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30inch Steam Loco: test results

Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 5:45 am
by Dreadnought1
Folks,
I'm planning for a 30in layout (bush-tramway-style) so I thought I'd test out five of the smaller available locos to see how far they'd run with a full load of fuel and water. That'd help me plan out where the water tanks/coal stages/wood sheds should be - and give me an idea of what locos should be doing what duties. I'm planning on the main couplers for this line to be link-and-pin so all locos tested were so fitted.

I tested them out running light engine using the "Drive to..." function on a 15 mile branchline with a ruling grade of 1.8%. If they reached the terminus, I immediately sent them back along the line until they just about ran out of fuel (or did just run out of fuel) then noted the details of the run. All runs had at least one stop then an immediate restart to simulate a station stop. Some locos don't automatically fill their bunkers completely when you place them so I did ensure all locos were fully fueled before starting.

Coming in fifth was the 0-4-0T Vulcan which went 5.0 miles and used 100% of its coal and only 7.4% of its water (full load:200coal/3000 water).

Forth place went to the 2-4-2T which went 12.0 miles and used 92.8% of its coal and only 56.6% of its water (474coal/5034 water).

The little Porter 0-4-0T came in third and went 14.0 miles and used 99.6% of its wood and only 28.6% of its water (500wood/1000 water).

2nd place went to the 2-4-2T Dummy which ran for 24.5 miles using 100% of its coal and 65.9% of its water (1500coal/2500water).

1st went to the 0-4-2T Baldwin with 25.0 miles for 99.0% of its wood and 98% of its water (1061wood/2150water).

I hope this data might help others with their planning and/or might be of use to loco creators in fine tuning their specs.
Cheers,
Dreadnought1

Re: 30inch Steam Loco: test results

Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 5:31 pm
by Dreadnought1
Just found this newsletter with an article regarding V&T fuel costs/usage and its decision to go over to fuel oil. Very interesting reading...

http://www.nevadaculture.org/docs/dca/n ... er2008.pdf

Cheers,
Dreadnought1