Topic: Gas firing ?... a stupid question?

[peter]

I think you could use smaller tubes as there would be no ash or soot to clog them up. I have seen a 4.75in gauge loco(a 2-8-2 NG) running on gas, it had small tubes but a lot more of them,  the boiler was built for gas only.  I have seen a few 7.5in gauge loco running on gas, some still had the fire grate still in them, and they ran just as good as a coal burner. Hope this helps.

peter

[Ferd]

Hi Barry
we have a club member who successfully designed a boiler that can be switched from coal to propane by switching the grate and adding a burner, without changing the boiler. The switch can be made within 45 odd minutes. There were no modifications made to the boiler itself. The only modifications that  were made were to the grate and the addition of gas burners. This was achieved by switching out the coal grate and replacing it with a new grate that had burners built into its design. Will see if I can find my notes on the design ideas.
cheers Ferd

[lorweb1]

Probably a stupid question but here goes anyway.

Having noticed that a lot of locos in the states are gas fired and having a particular liking for the maxitrak dewinton style 'Chaloner' I was wondering if a different boiler design would be required if using a gas burner rather that coal firing. I appreciate that heat is heat no matter how it is provided and in thiery a burner could just be installed iun the fire box but is gas firing more efficient i.e. could you get away with a smaller boiler or a simpler boiler design ? And what are the pro's and con's......

Barry