Read up on the latest about the AFT 250 - Reading 2100 progress as posted on Trains.com

https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews ... n-60-days/

Hello,

This is an interesting view and don’t recall seeing a photo like this posted often. At first it looks like you are staring into an Egyptian tomb!

For those in the know, assuming an arch needs installed on the inclined tubes? With firing an oil burner, I am not familiar with the process. Assuming a manual fuel valve is opened to increasing firing rate…..like speeding up a stoker? Are flameouts ever an issue with these? If so, are the bricks so hot is simply relights instantly? Remembering what happens when you put kerosene on a fire and the white fog of death appears…the fog being volatilized fuel vapor NOT smoke, which is explosive. Perhaps the fuel valve can be closed quickly? Is the fuel injected with steam or air through a nozzle?

Thank you in advance.

It will be good to see another T1 get underway

Cheers,

Randy

It looks as if the US traditional Van Boden arrangement is being pursued. Arch tubes / circulators aren't generally used in that arrangement (unlike the Canadian version which they have removed) so this will be interesting to follow. Firing rate controlled by atomizing steam pressure and fuel supply, also dampers in some cases in the traditional system, but more modern systems have some degree of automation, some use air, some superheated steam - who knows the particulars in this one? Assuming traditional, flameouts occur, hot brick can relight which is damn impressive. If it is the traditional burner design, oil drools down over a steam jet made by a narrow wide slot which blows it out into a fan shaped spray. It's application into a Wooten firebox designed for burning low quality Anthracite will also be interesting to find out about. Hope this is helpful Randy.

Dave,

Thank you for the reply and comments.

Perhaps if an arch was used, the force of the backwards flame blast could making opening the fire doors lead to caramelizing your face as a fireman….or you keep the doors closed and have peep holes to keep an eye on the fire. It would make sense for the fire to take a serpentine path around an arch to saturate the whole firebox surface with heat but maybe it’s not necessary. Would a hard draft just make the fire jet make a sharp U turn right into the flue sheet?

It will be interesting to see if this is complete or there is more to be done.

Cheers!

Randy

Hello,

Looks like ASR posted an update video today.

https://youtu.be/paHGSU0_7Jo?si=uwllBQdRYIw-A6UA

Indeed a single hinge fire door has been installed in place of the butterfly. The new door does have two peep holes, a larger hole can be made with flipping a swing cover. Looks like for now the door is bolted shut.

There was mention of the oil burner to be installed with a bit more brick to add once the burner is in. No mention of an arch.

Randy