How much coal did the Flying Scotsman use between London and Edinburgh?


How much coal did the Flying Scotsman use between London and Edinburgh? Built in 1923, it was the first train to clock 100mph on one of its Edinburgh to London runs in 1934, carrying up to 8 tons of coal and 5,000 gallons of water, on what was, until the 1930s, the world's longest nonstop rail service.


Do steam trains refill water?

A water stop or water station on a railroad is a place where steam trains stop to replenish water. The stopping of the train itself is also referred to as a water stop. The term originates from the times of steam engines when large amounts of water were essential.


How much coal did it take for a steam locomotive to run for an hour?

This was somewhere around 5,000 pounds of coal per hour. A mechanical substitute for the fireman and shovel had to be found. The tasks that a stoker had to perform were complicated. It had to bring chunks of coal of various sized from the tender through a flexible joint to the engine and into a very hot firebox.


How fast did coal trains go?

An empty coal train can travel up to 60 mph.


What is the longest steam locomotive ever built?

The Big Boy has the longest engine body of any reciprocating steam locomotive, longer than two 40-foot buses. They were also the heaviest reciprocating steam locomotives ever built; the combined weight of the 772,250 lb (350,290 kg) engine and 436,500 lb (198,000 kg) tender outweighed a Boeing 747.


Do steam engines pollute more than diesel?

Coal fired steam locomotives do produce a lot of CO2 emissions but also aerosols which has a cooling effect (global dimming), which cancels out some of the warming produced by CO2. Diesel locos probably produce less CO2 but also less aerosols that would cancel out the CO2.


How long did the Flying Scotsman take from London to Edinburgh?

In 1928, the LNER decided to make The Flying Scotsman a non-stop service for the first time and 4472 was one of five A1s selected for the service. It hauled the inaugural train on 1 May, completing the journey of 392 miles (631 km) in 8 hours and 3 minutes.


Do steam trains pollute more than diesel?

Diesel engines are much more efficient than steam engines, but the combustion in the steam engine's firebox can be more carefully controlled and, so, possibly produce less of the types of pollution caused by imperfect combustion.


How far could a steam locomotive go before needing water?

During the very early days of steam locomotives, water stops were necessary every 7–10 miles (11–16 km) and consumed much travel time. With the introduction of tenders (a special car containing water and fuel), trains could run 100–150 miles (160–240 km) without a refill.


What is the lifespan of a steam train?

With regular maintenance, British steam locomotives typically lasted for approximately 30 years of intensive use, before major components would need to be replaced or overhauled. For a steam locomotive built in 1960, the economic lifespan would have led to it being withdrawn in the 1990s.


What was the top speed of the Flying Scotsman?

The Flying Scotsman went in service in 1923 and was given its famous name a year later. The train connected passengers from London to Edinburgh. It rose to global fame when it recorded 100 mph (160 kph) on a special test run in 1934, making it the first locomotive in the U.K. to reach that speed.


Which was faster the Mallard or the Flying Scotsman?

With a top speed of 126mph, the Mallard holds the record for being the fastest steam locomotive in the world. Another Gresley design, the Flying Scotsman, is an enduring achievement. When applying for planning permission, the society's trust stated: “This duck is no mere whimsy.