§ 95. Major GODFREY PALMERasked the Minister of Transport whether he can give the House any information regarding the results of the recent experiments in oil-burning locomotives?
§ Mr. NEALThe Great Central Railway have recently carried out tests on locomotives burning colloidal fuel, which is composed of 60 per cent. coal dust and 40 per cent. oil. Technical figures relating to comparative efficiency have been received, but the fuel consumption and cost as compared with coal have not been given. The Great Western Railway stated in January last that is was proposed to fit one of the company's locomotives for burning liquid fuel, but no report as to the result of the test has yet come to hand. Liquid fuel has been used extensively on locomotives ever since 1886, and the reason that it is no longer used in any quantity is that it is not economical to do so; further, it is doubtful whether oil will ever be supplied in sufficient quantity, and at a low enough price, to warrant a change over being made on the railways in this country.