OIL AS LOCOMOTIVE FUEL 109 



form rapidly, especially if the burners are properly designed and main- 

 tained. 



John D. Isaccs, Consulting Engineer, Union Pacific Railroad 

 Company, Oregon Short Line Railroad Company, Oregon-Washington 

 Railroad and Navigation Company, Southern Pacific Company.— 1h& 

 advantages of oil-bumers versus coal-burners are almost entirely in 

 favour of oil and the following are some of these advantages. 



1. Higher heat value of the oil for the same weight of fuel. 



2. Higher efficiency of the boiler with the use of oU. 



3 . No ashes to handle. 



4. Firing is simplified and more uniform. 



5. Oil can be stored without deterioration and is easier to handle 

 from storage to locomotives. 



6. No sparks or cinders to cause fire or annoy passengers. 



7. Less smoke from oil when properly fired. 



8. No waste due to banking of fires. 



In general if 33^ barrels of oil can be obtained at the point of use 

 for the same or a lower price, than one ton of average bitimiinous coal, 

 oU firing of a locomotive is the most satisfactory fuel. 



San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad Company. — The 

 use of crude oil as locomotive fuel is quite satisfactory, and, while we 

 did not adopt it as a fire preventive measure, there is little doubt but 

 that fewer fires are started by oil burning locomotives than by those 

 which bum coal, owing to the absence of cinders. 



The present price of oil f.o.b. Los Angeles is 63c. per barrel of 42 

 gallons. We have determined by experimental tests that four barrels 

 of oil will equal one ton of coal in producing steam. 



The dividing point on our line, as between oil burning and coal 

 burning locomotives, is determined largely by the price of both oil 

 and coal, and at the present time the cost is practically equalized at 

 Milford, Utah, which is one of ovir district terminals. 



Great Northern Railway Company. — The use of oil is satisfactory 

 from a fire preventive standpoint. 



We figure that four barrels of oil (168 gallons) are equal to one ton 

 of coal. 



The oil, as compared with coal, figuring freight rates, costs about 

 one-third less at present prices. 



Acting District Forester, U. S. Forest Service, Portland, Oregon.— 

 I sent a representative of this office to call on officials of the Southern 

 Pacific and make enquiries concerning Certain phases of the use of fuel 



