Serengheti Express at Busch Gardens Africa

[TheDegree777]

Can a propane steam conversion be done to steam powered locomotives

from the golden age of steam?

[woodencoasterfan]

@TheDegree777 It probably could be done for the full sized steam engines. You'd have to retrofit the fire box with propane jets. The only problem that I could see is there'd have some rather large propane tanks. But they'd certainly burn cleaner than a coal or wood fired engine would.

These engines were built by Crown Metal Works, unfortunately I don't know where their plant is.

[guitboxchicken]

@woodencoasterfan Smaller ones, maybe, but you need a lot of btu's for the large ones. I think after a certain size, the locomotive would need more propane than the tender can carry. At that point, it would become impractical.

[railsrust]

@woodencoasterfan Crown Metal Products went out of business in the late 1980's. They built park trains from about 1959-1989 of various sizes from miniatures to locomotives the size of the ones in this video. They were just as popular then as the Chance C.P. Huntington trains are today.

[woodencoasterfan]

@railsrust Thanks for the info on Crown Metal going out of business. It's a shame to hear that as I think they made some of the better replicas for the amusement/theme park industry.

[RocketRodder]

@TheDegree777 It can be done. In fact it IS done! At Knott's Berry Farm, the kiddie train is a real steamer that burns propane. Oh wait... the golden age...

Well, there's a way to burn Diesel fuel, the big train at KBF burns Diesel.

[BigMatt1225]

this is a great video!!! Yes, like you said, the yellow engine came from Six Flags St Louis, and it was built my Crown Metal Products for six flags st louis, they actually buitl two for six flags st louis, that being the number 6 that still runs today under steam on propane, i know cause i actually work at six flags st louis running the steam train. When the number 5 left us it was painted green.

[railsrust]

Actually, only 2 of these locomotives were built for the park, which is why they look like they are from Africa. The other 2 locomotive were built for separate amusement parks, one being from Six Flags St. Louis. These locomotives were built by Crown Metal Products from 1963-1979. The smaller engines of 2' gauge or smaller were built from 1959-198?. You will notice that the steam engines in this video looks nothing like a locomotive in Africa. The other two are the REAL replica engines.

[woodencoasterfan]

Just thought I'd let you know I was able to find out that the Yellow train #5 came from Six Flags St Louis and the Green Train #601 came from King's Dominion just north of Richmond, VA. It took me a while to find the info but I did find it on Steamlocomotive's site.

[nelliet1950]

A very nice ride through the park and an easy way to get from one area to another. We try to ride it each time we are at the park.