Re: Oil extraction
Anthony Thompson <thompson@...>
Ed Mines wrote:
For those who don't know, the terminology of Bunkers A, B and C came from fuels for ships. Obviously C was the bottom of the list, a very viscous material that could not naturally flow freely except on the hottest days. Steam locomotives used steam connections and piping in the tender to preheat the oil for flow to the firebox.
Tony Thompson Editor, Signature Press, Berkeley, CA
2906 Forest Ave., Berkeley, CA 94705 www.signaturepress.com
(510) 540-6538; fax, (510) 540-1937; e-mail, thompson@...
Publishers of books on railroad history
Did steam locos burn crude?Actually it's interesting to see the early history of SP and Santa Fe locomotive fuels. Both railroads did burn crude oil for a few years. But there are many components in crude far more valuable than the value of locomotive fuel, and little by little, lower and lower fractions became assigned as locomotive fuel. By 1910 there was already a "locomotive fuel" category, not yet as low as Bunker C but already a remainder fraction.
For those who don't know, the terminology of Bunkers A, B and C came from fuels for ships. Obviously C was the bottom of the list, a very viscous material that could not naturally flow freely except on the hottest days. Steam locomotives used steam connections and piping in the tender to preheat the oil for flow to the firebox.
Tony Thompson Editor, Signature Press, Berkeley, CA
2906 Forest Ave., Berkeley, CA 94705 www.signaturepress.com
(510) 540-6538; fax, (510) 540-1937; e-mail, thompson@...
Publishers of books on railroad history