Flying Scotsman aided by diesel traction

[superkev]

There's been no oil firing on the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland railway for a number of years now. Better spark arrestors, ash pan drenches and reduced loads are used to mitigate and reduce the risk

Sorry didn't realise that. Over the pond the American Big boy currently being rebuilt is going to be oil fired presumably due to fire risks.
K

 

[TwistedMentat]

Sorry didn't realise that. Over the pond the American Big boy currently being rebuilt is going to be oil fired presumably due to fire risks.
K

I would think the oil firing is more that it's a hell of a lot easier to get your hands on the amount of oil needed to keep something like the Big Boy moving in the midwest US.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Oil-firing was standard on the Ffestiniog in the 1990s, before they switched back to coal at some point, presumably for cost reasons. On railways such as the FR/WHR and the NYMR, having a sub-fleet of oil-fired locos for use in high summer would be useful, but having to double up on the supply side and the fuelling infrastructure would be a huge extra expense that wouldn't be worth it.