Wonder if anyone has ever found a way to make black or grey smoke for steam engines. Would black or grey food coloring or dye mix with Lionel smoke fluid and produce a darker color? Would the mixture damage the smoke unit? Or is there another solution?
How often we see videos of steam engines blasting out black smoke from the stack as they fight climbing a hill.
Would be nice to see a little darker smoke coming out of the stack rather than white all the time.
RAY
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It is impossible to do without serious health affects.
Simple answer is NO!! remember the smoke you see in not actual smoke just a residue of a light oil with a fragrance added when heated.
Dave
@Ray of sunshine posted:Wonder if anyone has ever found a way to make black or grey smoke for steam engines.
No.
Would black or grey food coloring or dye mix with Lionel smoke fluid and produce a darker color?
No.
Would the mixture damage the smoke unit?
Yes.
Or is there another solution?
No.
How often we see videos of steam engines blasting out black smoke from the stack as they fight climbing a hill.
Would be nice to see a little darker smoke coming out of the stack rather than white all the time.
And have all those dark particles drop down all over your layout? I think not.
RAY
I like my smoking steamers...is there any place I can purchase larger quantities of liquid instead of these small expensive bottles?
Well I'm glad I asked. Since it has never been produced, I thought it might not work. But had to ask.
Thanks
RAY
@Rails52 posted:I like my smoking steamers...is there any place I can purchase larger quantities of liquid instead of these small expensive bottles?
MegaSteam offers 8 oz. refill bottles.
@Ray of sunshine posted:How often we see videos of steam engines blasting out black smoke from the stack as they fight climbing a hill.
Would be nice to see a little darker smoke coming out of the stack rather than white all the time.
RAY
Its been mentioned that excessive black smoke is wasted fuel on a poorly fired steam locomotive. so I'm perfectly fine with white smoke/ steam coming out of the stacks of my locos. This indicates the expertise of my 1:48 engineers and fireman.
Heres video( NOT MINE) of NKP 765 climbing horseshoe curve at full throttle working as hard as it ever has in 75 years, blowing more white steam than anything:
@Rails52 posted:I like my smoking steamers...is there any place I can purchase larger quantities of liquid instead of these small expensive bottles?
I believe Mike Reagan at Trainworx sells unscented "Lionel type" fluid by the quart.
@Ray of sunshine posted:Wonder if anyone has ever found a way to make black or grey smoke for steam engines. Would black or grey food coloring or dye mix with Lionel smoke fluid and produce a darker color? Would the mixture damage the smoke unit? Or is there another solution?
How often we see videos of steam engines blasting out black smoke from the stack as they fight climbing a hill.
Would be nice to see a little darker smoke coming out of the stack rather than white all the time.
RAY
Our toy train "smoke" is not really smoke at all, but is actually oil vapor. You might think of it as "oil steam", although that terminology is not technically correct.
Real smoke has particulate matter in it - unburned particles of what ever was being burned that made the smoke.
A big part of it is the difference between boiling and burning. Our toys boil the smoke oil to produce oil vapor, but do not burn/combust anything.
Anything making black smoke would include black particles that would be dirty, messy and hazardous to your lungs.
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