Gas Fired Tich

[ron]

This is probably sacrilege but I would be interested to know if anyone has any experience of gas firing a Tich loco or knows of any info sources.
All going well mine should be finished in the early spring and I'm interested to try this, I have a spare ceramic burner from my vertical boiler which could be cut to fit the bottom of the Tich firebox, anyone think this is likely to work or is there more to it than I realise?
Ron

[chris vine]

Hi,

I am sure it could be made to work but it takes away half the fun of running a locomotive. First you don't have the enjoyable wait while the fire gets going when, as with a Bar B Q, you can have a cup of tea or a beer; and secondly they weren't gas fired originally so it takes away from the sense of recreating something of the past. Yes I know the real ones were bigger etc etc....!!

Cheers
Chris.

[JohnP]

When we had the Curly Bowl at Bromsgrove in (I think) 1996, I believe one Tich (there were 2) had a gas burner. Maybe ME for around then might help in checking this out?

JohnP

[ron]

Thanks for the replies, I wasn't actually thinking of firing it with gas instead of coal completely, I thought I could gas fire it as an experiment using a ceramic burner without having to modify the firebox, other than removing the grate and ashpan, which meant it could easily be converted back to coal.
I worked in a coal fired boiler station for near 20 years so I understand the attraction coal firing has [and it's drawbacks] but maybe I'm getting impatient with age, I prefer gas fired barbies ;D
Chris, where abouts in Scotland are you?
Ron

[chris vine]

Hi Ron,

Just outside Glasgow on the West side. Live in a tiny village without a shop but there is another model engineer within 500 yards of my house! More useful than a shop really....

Where are you?
Cheers
Chris.

[mott]

Hi Ron. I have been following along similar thoughts for my Rob Roy but in conversations with Polly Engineering the opinion was that a ceramic burner would not be powerful enough. There would also be the problem of carrying a gas cylinder of some sort presumably on the ride- on trolley. Ok if you are on a ground level trolley with storage space under the seat but not so easy if you were running on a raised track. I actually trawled round most of the suppliers without success. I would be interested to hear if you make any progress. Mott

[ron]

Hi Mott
What little info I've picked up so far seems to be along similar lines to what you were told, ie a ceramic burner isn't hot enough, but when the time comes I'll give it a try because it looks do-able without any permanent mods.
Chris, I'm in sunny Saltcoats, I'm fairly new to this game, are there any clubs nearby?
Ron

[3405jimmy]

You raise an interesting question about gas firing which always throws up the well it’s not prototypical argument. That is generally followed by the but it’s safer than having your head in the fire box shovelling coal when you should be watching where your driving counter argument.

Based on my experiences in the states both gas and diesel fuels are viable alternatives to coal. They all have their down sides and their upsides. In this country your biggest problem will be the rivet counters.

If you’re designing from scratch things you need to consider are, boiler tubes are generally a smaller diameter if not coal fired, which means it’s more difficult to change back. You will need a bespoke fire pan for the burner. It’s a good idea to provide an alternative method of lighting the fuel if it is sucked out. Freezing up can be a problem and you need to get your regulator and pipe work sited correctly to prevent this.

If you do a search on Google there are a number of interesting sites on this topic, none of which I can remember at the minute. IF you do decide to have a go and are successful there is a pressure vessel company in the UK who are on the web who will build you a tank of any shape you like within reason.

This is an excellent site perhaps not a burner you would want to use but you have to admire the guy’s workmanship

www.sci.fi/~animato/steam/index.html

This site sells gas burners for locomotives as well as the burner jets

www.locoparts.net/

Jim

[chris vine]

Hi Ron,

Send me an email and we can fix up to get together for cup of tea or something stronger...

Cheers
Chris [e-mail]

[SteveW]

Ron,

I was cruising through some old ME mags today and found an article in 5-18 Aug 1977 Vol 143 No.3566 page 874 by a Mr.George Hill.

It describes a propane burner for locomotives. Actually a 3-1/2 Juliet. Better still this one was his second version which was more stable. The main difference being the old copper version transfered heat too well back towards the gas source. Using steel construction was better.

There is even a diagram of it.

Are you interested?

[ron]

Hi Steve
Just saw your post, been away for a few days on holiday, yes I would be interested in any info you have, as I said earlier I'm quite new to this game and haven't got access to old MEs and sources like that.
Ron

[SteveW]

Ron,

Message me (one of the many buttons on these pages) with your email address and I'll beam you a scan of the info for research purposes only.