We tend to use around 5 gallons on a heavy river run (Humber/Trent) a
day (usually long days though, about 10 hours or more).
Of course the heavier consumption under river conditions applies to
steamers as well. I was on the support boat which followed President up
the Severn from the Gloucester National - she was running so hard that
the counter had pulled down to well above the centre band (i.e. a foot
or so).
I wonder if there is any millage in using steam-electric? Not sure if
the losses in the system would make it worse than a steam engine
driving the prop direct.
Yes they would. Turbo-electric drive was used as an alternative to
geared turbines but was considerably less efficient, so was preferred
only where it offered special advantages (e.g. on liners where AC
electric drive could ensure the propellers were synchronised to avoid
vibration). I have a Stuart two-cylinder direct-coupled generator
(originally built for locomotive lighting) - a delightful piece of kit
but an excellent way of turning a lot of steam into not much
electricity.
minimal maintenance on the engine probably less than replacing the
oil
and fuel filters cost on a diesel.
On a conventional open-frame double-acting engine lubrication is very
poor (grit can get in, and the push-pull destroys the oil film which
builds up on a single-acting engine). I have had to replace the big end
brasses this winter because of wear - locomotives used to go in for a
complete rebuild of the motion every 70,000 miles or so, which was a
fraction of the revolutions a modern engine would run for. Towards the
end of the steam era enclosed-crankcase engines with pressure
lubrication were built, but they are very boring to watch.
Is running on wood any good? - the cost of wood is probably more than
coal at the moment, but there is quite a bit of free stuff along the
canal...
You do need a LOT of wood (the lower deck on Mississippi steamers was
completely taken up by boiler and fuel). When I went to look at my
current boiler which was in 'Swan' on Rudyard lake, we used four bags of
offcuts to go up and down the lake a couple of times. Of course if you
have a friendly sawmill and a lot of space on the boat....
...and what about burning bio fuel oil - I guess you would need to
alter the boiler to do this.
That's the route I'm exploring (waste oil).
Sean
