Refueling Steam Engines

A man inspects the diesel fuel pump just beside the Carbondale, Illinois coal chute. Loading steam engines with coal and water and incidental maintenance takes about 1 hour.  A diesel engine can be fueled from a pump like this one in 10 minutes or so.

A man inspects the diesel fuel pump just beside the Carbondale, Illinois coal chute. Loading steam engines with coal and water and incidental maintenance takes about 1 hour.  A diesel engine can be fueled from a pump like this one in 10 minutes or so.

A railroad worker removes ash from the locomotive ash pit. After a run, before going into the roundhouse, the locomotive grates are shaken down to remove any ash, clinkers or other substances. When this is done, the little cart moves the ash and unburnt coal to the car on the left; often times this material is used for ground fill in the train yard or along the right of way.

A railroad worker removes ash from the locomotive ash pit. After a run, before going into the roundhouse, the locomotive grates are shaken down to remove any ash, clinkers or other substances. When this is done, the little cart moves the ash and unburnt coal to the car on the left; often times this material is used for ground fill in the train yard or along the right of way.

Illinois Central Railroad firemen using a long bar to redistribute the coal in the firebox and break up any "clinkers" -- places where the coal has hardened into a lump and is not burning properly.

A railroad worker readying a penstock, or water column, to fill the tender of Illinois Central Railroad Engine 1536. This is likely in Carbondale, Illinois.

Illinois Central Railroad Engine 1536 is filled with water to refeul in Carbondale, Illinois. Loading of coal and water and incidental maintenance takes a steam locomotive about 1 hour. A diesel engine can be fueled from a pump in 10 minutes or so. Steam Engine 1536 is a Mikado 2-8-2 locomotive.

The Illinois Central Railroad Engine 1536, a 2-8-2 Mikado locomotive, is refueled in Carbondale, Illinois. Loading of coal and water and incidental maintenance takes a steam locomotive about 1 hour. A diesel engine can be fueled from a pump in 10 minutes or so.