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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 3, Issue 11 (March 1, 1929)

Utilisation of Pulverised Coal

Utilisation of Pulverised Coal.

Notwithstanding the extended utilisation of electricity, coal still remains supreme as the medium for generating power for railway transport. The coal bill of every railway is a most formidable item of expense, and any endeavour which holds out possibilities for economy in this direction, is worthy of the most wholehearted encouragement. The economies which might be secured by the utilisation of pulverised fuel for locomotive firing have often been discussed, and at the present time the Southern Railway of England is about to embark upon important trials of pulverised fuel, employing, for this purpose, a type of equipment produced page 19 by a German engineering concern. It may be recalled that twelve years ago the Great Central Railway (now embraced within the London and North Eastern group), undertook extensive trials with locomotives fired on pulverised coal and a mixture of pulverised coal and oil. The trials were to a considerable degree successful, although a good deal of difficulty arose with the brickwork and dust. For reasons connected with the Great War nothing further came of these trials, but it seems likely that, at an early date, pulverised fuel will be introduced generally on the Home railways. One problem requiring solution is the production of a small and light pulveriser suitable for fitting on existing tenders, in order that the experimental running of a number of locomotives might be provided for. Eventually, of course, central pulverising plants will be the order of the day, but, for the time being, the expense which would be involved in the setting up of such plants puts them outside the realm of practical railway working.

The London And North Eastern Railway. A British locomotive (now belonging to the London and North Eastern Group) which is fired on coal and oil mixture.

The London And North Eastern Railway.
A British locomotive (now belonging to the London and North Eastern Group) which is fired on coal and oil mixture.