seaboardm2 posted:One thing I have learned about steam locomotive is that they.Do not always leave a cloud behind.The modern steam locomotive can operate with out putting out smoke.I have seen this in person with 611.I have seen steam locomotive 261 running at speed leaving very little smoke.At times you had to really look hard to see it.I was mislead by t.v. and movies.
TV and movies go for visual effect and should not be used as an accurate portrayal of steam back in the day. Just as we would make smoke for a photo line at IRM.
Black smoke is unburned fuel, be it coal or oil.
That said, sometimes making smoke is unavoidable, but a good fireman runs a clean stack for as long as possible by communicating with and anticipating the engineer.
Rusty