Large Scale Central

Water Quality for Steam Engines

Electronics Live Steam
#1

This is cross posted in Live Steam to get the widest spread of answers.

Aboard Navy steam ships, and I suppose steam ships in general, boiler feed water is distilled to a higher purity that is potable water. This is to protect the boiler from impurities in the water forming scale on the “pipes” that would hasten the breakdown of the boiler.

Yet, water purity does not seem to be a concern with steam locomotives. It was not uncommon for a locomotive to draw water directly from a river. It might go temporarily into a tank, but there was no processing of the water that I know of.

Why was there a difference between boiler feed water at sea and on railroads.

SteveF

#2

Salt?

#3

A steam locomotive is never far from home…or a repair facility. Thus being able to clean out the boiler of scale etc was no major problem. But who the heck wants to be with a down boiler 6 weeks into a 3 month tour out in the middle of one he** of a big pond…:confused:

As far as model boilers go, smart modelers do used distilled water.

#4
Warren Mumpower said:
A steam locomotive is never far from home...or a repair facility. Thus being able to clean out the boiler of scale etc was no major problem. But who the heck wants to be with a down boiler 6 weeks into a 3 month tour out in the middle of one he** of a big pond...:/ As far as model boilers go, smart modelers do used distilled water.
I believe the 1:1 railroads also used water treatment plants in some areas to reduce the need for boiler cleaning.
#5
Chris Vernell said:
I believe the 1:1 railroads also used water treatment plants in some areas to reduce the need for boiler cleaning.
I think I read that some railroads used chemicals in the tender tank to treat the water. Don't recall if it was to reduce scaling, but I think that was it.

JR