The North Yorkshire Moors Railway has announced that they are to convert 2253 Omaha from coal to oil fired.
This will be make the first full size steam conversion since the end of steam and follows on from the news that Dame Vera Lynn, based at the NYMR, is also due to return from overhaul as an oil fired locomotive.
FMW Solutions will be assisted by the NYMR’s Engineering Department for the conversion.
The conversion will be completed over the 2024/25 winter period and will also see 2253 form part of the NYMR’s home fleet of locomotives.
2253 is due to appear at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway’s steam gala in 2024 before becoming part of the home fleet at the railway.
“The conversion of No. 2253 will help not only reduce the railways overall sustainability strategy, including reducing particulate emissions, but will help bring resilience during hot weather periods.
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“In recent years, domestic sources for high-quality steam coal have dried up in the U.K. and sourcing coal from across the world is extremely expensive. Pre-pandemic we were paying £165 per ton and at its peak reached £540 per ton. The conversion of No. 2253 to oil is key to ensuring the NYMR is resilient and can operate during the peak summer months.
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Coal is part of our history and there is a balance between keeping our stories alive and bringing to life the importance of the railways, especially as next year is a major milestone with the celebration of Rail 200“.
Paul Middleton, Director of Mechanical Engineering at the NYMR
Responses
How about being really bold and fire with gas?
LNG/CNG/LPG/Hydrogen?
Why go to the USA for this technology when I have it here in the uk and probably at a higher standard and was taking it the USA in the early 2000’s?
Hope they don’t go electric with speakers to sound like the real thing!
Why not? Will cut costs dramatically,
Fit a sound system and a steam generator to produce steam and vapourised oil and Im sure there’s some clever people who could synthesise the smell of burning coal.
By the way, the smell of burning coal will be replaced by the sickly smell of fuel oil, which if spilt is definatly good for the environment.
Many decades ago, in movies, were not the old “western” locos in use, using oil ? The giveaway was the regular “flashing” of the flames under the rear of the loco ? And then they were required to add smoke generators for the fx.
Presumably the oil will be self metering from a separate tank, thereby abolishing the fireman/ stoker’s role. Also, there would be no ashes and clinker to dispose of at the end of operations. If I am correct, this would be a much cleaner, and extremely labour saving step forward.
Although firing could be made fully automatic, the fireman will still be needed to maintain the boiler water level, act as a second pair of eyes for the driver in looking out for signals, coupling/uncoupling fetching/making the tea etc etc.
The fireman can control the boiler pressure by adjusting the oil firing rate and maintaining the boiler pressure to meet the needs of the driver and engine.
With oil firing, the flame can be turned off completely when generating steam is not required, which will greatly assist allowing the boiler pressure to drop before going “on shed”. No mass of glowing coals to dispose of, which is energy=money.
I’m guessing the oil is light distillate/heating oil and not heavy fuel oil which presents a whole additional level of issues.
As an ex solid fuel coal merchant I can agree with you about the price of coal especially proper steam coal. When I started with my Father, aged 15 years, in 1966 you could purchase 2 X 112lb bags for less than a quid. I can’t remember how much it was when I finally retired about 10 years ago, aged 70, I can’t remember what I was selling it for. With age memory fades…….
3672 and 2253? I wonder if another will be.
I am surprised that UK coal is unobtainable.
I bet there is lots of mines that still have tons of it.
Not working mines…
Yes loads of mines sadly all too flooded to be useable or in the case of Kent coal fields concrete poured down!
They might still have coal but theirs the minor issue that they’ve all closed!
What mines?
Even the last open cast in Wales has closed now!
Interesting project , be good to evaluate, then if required by legislation turn to synthetic fuel after all you only have to create a heat sorce, to keep our historic traction going for many people in the future,
What be mines can dig it n up though