One of the narrow gauge locomotives on the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway has been used to test possible replacements for Welsh coal.
LYN steamed with Ecoal on the first day followed by Welsh Steam Coal on the second day.
The L&B says the results were encouraging, with the engine steaming freely and producing little ash, though more time was required to bring the loco to working steam pressure. The fuel did produce a rather strong smell but it was decided that it would be possible to use Ecoal as it is currently constituted.
Two new possibilities to replace the currently used Welsh steam coal from Fros-Y-Fran were tested at the L&BR:
Hargreaves Energy, the supplier of Fros-Y-Fran coal, have developed a new product specifically for the steam railway sector called Trevithick Welsh Steaming Ovoids. This product has already been tested at one of the Welsh narrow gauge railways where it was found to provide good heat with very little ash and clinker produced. Though declared a success in use, the product is approximately twice the cost of Welsh Steam Coal at £432/tonne.
A more innovative product offered, free of charge, to the L&BR for trial, comes from Phoenix Speciality Oils Ltd of Nottingham. This company produces rapeseed oil by environmentally friendly cold-pressing, which leaves a residue called “expeller” still containing about 15% available oil. Currently this residue is used as animal feed, or pressed into briquettes for domestic fires
The L & B Environment & Conservation Trustee Paul Curson, says "it's still early days in the search for a sustainable, efficient fuel to power our steam locomotives but a necessary process in our aim to bring the operational L & B to net carbon neutral status".
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