Someone e-mailed me a question so totally off my usual way of thinking I decided to post it here.

With ferocious drought wreaking havoc on regions of the Northeast, I was wondering if the use of steam locomotives could be affected. I mean, places like Strasburg might use 10,000 gallons or more a day of water.

As far as I know, the only RR that might be in a drought area and using enough steam to matter would be Strasburg. I know they pay for their water (or at least must have a good well), but I could just see them being asked by local residents or well-meaning authorities to "do their part" and dieselize for the duration. Heck, they only have one non-steam loco worthy of the job, 44-tonner #33!

Any comments or observations?

lner4472@bcpl.net

Lancaster County has been under a “drought emergency” since last spring as a result of a multi-year drought (since1999?) that has left us 36" of rain short since the last normal year. So far, the voluntary conservation is keeping things under control, just barely.

The Strasburg Rail Road buys its water from Strasburg Boro, but we do have our own well for emergency use. However, that water is very hard, so not recommended for use in boilers. The Boro sent out a letter a couple of weeks ago urging citizens to redouble their conservation efforts, as consumption was closing in on supply. The letter said that if that trend continues, the Boro will cut off water to large commercial users first. That means us. On the other side of the coin, we just went from running 11 trains a day to 4 trains a day which helps lower the demand on the BoroÂ’s water system.

Strasburg Rail Road
kelly@strasburgrailroad.com

> Someone e-mailed me a question so totally
> off my usual way of thinking I decided to
> post it here.

> With ferocious drought wreaking havoc on
> regions of the Northeast, I was wondering if
> the use of steam locomotives could be
> affected. I mean, places like Strasburg
> might use 10,000 gallons or more a day of
> water.

Interesting question. But I have one too. Water is converted in a steam locomotive into steam. Some of that steam at least is returned to the environment through various fittings on the locomotive and out the stack. Wonder if anyone has ever done a sturdy to determine exactly how much is returned?

> As far as I know, the only RR that might be
> in a drought area and using enough steam to
> matter would be Strasburg. I know they pay
> for their water (or at least must have a
> good well), but I could just see them being
> asked by local residents or well-meaning
> authorities to "do their part" and
> dieselize for the duration. Heck, they only
> have one non-steam loco worthy of the job,
> 44-tonner #33!

> Any comments or observations?


midlandblb@cs.com

> Interesting question. But I have one too.
> Water is converted in a steam locomotive
> into steam. Some of that steam at least is
> returned to the environment through various
> fittings on the locomotive and out the
> stack. Wonder if anyone has ever done a
> sturdy to determine exactly how much is
> returned?

All of it. Water in its gaseous and liquid forms (hopefully not solid) is merely a fluid which runs through locomotives and none is consumed. It carries energy but doesn't provide it.

Dave

irondave@bellsouth.net

> All of it. Water in its gaseous and liquid
> forms (hopefully not solid) is merely a
> fluid which runs through locomotives and
> none is consumed. It carries energy but
> doesn't provide it.

> Dave

Dave: Then it seems that a steam locomotive is environmentally FRIENDLY when it comes to water usage. Why then would it be necessary to CURTAIL steam locomotive operations during a drought?


midlandblb@cs.com

> Dave: Then it seems that a steam locomotive
> is environmentally FRIENDLY when it comes to
> water usage. Why then would it be necessary
> to CURTAIL steam locomotive operations
> during a drought?

Because the water the locomotive is using is coming out of the same reservoir or water table that supplies Strasburg, Cass, Williams, Orbisonia, or wherever. When it is exhausted to the atmosphere, it goes back to being part of the atmosphere and weather systems, not back into the ground near these towns or back into their water supplies. Thus the steam Grand Canyon RR is chuffing falls as rain in Texas, the TSRR's exhaust falls on the TVRM, etc.

In central Maryland, some reservoirs are down to a 30- to 40-day supply, and the upcoming elections are apparently the only reason we don't have full-panic emergency measures in effect. (Luckily, Western Maryland Scenic is not in this area, and does have diesels to fall back on if necessary.) You can bet your bottom dollar that if Strasburg were running two trains a day in this area, they would be under the gun to reduce water consumption drastically.


lner4472@bcpl.net

In arid countries condensing locomotives that recapture a large portion of the water that passes through them have been practical. Perhaps we should consider running African condensing Garrats at CATS?

It isn't a problem of losing the water from the environment, Les. It is having the water available in the right part of the environment to fill the tanks that is the problem.

Dave

irondave@bellsouth.net