OIL AS LOCOMOTIVE FUEL 113 



The cost of oil is much greater than coal, especially the last year 

 when we had to pay 7.560. per gal. delivered at Diver. We figure 

 that 250 gals, of oil will equal about i ton of coal, and the average cost 

 of coal is about $5.15 per ton delivered Diver, Ont. However, in using 

 oil we save a fireman. 



As to economy of burning fuel oil, the only advantage is the elimin- 

 ating of the fire hazard. As you well know one fire is more expensive 

 than $5.00 or $10.00 a day for two or three months. We find that we 

 get as good results in steaming quality from the fuel oil as we do from 

 coal. 



Canadian Pacific Railway Co., Western Lines. — ^We contranplate 

 extending the use of oil on locomotives to the West Coast during the 

 present year. 



The on is at present purchased from the Union OU Company of 

 California by contract, its cost being seventy-three cents per barrel 

 of forty-two United States gallons delivered without further charge 

 on to tank cars at Vancouver. 



We figure that 3.86 barrels of oil are about equal in steaming 

 efficiency to one ton of the coal previously used in the territory where 

 we now bum oil. The present cost of the coal would average $2 .80 

 per ton. 



Conclusions 



(i) Sparks from coal-burning locomotives have in the past been a 

 prolific source of fires. 



(2) No fire-protective appliances have yet been devised which 

 will wholly prevent the escape of live sparks from the stack. 



(3) It requires close and continued inspection of fire-protective 

 appliances, in order to maintain coal-burning locomotives in a con- 

 dition of minimum fire danger. The inspection furnished in the past 

 has not, in the case of most railway companies, been thoroughly effi- 

 cient. 



(4) The use of oil as fuel eliminates very nearly all the danger of 

 fire due to locomotive operation. 



(s) If the oil-burning apparatus is properly installed and main- 

 tained, and there is careful and intelligent operation by experienced 

 men, the question of fire danger practically ceases to be an element 

 in the problem. Little if any greater degree of care and experience is 

 necessary with oil burners than with coal burners. The men must, 

 however, be properly drilled to start with. 



