WHAT ABOUT HERITAGE RAILWAYS IN THE ‘NET ZERO’, CARBON-NEUTRAL FUTURE?

FOR heritage railways around the world, the ‘net zero’ future could be very different. With both coal and diesel largely removed from the economy, both of these fuels could become very expensive, or even banned altogether.

Developments in bio-diesel may offer a solution for diesel loco owners, although how well 70-90-year-old diesel engines (as many will be by 2050) will run on such fuels is not something any loco owner currently knows about.

Trials of ‘bio-coal’ were undertaken in June 2021 at the Bure Valley Railway in Norfolk. Three smokeless fuel alternatives to traditional Welsh coal were used, all of which incorporated solid fuel fines (dust) plus other materials. The most successful, said to offer the same performance as Welsh Coal, was made from 50% solid fuel fines and 50% crushed olive husks.

The Heritage Railway Association estimates that British heritage steam operations represent just 0.023% of all UK carbon emissions. But with the sale of coal for domestic use likely to end in 2025, the sector needs to find alternatives.

It is clear that heritage railways around the world need to ensure their long-term ability to both source coal and diesel fuel, and lobby their governments to ensure changes in the law do not prohibit future operation of historic locos.