Biofuel coal test at Burke Valley RR, UK

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Glenn Brooks
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Biofuel coal test at Burke Valley RR, UK

Post by Glenn Brooks »

Normally I would post in the Grand Scales threads, bit this seems more widely applicable.

Very interesting test of biofuels as a replacement for coal, in UK Heritage Steam Railways...

https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2021/06/no ... pRbCp-NFa8

Glenn
Moderator - Grand Scale Forum

Motive power : 1902 A.S.Campbell 4-4-0 American - 12 5/8" gauge, 1955 Ottaway 4-4-0 American 12" gauge

Ahaha, Retirement: the good life - drifting endlessly on a Sea of projects....
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Bill Shields
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Re: Biofuel coal test at Burke Valley RR, UK

Post by Bill Shields »

INTRESTING:

so..

1> can these 'bricks' be broken up to shove through a small fire-door?
2> available in north america?

i have about given up on getting Welsh Coal here in North America. $$ of shipping is totally unacceptable..
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k36no4862002
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Re: Biofuel coal test at Burke Valley RR, UK

Post by k36no4862002 »

I have seen these and used them he in the UK. Yes you can break them up if needed, only ever used them to mix with other coal but as I run a k36 its a big firebox and quite forgiving on rubbish fuel and poor firing, not sure how locos with smaller fireboxes would cope.
Guess more experimenting in smaller gauges is needed
Paul Edmonds,
Surrey, United Kingdom.
2.5" Scale D&RGW K36, 1/6" Scale Challenger 4-6-6-4 (nearly done!!)
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Bill Shields
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Re: Biofuel coal test at Burke Valley RR, UK

Post by Bill Shields »

Trick now is to get to North america
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Steam Engine Dan
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Re: Biofuel coal test at Burke Valley RR, UK

Post by Steam Engine Dan »

well there was a group that was gonna convert a full size santa fe Hudson out in the Midwest somewhere to bio coal as an experiment. but ive not seen any progress or updates on that group. anyone else see or anything?
Steam Engine Dan
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Re: Biofuel coal test at Burke Valley RR, UK

Post by Steam Engine Dan »

as a coal burner enthusiast, I wouldn't mind trying bio coal if it was affordable and if I knew local suppliers in my area or surrounding area's will carry it in the future if regular coal is no longer available. im really not too good with oil or propane and I have tried hard to master both. but I wouldn't mind trying bio coal. and i got a good coal lump hammer to break up large chunks, so size isn't an issue for me.
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Bill Shields
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Re: Biofuel coal test at Burke Valley RR, UK

Post by Bill Shields »

Cost of shipping is the current roadblock.

Two weeks ago 20kg of coal would cost $120 to ship from the uk to the Philadelphia area.

A 1 ton pallet sent by ship would probably be worth it...if you live near a port where you could drive in and pick it up....plus the hassle of shipping and customs..
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Steam Engine Dan
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Re: Biofuel coal test at Burke Valley RR, UK

Post by Steam Engine Dan »

here is a video taken at the Milwaukee zoo a few years ago of testing bio coal in the zoo steam locomotives. the tests were successful from what I can gather. coalition for sustainable rail is the group that is gonna restore and convert santa fe Hudson 3463 from oil to bio coal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9WFgydpgf8
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Bill Shields
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Re: Biofuel coal test at Burke Valley RR, UK

Post by Bill Shields »

So where did they get the bio coal?

Or was it made from monkey poop?
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Fender
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Re: Biofuel coal test at Burke Valley RR, UK

Post by Fender »

Dan Watson
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Steam Engine Dan
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Re: Biofuel coal test at Burke Valley RR, UK

Post by Steam Engine Dan »

Bill Shields wrote: Tue Jun 22, 2021 9:34 pm So where did they get the bio coal?

Or was it made from monkey poop?
coalition for sustainable rail I think provided them with the bio coal
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