What Are The Pros and Cons of Coal Fired Locomotives?

Paradise

Paradise

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I'm thinking of purchasing a coal fired locomotive but not sure of all the pros and cons.
I understand so far that I may need a blower over the stack to get it fired up and the benefit of no gas sound.
Black snow? Necessary firebox stocking during a run? Obtaining suitable coal? Hot embers dropping from the grate?
That's what comes to my uninitiated mind so far. Any advice welcome please. :)
 
JR in Tawa, in your islands, and late of this parish, was the expert on coal firing - I'm sure he's probably on other media still
 
Paradise said:
I'm thinking of purchasing a coal fired locomotive but not sure of all the pros and cons.
I understand so far that I may need a blower over the stack to get it fired up and the benefit of no gas sound.
Black snow? Necessary firebox stocking during a run? Obtaining suitable coal? Hot embers dropping from the grate?
That's what comes to my uninitiated mind so far. Any advice welcome please. :)
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You will certainly need a blower to get steam up, 12v ones pretty easy to make. Just a small motor with a fan to suck through the air till enough steam available to use the generated steam and the on board blower. They are commercially available and may be an add on when you buy one, would recommend including that add on.

Driving can be a bit trickier as you need to manage coal to the correct level to keep up steam but not put the fire out. A tricky art that some find difficult without a bit of help from a fellow coal firer.

Hot embers dropping from the grate slightly less of an issue as you should see them unlike alchohol fired locomotives that can drip invisible burning stuff.

Coal, generally should be available via specialist small engine suppliers.

Keeping an eye on the water level most important as the boiler tends to be smaller capacity due to extra tubes and firebox.

Most useful to have a set of track on your line with a place below to drop the fire when you have finished your run.

Cleaning up after a run most important as any ash can wear out parts.

But those that do it love it, most real like experience you can get in a model. But do not underestimate the time taken to master it. Fire up and go it certainly ain't.
 
Pros:
You're acquiring up a steam engine properly
Great fun
Cons:
Not a five minute session, at least an hours worth of testing ( obviously not really a con, unless you're pushed for time)
Areallly steep learning curve
Actually thinking about it, it's a bit like owning a Mini Moke, so bl**dy impractical, it's fun!
 
I had the ambition to get a coal fired loco until my friend bought one and I now think that my line is not suitable. Coal fired locos need a lot of attention while running, sometimes urgently. Ideally you need a raised line with all parts readily accessible. Experienced operators may well cope with less than ideal setups but I don't think I could.
 
railwayman198 said:
I had the ambition to get a coal fired loco until my friend bought one and I now think that my line is not suitable. Coal fired locos need a lot of attention while running, sometimes urgently. Ideally you need a raised line with all parts readily accessible. Experienced operators may well cope with less than ideal setups but I don't think I could.
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Yes I would have thought the fun would go out of it if your line was at, or close to, ground level.
 
OK. Some good advice here. It was in regard to purchasing a coal fired Accucraft C25. I have since found a near new butane one. Even so, it requires an electric blower until it has some steam up to run it's steam blower which also has to be operated when standing still.
I think I'll have enough on my hands with this butane one as it is without having to also poke about in the firebox.
Thanks for the replies. :)
 
Paradise said:
OK. Some good advice here. It was in regard to purchasing a coal fired Accucraft C25. I have since found a near new butane one. Even so, it requires an electric blower until it has some steam up to run it's steam blower which also has to be operated when standing still.
I think I'll have enough on my hands with this butane one as it is without having to also poke about in the firebox.
Thanks for the replies. :)
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Sound decision.
 
What a beast this butane C25 is. It has a square firebox with a large ceramic burner sitting in the bottom where the fire would be. Water above the top and sides with stays like a real one. 9 tubes going through the boiler. I need to be extra careful watching the water level or it will cook and warp. It has both a manual and axle pump. :nerd:
 
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