The Cost Savings of Steam Today.

[NW Mailing List]

I think John of Chester has it figured about right.  The problem with calculating the costs of any mobile power generator, i.e., the self-contained locomotive, is trying to handicap the price of each respective fuel into the medium-term future, 20-30 years, or the average life of a locomotive.  The most likely paradigm is the same one that The N&W and Virginian hit upon in the first half of the twentieth century--for heavily trafficked and steeply graded areas, generate power at a fixed plant and let it be converted to electric traction out on the line.  The only difference is that power plants built today would be convertible to take advantage of major swings in differences in prices amongst oil, natural (or other) gas, and, to a lesser extent coal (sorry, but while coal may the fuel of the present, it won't be the fuel of the future).  And, just as N&W and Virginian found it more economical to use steam on most branches and feeder lines, diesel or some other self-contained locomotive engine would perform the same functions in the future.

Sam Putney
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: NW Mailing List 
  To: NW Mailing List 
  Sent: Saturday, January 12, 2008 10:10 AM
  Subject: Re: The Cost Savings of Steam Today.


  Gents 
  Once again a very interesting rerun of the evergreen debate.

  Coal may be cheaper than oil now and into the future.    Labour is becoming disproportionately expensive.

  Steam turbines -  See Rails Remembered Vol 4, Jawn H. 
  Yes current technology could well improved the prototype but the conclusion of the book would in today's  economics probably be the same.  i.e 
  Burn your coal in big fixed plant power stations to feed your  locomotives' traction motors . 
  Advantages ?
  You can use other fuels as available 
  The locos MU and start at the flick of a switch.
  Better control of emissions from big plant.
  Disadvantages ?
  Capital cost and maintenance of wires. v Cost of steam support infrastructure ?
  Higher costs per train mile on secondary routes 
  Less flexibility re low density areas.
  Higher distribution costs over large distances.

  Regards 
  John 
  of Chester 







    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: NW Mailing List 
    To: 'NW Mailing List' 
    Sent: Friday, January 11, 2008 11:26 PM
    Subject: RE: The Cost Savings of Steam Today.


     

     

     Guys:  No matter what, physics still dictate the overall thermal efficiency of the diesel cycle and thee steam locomotive cycle.  ...................................


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