How To: Fuels for Live Steam Locomotives

In this video we touch on several fuels utilized in the live steam hobby and provide you with a few pluses and drawbacks of each. Enjoy! If you'd like to see more videos like this, let us know in the comment section below. We'd like to thank ILS member Carl Baskin for lending us his 4-6-0 for this video!

__________________________________________
Support The Steam Channel on Patreon:

[aghauler]

Ive watched this post numerous times. I hope at some point you will give more info on kerosene and diesel. Thanks Blake and the steam channel crew.

[bigsparky]

Very informative video, i have to say stay with COAL for the realistic effect

[Sabohead]

Great video. Thank you for your time in doing this. Very informative about the fuels you guys run. Keep up the good work on videos! I hope someday I can come to your location and ride the rails! One day??

[somedaysoon]

Yes, more videos are certainly in order, and thanks for making this one.

[strucksoon]

I live in Limey-land, don't think I have ever seen a propane fired loco, it's dirty lovely coal all the way! Mind you, it is readily available. Even the creme de la creme Welsh steam coal is affordable.
Interesting video, thanks.

[suzanadams]

I'm in this video! Oil fired Ten Wheeler Wabash 713! I can run all day on 5 gallons of diesel. About $12 bucks.

[trainroomgary]

Well done • Cheers from The Detroit & Mackinac Railway 🚂

[g.b.gareful]

Yes, more videos like this one. Good information. Would love to see more about fire-up and how to run the loco.

[justtim]

I was fortunate to have grown up when steam was still king. Nothing beats the smell of coal smoke. Reminds me of when I was a kid.

[CarlosGonzalezSirCharles]

Hi, very interesting comments about fuels.Since i´m starting to use propane in an small 5"gauge locomotive, I´d like to ask you if do you think that if the flames go directly over the fire tubes these tubes could be damaged. I´ve put a little deflector between the lighters and the tubes just in case but, what do you think about?. On the other hand, the engine firing propane steams really well. Kind regards form the sunny Spain, Carlos

[Mr.Nogman]

I personally prefer traditional Wood burners. There is also Char coal.

[anthonyshepard]

OUTSTANDING: I always wanted to know about the different fuels. 🚂🇺🇸🚂🇺🇸🚂🇺🇸🐢

[ronstarkronstark]

Coal is certainly authentic. Propane, however, gives the engineer/operator more control to enjoy the ride. Oil is fine but you have to keep pumping it to the jets in the firebox. Propane is clean and neat. There's enough "dirt" with the grease and water that I don't need coal.

[sparky]

so if you had a coal loco, does it take much to convert it over to propane? great video. this would be a great hobby ( size ) to get in to, but don't think there are any around southwestern Ontario
thanks for sharing.

[royreynolds]

I learned to fire on bituminus (soft) coal in a traction engine and steam powered carousel. I have run a 17 ton 4-4-0 on propane. I was unable to try wood on the 4-4-0. Wood and coal have a nasty habit of setting fires from sparks, ashes, and cinders is why logging railroads switched to oil for fuel. Oil is safer and easier to use than wood or coal. If handled properly propane is safe.

[vena.sera]

I'm thinking of using WVO as a fuel source for when I build my engine.
Will that work well for engines of this scale for an oil burner?
Provided I will have to make a WVO filter system. I plan on building a Southern Pacific MT class 4-8-2

[austinbrodzinski]

Would wood pellets like those in pellet stoves/grills work too? Or would they just not burn as good?

[sethkimmel]

Don't forget what the Grand Canyon Railroad uses; recycled vegetable oil... It has the same advantages and disadvantages of fuel oil, AND it makes the tree huggers happy... Lastly; you guessed it - your loco smells like french fries! ... LOL!

[brentpiontek]

Hey Blake I have a very good question about Kerosene is that just as clean as Propane or is it a little dirtier than Propane.

[joshuahill]

The one thing at least in New Zealand is that there used to be coal that burned cleaned, it closed down. So we have to mix it 50, 50 with bad coal and clean coal.