap and cosmetic industries. It is also used in metalworking fluids. It makes no sense  to go to a big layout of money for something totally impractical when you already have a market for it.

[creepycrank]

Didn't the first steam locomotives run on wood,excuse me, Bio-fuel"?. There's a nice picture of a plugged filter at the local VW dealer. Cost the customer $700 to replace parts. EMA (Engine Manufacturers Assoc.) has a lot to say on the subject but the steam equipment can at least be run through the dishwasher.