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updated January 24, 2002
Taking a cue from John Craft's "Steam Central" webpage, which features a "Crystal Ball" list of predictions each January, I've decided to add this page to list some of the steam events we have to look forward to this year.
In Ushuaia, FCAF Garratt No. 2 (formerly "Nora" and now "L. D. Porta") is being tuned up after its extensive rebuild last year, and will enter regular service shortly. The political situation in Argentina is certainly worrying at present, but hopefully things will soon stabilize to avoid any disruption to the FCAF's tourist business. The World Steam Congress which had to be cancelled last year will hopefully be rescheduled this year, which should be a good forum for "spreading the gospel" of the potential benefits of modern steam locomotives for tourist service.
I've heard rumors of a recently completed upgrade to a locomotive on a tourist line locomotive, but I'm awaiting confirmation and details.
Tranex Turismo is working with Tren del Vino in Chile to rebuild their locomotive No. 607, a Class 57, and convert it from coal to oil firing for use on passenger excursions. The conversion would include the use of a high-efficiency rotary oil burner system as recently installed on FCAF No. 2 and previously installed on R711 and R766 in Australia, as well as installation of a Lempor exhaust system. There is hope that a second locomotive may also be modified.
One of the biggest potential events of the year is the construction of a new series of modern steam locomotives for switching service in Cuba. Designated LVM 800 (Locomotora Vapor Moderna 800 horsepower), these locomotives have been designed by Ing. L. D. Porta and a team of Cuban engineers and technicians. The engines will be 0-6-2T wheel arrangement, and will feature 3 cylinder compound expansion, Southern valve gear, Lempor or Lemprex exhaust systems, and GPCS fireboxes burning bagasse, the waste crushed sugar cane left over from sugar production (a "free" indigeously produced fuel in Cuba). Construction is scheduled to begin this month, so I'm looking forward to seeing progess on this project in the very near future.
Tenders were issued for proposals for new steam locomotives for the Darjeeling Himalaya Railway and the Nilgiri Railway in 2000, and several proposals have been under review by India Railways. There's some indication an order for the Darjeeling engines may be forthcoming, which would be good news for the DHR and steam in general.
DLM, the new company that was formed last year by former members of SLM's steam department, will hopefully get some new steam orders this year. Possibilities include engines for the DHR (see above), narrow gauge 2-8-2T's for eastern Germany, more ship engines as successfully fitted to Montreaux last year, and more of the H2/3 rack 0-4-2Ts for railways in Europe.
In England, things seem to still be moving slowly on the completion of "Tornado", a new full-size 4-6-2 built to the design of Peppercorn's A-1. The only major component (and probably the most expensive) which hasn't been built is the boiler, and tenders were issued for it to several companies late last year. I suppose it's overly optimistic to hope this could be completed in 2002, but it's still a possibility. On other fronts, I've heard that Garratt K-1 (the first one) which is being restored for service on the Welsh Highland Railway, will be fitted with GPCS and a Lempor exhaust. There are rumors of other very interesting steam projects.
There's one potential improvement project in the works, but I'm sworn to secrecy!
Nigel Day reports he is continuing development work on his advanced oil firing system on locomotive No. 4 on the Snowdon Mountain Railway. He also has several other projects in progress in the UK and elsewhere, and hopes to provide us with more information shortly..
Steam power still lingers on in switching service in Zimbabwe; we can always hope for at least a partial return to mainline steam operation. The one 59th Class Garratt has been restored in Kenya and there are good prospects for future operations. Steam also remains in scattered service across China, but there is little hope for any resurgence in its use.
I suppose that there's always a possibility that the political situation in Afghanistan and the middle east could result in a partial disruption of world oil supplies and a return to coal (or wood or bagasse) fired steam in some areas. Now if we could just convince the "powers that be" that the best way to build an economy for Afghanistan would be to build a railway network and power it with new, modern steam locomotives, we'd REALLY have something to look forward to!
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