The comparison between butane vs meth or coal firing is really an apple and oranges comparison because everyone assumes a gas fired loco using a poker burner with its common problems of noise, etc. (i.e., Accucraft, others), versus any meth or coal fired. This is a comparison between a Closed Flue Boiler design (draws all its air through the venturi associated with the nozzle because of the high jet speed) and an Open Flue Boiler (requires blast/blower) common to Meth or Coal fired locomotives from Aster, etc. A gas, meth and/or coal comparison all with Open Flue Boilers is an apples-to-apples comparison; the gas version uses a ceramic gas burner. Without a doubt, an poker burner (and CFB) can be a royal PITA without some or a lot of remedial attention.
The G1MRA DEE project loco is a Open Flue Boiler design that is convertable between Coal or Butane ceramic burner. The additional feature of the DEE gas fired verson is that it fully exploits gas firing by using a liquid gas feed fully vaporized gas deliver system (with a heat exchanger for full gas vaporization.) In this comparison the ease of firing and operation I think would be gas, meth and then coal. Reports of the DEE gas fired operations are very good and comparable.
Not all Open Flue Boilers are suitable for ceramic burner gas firing. A Open Flue Boiler with a completely wet firebox appears to be most recommended type. But David Bailey has converted a C-21 giving it a new Open Flue Boiler, single stepped diameter flue, with a dry backhead and a round ceramic burner (Cheddar type) mounted at the backhead. David reports it is an excellent runner with plenty of power. David posted pictures of the boiler parts on MLS some time go for the curious.
If you are a G1MRA member and subscribe to the Yahoo G1MRA eGroup Forum then you will have read about experiences with Open Flue Boiler gas fired locos and their performance success, and a discussion (or ongoing debate) of the merits between the three fuel types.
Kevin O'Connor has proven that a poker burner can be converted to a real radiant type burner and dramatically improve the poker burner loco operations. But most only partially address the conversion (to full radiant type) by adding a single course of fine wire mesh to defuse the flame. This reduces the noise but does little for the loco's overall performance which continues to reinforce, in most owners perceptions, the poker burner (and Closed Flue Boilers) as a poor design/approach.
I think it's common that the more experience one has with Open Flue Boiler locos, (i.e., Aster, etc.) the greater the preference for operating them versus Closed Flue Boiler locos (Accucraft)- though they may still have a preference for loco type, NG vs SG.
Maybe someday someone will make commercially available Open Flue Boiler gas fired ceramic burner locos. Hope springs eternal! (Yes, making or converting one is well entrenched in my mind.)
The G1MRA DEE project loco is a Open Flue Boiler design that is convertable between Coal or Butane ceramic burner. The additional feature of the DEE gas fired verson is that it fully exploits gas firing by using a liquid gas feed fully vaporized gas deliver system (with a heat exchanger for full gas vaporization.) In this comparison the ease of firing and operation I think would be gas, meth and then coal. Reports of the DEE gas fired operations are very good and comparable.
Not all Open Flue Boilers are suitable for ceramic burner gas firing. A Open Flue Boiler with a completely wet firebox appears to be most recommended type. But David Bailey has converted a C-21 giving it a new Open Flue Boiler, single stepped diameter flue, with a dry backhead and a round ceramic burner (Cheddar type) mounted at the backhead. David reports it is an excellent runner with plenty of power. David posted pictures of the boiler parts on MLS some time go for the curious.
If you are a G1MRA member and subscribe to the Yahoo G1MRA eGroup Forum then you will have read about experiences with Open Flue Boiler gas fired locos and their performance success, and a discussion (or ongoing debate) of the merits between the three fuel types.
Kevin O'Connor has proven that a poker burner can be converted to a real radiant type burner and dramatically improve the poker burner loco operations. But most only partially address the conversion (to full radiant type) by adding a single course of fine wire mesh to defuse the flame. This reduces the noise but does little for the loco's overall performance which continues to reinforce, in most owners perceptions, the poker burner (and Closed Flue Boilers) as a poor design/approach.
I think it's common that the more experience one has with Open Flue Boiler locos, (i.e., Aster, etc.) the greater the preference for operating them versus Closed Flue Boiler locos (Accucraft)- though they may still have a preference for loco type, NG vs SG.
Maybe someday someone will make commercially available Open Flue Boiler gas fired ceramic burner locos. Hope springs eternal! (Yes, making or converting one is well entrenched in my mind.)
(?) it's positive on what I posted, thank you.
