Waterloo50
Major
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2015
- Location
- England
Converting coal to oil was simple, they removed the stoker, grates and ash pan which apparently made enough room for an oil burner inside the fire box. It appears that the use of oil burner locomotives was popular with western railroads because they had an abundance of oil compared to the Eastern railroads which had large amounts of coal. I think ‘Big Boy 4014’ was converted from coal to oil. I’ve read a couple of reports from drivers that reckoned that oil burner loco’s were the best thing ever, no glare at night from the firebox, no ash and soot and the engine ran just as sweet going backwards as it did forwards, another benefit was that the fireman could spend more time helping the driver control the engine which helped to increase safety.@Waterloo50 asked the question I had, but I have one step further now. When the trains changed to oil, what was the procedure? The video I posted on those two 1897 and 1901 locomotives in the woods of Maine, they man showing the two attached fuel cars mentioned the changeover for carrying oil. I would think no use for a firebox if that was so, @DaveBrt.
Lubliner.