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1:1 Scale Live Steam - Grand Canyon

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SailorDon

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
On the TV news CBS This Morning, they broadcast a piece about the live steam locomotive at the Grand Canyon railroad.
I recorded it just in case they said anything interesting. Mostly they didn't.
Did anyone else catch this news show?


They did say the locomotive was 90 years old and ran on reclaimed vegetable oil. The reporter said he could smell the McDonalds french fries. :)

They also mentioned that it burned so clean, they have to add sand to the flue gas to make it look like smoke for the tourists that want to see smoke.
Who knew that burning sand makes smoke?

I've got the whole thing in a video file, but due to copyrite laws, etc., I can't post to YouTube or anything good like that. I hope I avoid detection on the screen capture I'm posting here.
.
 
#4 ·
Back when I rode the train we had real smoke.
The required bad cowboy hold up was as hokey as ever, but the kids.... as the nodding heads know.
Takes you close to a famous Hotel/Resturant (my nuked memory lost the name) on the South rim.
It's a fun ride and a good way to avoid the car. Public transportation is available in the park.

John
 
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Discussion starter · #5 ·
About a month ago, I was taking videos of the Texas State Railroad #316 at the "wye" in Rusk, Texas.
Here is a short video clip.
Can anyone tell if the smoke is from sand, or the used motor oil that is used in the burners?
 
#6 ·
What I don't quite understand is if the locomotive is burning so clean, then just where is the soot that is being cleaned from the tubes and flues by the addition of sand come from in the first place?
 
#9 ·
Posted By SteveC on 29 Aug 2013 02:22 PM
What I don't quite understand is if the locomotive is burning so clean, then just where is the soot that is being cleaned from the tubes and flues by the addition of sand come from in the first place?

Clean relative to the type of flue contaminants relative to what is emitted but all oils will have elements that are "cooked" and build up onto the flues over time coating them thus less heat transfer.
 
#10 ·
When they burn coal or wood, the cinders scour the flues to clean them. When any type of oil is used, there is a build up of residue that must be removed and pouring sand in a small port on the firebox backhead with a good draft going will suck the sand right through the flues to remove the greasy residue, improving heat transfer and gas flow in the flues for a hotter fire.
 
#12 ·
I'd say carbon on sailor Don's vid, over rich mix for photo smoke. After the run by the fireman did it right.
They know to put on the smoke show.
Was a funny story in Classic trains about a couple of photogs trying to get smoke, instead the train stopped to pick them up, they were at a flag stop!

Chuck, thanks, I had dropped the El and it didn't sound right. I've slept and et there. Good times. Best was staggering up out of the canyon and spending the night there. 2 nights before we were on the other side.... and walked it. Park service was great, my Dad broke the outer bone in his lower leg on the way down, not weight bearing. I wrapped it and he made it to Phantom Ranch. (dang memory I hope that's the right ranch) Rangers looked at it and flew him out and got him an extra 2 nights at the El Tovar... [Aparrantly 'touch 'n go'] Memories of '83.

John
 
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Discussion starter · #14 ·
Posted By Totalwrecker on 29 Aug 2013 04:21 PM
Rangers looked at it and flew him out and got him an extra 2 nights at the El Tovar... [Aparrantly 'touch 'n go'] Memories of '83.

John
I hiked the Bright Angel Trail in 1979. It was posted at the trailhead, the cost for a drag out (by mule) was $300 and a fly out was $3,000.
I hope that health insurance covered the fly out.
 
#15 ·
At first they reserved a mule, Dad was big about 250lbs.
By the next morning it was worse so they called the chopper.
I heard that's quite a thrill ride in itself. To gain altitude they fly at spots along the canyon walls and catch up drafts that carry them up to the next plateau.

I turned out to be Dad's mule, I had to pack out his gear and extra do dads.... pack out your trash was the rule....
A casual 12 mile jaunt from the north rim and 3 miles of **** up to the south rim. hee haw hee haw

Don; The hotel staff put him in the room he had reserved for our group stay, I don't think the cost mattered to him.

John
 
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Totalwrecker
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