Several steam tractor groups have been contacted, and owners queried about hours they use their boilers.

http://www.smokstak.com/forum/showthread.php?t=94066

I will refrain from any totalitarian/nazi/communist references for now, but if what I am hearing from several sources is true, just about any boiler that uses heavy fuel can be targeted.

We may have a saving grace in that we come under FRA jurisdiction; at the same time, it might be a good idea to have the boiler committee that came up with the new inspection rules take a look at this and perhaps engage in preemptive action.

I'll also gently remind readers that government bureaucrats are not the only ones to give us trouble; consider the comments and problems that have been discussed here about a railroad that is afraid of roller bearings that lack rotating end caps, plain bearings, and steam engines. . .

I take that back--it's not just one railroad, it's at least two!

.

Adding to what Kelly has posted;

A few of us have had discussions with some of the "Higher Up's" at the FRA about the idea that one or more of us may build new steam locomotives based on original designs of the early 1900's. These would be considered "facsimiles" of the real thing and though they would be NEW would be based on a historic design.

Though there is no formal rule, it has been "hinted", for lack of a better word, that any new OLD steam locomotive could obtain a waiver to the DATE listed in the rule. You will note it says 2000. A waiver to the DATE (not the rule) could extend the applicable rule date to any new OLD style steam locomotive. The rule was intended for new design, new application under current regulation. A NEW steam powered GP-40 would fall under the rule.

I agree with Kelly, 100%. It will not be the FRA that throws the last shovel of dirt on the graves of our beloved locomotives. It will be the litigation that came about as a result of our own personal mistakes that will cause us to give up, or have the last shovel of dirt thrown on our industry by a pack of fame hungry, ravenous, legal eagles. Machines are not the problem....we the humans are our own worst enemies, yet our own best friends. Smoke is the least of our worries!

Always yours,

Hi Folks

I think you are missing a very basic point. It is the EPA that is the lead governing agency not the FRA. Further more it is the EPA which under the Clean Air Act of 2004 established standards. Please see the following especially exclusions and exceptions.

Here is their definition of a locomotive: Locomotives: With some limited exceptions, the regulations apply to all diesel line-haul, passenger, and switch locomotives that operate extensively within the United States including newly manufactured locomotives and remanufactured locomotives that were originally manufactured after 1972.

Exhaust Emissions Standards
The final rule consists of a three-part emission control strategy.
First, the final standards for existing locomotives and marine diesel engines when they are remanufactured. These standards take effect as soon as certified remanufacture systems are available, as early as 2008.
Second, the rule sets near-term emission standards, referred to as Tier 3 standards, for newly-built locomotive and diesel marine engines. These standards reflect the application of currently available technologies to reduce engine-out PM and NOx emissions and phase-in starting in 2009. The rule also creates new idle reduction requirements for new and remanufactured locomotives and establishes a new generation of clean switch locomotives, based on clean nonroad diesel engine standards.
Third, the final long-term emissions standards, referred to as Tier 4, apply to newly-built locomotives and marine diesel engines. These standards are based on the application of high-efficiency catalytic aftertreatment technology and would phase-in beginning in 2014 for marine diesel engines and 2015 for locomotives. These standards are enabled by the availability of ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel with sulfur content capped at 15 parts per million, which will be available by 2012. These marine Tier 4 engine standards apply only to commercial marine diesel engines above 600 kW (800 hp).
EPA estimates this final rule will result in PM reductions of about 90 percent and NOx reductions of about 80 percent from engines meeting these standards, compared to engines meeting the current standards. The proposed standards would also yield sizeable reductions in emissions of HC, CO, and other air toxics.
This was taken from the following web page

http://www.epa.gov/otaq/regs/nonroad/420f08004.htm


Exclusions and Exemptions

There are certain types of locomotives that are excluded from these
regulations. First, all locomotives powered solely by an external source
of electricity, and all historic steam-powered locomotives are excluded
from these regulations. These locomotives are also not currently regulated
elsewhere by EPA. The regulations do not apply to existing locomotives
owned by railroads that are classified as small businesses, as
defined below, because these locomotives are not considered to be new
locomotives when remanufactured.

EPA is also excluding from these requirements some smaller engines
that are more typically used in other nonroad equipment. Engines used
in locomotive-type vehicles that are powered by less than 750 kilowatts
(kW) (1006 horsepower) total power and engines that are used in selfpropelled
railcars are excluded from these regulations. Such vehicles are
not considered to be locomotives under the definitions of 40 CFR Part
92. For example, a locomotive-type vehicle propelled by a single 700
kW engine (or two 350 kW engines) would not be subject to these
regulations, while a locomotive-type vehicle propelled by a single 800
kW engine (or two 400 kW engines) would be subject to these regulations.
Similarly, engines used in self-propelled passenger railcars are
excluded from these regulations. Such railcars are distinguished from
locomotives by the fact that they are designed specifically to carry
passengers in the propulsion vehicle. Locomotive engines which provide
only hotel (or head-end) power are also excluded from these regulations.
Diesel engines used in excluded locomotive-type vehicles, used in
railcars, or which provide only hotel power are subject to the requirements
of 40 CFR Part 89.
EPA has created special provisions for regulating passenger locomotives,
primarily because of the low production volumes. Newly manufactured
passenger locomotives will not be required to comply with the emission
standards until January 1, 2002. Remanufactured passenger locomotives
(other than those originally manufactured on or after January 1, 2002)
will not be required to comply with the emission standards until
remanufactured on or after January 1, 2007.
Subparts I and J of 40 CFR Part 92 provide for other temporary and
permanent exemptions from these regulations.

For More Information
Additional documents on locomotive exhaust emission standards are
available electronically from the EPA Internet server at:
http://www.epa.gov/oms/locomotv.htm
For further information on compliance with these regulations, please
contact the locomotive certification contact at:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Mobile Sources (6403J)
401 M Street SW
Washington, DC 20460

This was taken from,
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/regs/nonroad/lo ... f99037.pdf


By the way how is Colorado’s environmental person for Salida and his white dog doing these days?

Robby Peartree

As Kelly said, "this comes up from time to time:.

Total emissions nationwide from steam locomotives is trivial (and then some) compared to emissions from diesels.

Bob Heavenrich

[quote]

Total emissions nationwide from steam locomotives is trivial (and then some) compared to emissions from diesels.

[/quote]


Or autos or airplanes.....

Oh no! Dat der commie Obma is gonna dun take away our steam engines.
LOL

after reading all that it sounded like "Much ado about nothing" some senator sitting and writing a regulation-non-regulation.

Other than that, lets say I wrote a regulation that prohibits the use of coal boilers without modification to clean energy compliance, I would have to say if I wanted that, I would have to pay for it. (erases rule).

We forget the green trees an shrubbery all absorb all these "noxious" stuff to humans and if this did not happen this planet would be a polluted dirt ball like Venus, super hot and thick atmosphere. Doesn't happen that way.

I agree with the advancement of boiler technology, if the historical folks can do something they would be the ones to figure it out, not the figuratives in Washington.
Anyways, someone need to set a base to bounce on, but regulating historical equipment out of existence won't help your advancement if you don't learn from your past.

Aside from that I like the smell of coal smoke. 8-P