Western Railroad Discussion > Steam engines converted to diesel

Many years ago in Trains magazine, I remember reading about a
handful of small steam engines that were "dieselized." A small
diesel engine of some kind was dropped into the boiler, a radiator
was stuck in the smokebox behind a screen (with the smokebox door
removed, obviously), and the motor connected to the wheels through a
chain-and-sprocket drive of some kind. The locomotives were being
used as light-duty industrial switchers. I no longer have the
magazine, but I'm curious if anyone is aware of any other such
conversions.

wasn't there an engine such as this at calico ghost town? perhaps it was an as built park engine I can't remember.

there is a old steamer that was converted to diesel in Calgary
Alberta. I can't remember all the details at this time. Too late
in the day but I will try to get the info in the next day or so.

The National Railroad Museum in Green Bay Wi. has a steam locomotive, I don't recall what configuration, that was converted by putting an engine and generator in the tender, and traction motor trucks under the tender. I don't think they are using it right now, but in the past it has been used quite a bit for short visitor operations around their area. Mark D.

I believe that a Tonapah & Tidewater experiment used a gasoline engine mounted on a bare frame. No boiler, cab or much of anything.

David Myrick had a picture of it in the volume of Railroads of Nevada that dealt with the T&T and the Bullfrog and Goldfield.

In Italy about 60 old 3-axle shunting steam engines were converted to electric locos.

There is sometype of R.R. association in California, where they still have a Heisler steam engine that was converted to a diesel. There is a small collection of steam engines, Eureka CA perhaps?

I seem to recall reading somewhere that during WWII the Swiss were having trouble getting coal deliveries and converted some steamers into electrics by putting a big heating coil into the boiler. Sort of like an oversized immersion heater. An HO model would be a real conversation-stopper!

Winston Hill

It is my understanding that the steam "electrics" were to switch industries that had no wire hung. Think of it, they pull up to a siding, lower the pan, switch, then raise the pan for heat. You never have to string the sidings. And for short moves it made sense, as you do not need a 100% continual supply of heat. I have a picture of one on my workshop wall next to my erection drawing of the 0-4-0 I'm building. I just cant figure out how to get enough constant juice into the boiler to build on of those "electrics."

I believe many amusement park steam locos are run by diesel: Knotts, Disneyland, Prometory Point, etc. The locomotives are steam, with diesel fuel pouring into the boiler.

I saw two such locos at sugar mills in Cuba a couple of weeks ago. One was in the shop and the other was out on the line pulling a 2 axle trailer. Also, in 1977, I think, I photographed a shay that had been converted out of service in the weeds along the old Clindchfield in western Virginia.boilermaker wrote:
>
> I believe many amusement park steam locos are run by diesel:
> Knotts, Disneyland, Prometory Point, etc. The locomotives are
> steam, with diesel fuel pouring into the boiler.

boilermaker wrote:
>
> I believe many amusement park steam locos are run by diesel:
> Knotts, Disneyland, Prometory Point, etc.

I was referring more to steam locomotives with infernal
combustion engines mounted somewhere in them, but this is
interesting too. Some purpose-built amusement park engines have
the equivalent of a big bunsen burner blowing flame in through
the firebox door. There's a park in Kansas City with one
of these, and the aroma of the exhaust suggested the fuel was
something other than diesel.

> The locomotives are steam, with diesel fuel pouring into the boiler.

Into the boiler? Hmmm...in that case they really aren't "steam"
engines. VOC engines? BLEVE engines? ;^)

Here in Calgary, Alberta, the historical village operates a converted steamer, nicknamed the "Goat". The engine (can't remember the type offhand) used to work in Canmore, Alberta, at the mine there. The boiler was unrepairable, so they put a diesel engine in where the firebox would be. Unless you're looking for it, you can't really tell except of course for the sound and a couple of new controls in the cab. The park does own and operate 2 Lima 0-6-0s under steam (oil burners) throughout the summer; they use the Goat for switching cars around the roundhouse and carshops, esp. during days the park is closed, since they don't have to build up a fire and steam in the Goat ;-)

Ironhorse