I'm thinking of purchasing a coal fired locomotive but not sure of all the pros and cons.
I understand so far that I may need a blower over the stack to get it fired up and the benefit of no gas sound.
Black snow? Necessary firebox stocking during a run? Obtaining suitable coal? Hot embers dropping from the grate?
That's what comes to my uninitiated mind so far. Any advice welcome please.
You will certainly need a blower to get steam up, 12v ones pretty easy to make. Just a small motor with a fan to suck through the air till enough steam available to use the generated steam and the on board blower. They are commercially available and may be an add on when you buy one, would recommend including that add on.
Driving can be a bit trickier as you need to manage coal to the correct level to keep up steam but not put the fire out. A tricky art that some find difficult without a bit of help from a fellow coal firer.
Hot embers dropping from the grate slightly less of an issue as you should see them unlike alchohol fired locomotives that can drip invisible burning stuff.
Coal, generally should be available via specialist small engine suppliers.
Keeping an eye on the water level most important as the boiler tends to be smaller capacity due to extra tubes and firebox.
Most useful to have a set of track on your line with a place below to drop the fire when you have finished your run.
Cleaning up after a run most important as any ash can wear out parts.
But those that do it love it, most real like experience you can get in a model. But do not underestimate the time taken to master it. Fire up and go it certainly ain't.
