The reason why I brought it up is because I fire a 1913 Sawyer Massey Steam Traction engine several times a year. We usually put her to bed with a couple of hardwood chunks in her to keep it hot overnight. Our firebox is about 15 square feet, I believe a K-27 is about 30 square feet (60X72"), So even though it is twice the size, a narrow guage engine still has a reasonably small grate area. Think about it though, a hot fire that the neighbours can't distinguish from the campground, or the granola eating yuppie next door with his fireplace. You could tout it as overnight biomass, "now fired by a renewable resource"


HOW MUCH WOOD

The following is called the Smithers method for estimating the number of cords of wood to heat a house. A standard cord is a well stacked pile of wood 128 cubic feet in volume, a pile 4 feet by 4 feet by 8 feet. Most people have some way to arrive at the amount of conventional fuel it takes to heat the house for an average year.

The Smithers method assumes the following equivalents to one cord of average dry hardwood* (W):


150 gallon No. 2 fuel oil
230 gallon LP gas
21,000 cubic feet natural gas
6,158 kwh electricity

A cord is worth between $120-170 depending on location and volume purchased. Certainly seems like an easier option than converting to natural gas! Interested yet John?