alt Hacker NewsNot sure from the page but I rode one coal powered steam train in Poland for “fun” and i wish i never did. It was an open carriage trip in koszalin and the pollution it did was such that coal particles rained on everyone. It was awful and I don’t get the nostalgia of riding such an obsolete vehicle. I was so outraged about it I told my wife the experience was like trying to experience a big pre industrial city without sewage system and finding it nostalgic.
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We rode a birch log powered narrow gauge steam train and it was absolutely splendid. There was some smoke but it was nice and adding to the experience. Mostly it was steam clouds. Open and closed carriages were available. It was very slow mind you.
My sympathies; I did the same elsewhere once (during sporadic rain, so the ash stuck!) and had an absolute ball. The novelty was fantastic but I am however under no illusions that I'd ever want to live during a period where that was the prevailing technology.
Different strokes, eh.
Funny, I rode many steam trains and I love it. I even plan trip at places specifically to enjoy an obsolete, stinking, smoky ride :)
Coal or ash in the smoke means they didn't operate the engine correctly. The smoke is supposed to be quite minimal (in particular relative to the massive amount of exhaust steam) and free from significant solids. Ash is dumped in special areas in daily maintenance.
Sad to hear you had a bad experience.