Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1902-02-22
Of Ignite TEST
Figures Compiled With Reference to
the Test of Ignite Coal in
Locomotives.
Saving of Over Forty Pei. Cent Shown
In Cost of Fuel from Mandan
to Jamestown.
Remarkable Showing Made or the
Remarkable Showing Made on tn
Trial Trip of Washburn Engine
"Great Falls"

The recent test of Ignite coal as a
fuel for engines on the Northern Pa
cifc road, in hauling heavily loaded
freight trains over the main line of
that road, was a successful one in ev-
cry particular. The test proves that
with engines constructed for the con-
sumption of Ignite coal this fuel is
available for use or the road at a great
saving over the fuel at present used.
Railroad men from all parts of the
country are interested in the test,
which is the first practical application
made of the fuel in an engine espe-
cially designed for it's use. The prin-
cipal objection in the past, when tests
of Ignite coal have been made in rail-
road locomotives, has been that the
draft has lifted the fire out of the fire
box and carried the live Goals through
the dues and out of the stack, render
ing it difficult to keep a fire. Thi,
has been overcome in the construction
of Engine No. 8, the Washburn road
engine with which the recent test was
made. This engine has a brick arch
over the fire box, which prevents the
lifting of the fire, which passes around
the end of the arch, and then through
the fues. keeping a steady and hot
flame. All gases from the coal rise to
the top of the arch, where they are
consumed. AS a result, there is little
smoke from the engines, and what
smoke escapes is light in color, and
does not roll forth in the thick black
clouds, produced by the consumption
of the bituminous coal with the stand
ard engines.
The officials of the Washburn road
have prepared the figures of the tests
made between Mandan and James,
town, both on the down trip and the
return, and they have been certified tt
the officials of the Northern Pacific
road. The following are the official
figures for the first trip, from Mandan
to jamestown, February 10:
Distance. 106 miles.
Train left Mandan, sos a.. m.
Arrived jamestown, 1870 p. m.
Actual running time, 5 hours, 81
minutes.
Average speed, 90 miles per hour.
Average steam PRESSURE. 1913 pounds
Amount of Ignite coal consumed, Is
tons, 500 pounds.
Tonnage behind tender, 1916 tons
No. of cars. 43 loads.
Estimated number of tons of eastern
coal to make trip, anne run and train
8 tons.
Cost per ton eastern coal at Mandan
81. O3.
Total cost eastern coal for trip, s
tons. 1924.
Cost of Ignite coal, 10 tons, 500 lbs.
at 81 per ton, $685..
Saving in favor of Ignite, $13. 80 or
43.4 per cent.
On the following day a test trip was
made west bound with the same en-
CINE, and an increased load, and the
following figures are given:
Distance, LOG miles.
Left jamestown, 1910 a. m.
Arrived at Mandan, 1:3O a. m.
Actual running time. Z hours, 80
minutes.
Average speed, II miles per hour.
Average steam pressure, 1876 pounds.
Amount of coal consumed, "a tons,
500 pounds.
Tonnage behind tender, 1854 tons.
No. Of cars, Al loads, 5 empties.
No. tons eastern coal to make same
trip with same train. II tons.
Cost of eastern coal, $44 .33.
Cost of Ignite. $24.25.
Saving, 500. OS. or 1873 per cent.
The tests were made with Engine
No. 3 of the Bismarck. Washburn &
Great Falls road. The engine was
made to order for the Washburn road
by the Baldwin Locomotive works. de-
signed especially for the burning of lig-
mite coal. 1t is a Vauclain compound
six wheel coupled. with trailing truck
and 81 inch drivers, 200 pounds steam
pressure. and 24x17x26 cylinder. II
| has wagon top boiler. and the weight
of the engine is 10000 pounds and the
g weight On the drivers 10000 pounds
The test was supervised by Mast"l
S Mechanic Currie. Travelling Engineer
harrison and Trainmaster Blewett fol
n the Northern Pacific road and Master
Mechanic Burrows and Traffic Manager
Walker for the Washburn road. The
g tender was coaled at Bismarck anC
Dawson on the down trip and at Me.
una ana McA enZle OH the reIutn Trip
. The test will be followed up witt
others and if the same ratio Of savins
. is proven, the Northern Pacific will
probably take up the matter of coal
S ing in this section of the country will
s Ignite, at least on part of its service
A demonstrated saving Of over fort!
. per cent on fuel is an item that will bt
of considerable consequence in consid
. ering the availability of Ignite coal a:
fuel.
g The smokers of Bismarck have
+ waited for years for the coming O
the Soo." SC at E. G. Patterson & Co
Chris. Henzler, the gunsmith. will
nooro eoop ~ q vacont h,ildin OT