A way to reduce oil usage.

[Anonymous]

As long as automobiles and gasoline are such an important source of tax revenue for local, county and regional governments it's likely that they'll only go through the motions of attempting to reduce dependence on them. I'll believe they really mean it if they start prohibiting any new development that is not at least as accessible and functional for non-motorists as it is for those who drive. The way we build now it seems that in many new communities the shortest and safest way to walk from one place to another is on the railway tracks, rather than a two- or four-lane hightway with no sidewalks. I wonder how many railfans live in places like that and don't complain.

[Modelcar]

...Well..even if we had a "modern" steam engine the trade off of "saving oil" would be erased by the many added expenses of labor and all sorts of railroad plant support to supply the daily routine needs of such machines....The diesel electric engine is just too much challenge for steam to be competitive. I suppose one could say it's fun to watch and hear running but not to pay for....and keep running. In the past when steam was all that was available...it did the job but now we have better ways of doing that job.

[csxengineer98]

oh yea....by the way....it would not help reduce oil usage...steam engins use a hell of alot of oil to lubricat the veriouse working mechanics.. such as side rods for an example.... so how do you think that not burning it to provide fuel.... but useing to lub up some metel is going to save oil? sounds like your just trading one use for another.... bottom line..NO SAVEINGS.....
csx engineer

[csxengineer98]

please see the thread on the other fourm i think it was trains mag. ..and look for the title futuer power... that would give you some more insight to the bring back steam issue
csx engineer

[TH&B]

You wi***he steam engine will come back, but if it did it would probably look and sound just like a diesel, a steam turbine electric.

[Anonymous]

Remember the ACE3000? Never even built. (Besides, it just looked like a GE AC4400CW with a squari***ank car coupled to it, where's the steam locomotive in that?)

[Anonymous]

An attempt to build an advanced technology steam locomotive in the 80's failed because they tried to go directly from concept to serviceable locos. They were able to overcome most drawbacks to steam. In theory new steam could be comparably practical to diesel and cheaper where coal is plentiful. Britain is taking another crack at it. www.5at.co.uk

Wi***hem luck.

[Modelcar]

....I'm not trying to present any attitude....just facts.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Modelcar

...US companies would not put up with the army of workers it would require to put steam back in charge again....Too costly. Infrastructure is not in place to support such efforts either....even down to requiring truntables...or building turning wye's...and many other reasons beyond that.

Well it will never happen with that attitude. [:(!]

[Modelcar]

...US companies would not put up with the army of workers it would require to put steam back in charge again....Too costly. Infrastructure is not in place to support such efforts either....even down to requiring truntables...or building turning wye's...and many other reasons beyond that.

[Anonymous]

Sounds good to me, bring back the Hudsons!

One of the reasons that China/India have been so slow to convert is because of the fact that they will become/have now become so dependent on foreign oil (just like north america).

Don't think there are too many steam loco's left in China/India now though.

[ungern]

I was thinking about how the railroads can ssave on diesel fuel costs. Bring back steam and burn coal. Of course the evironmentalists who complain about big oil will start complaining about big coal.

Ungern