Peat Sheds
In the early Länderbahn period peat was often used as a locomotive fuel instead of coal. Does anyone know of a photo or sketch of such a shed which could be modelled?

What a fascinating piece of information! Was this a regional thing, or was it a widespread practice? Were coal-fired locos able to burn peat without modification? Was peat used in other countries - eg Ireland?

Gary, I understand that peat (Torf) was used in Southern Bavaria until about 1900 because coal had to be imported; however, I understand that peat burning locomotives required a crew of four which meant that before too long it was more economic to import coal. The Landerbahn forum (www.lbforum.com/foren.htm) had a series of four articles on Bavarian Peat burning locomotives (1/98, 2/98,4/98 and 1/99). OT for German Railways, but Ireland had several experiements with peat burning locomotives (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Biscuittin/sandbox). The best known of these was Córas Iompair Éireann (Irish State Railways) Prototype engine No CC1, designed by OVS Bulleid, which superficially resembled his "famous" SR Leader class (http://www.semgonline.com/steam/leader_01.html). Paul - some previous comments in another forum from Sith Sastrasinh regarding peat sheds: I have never seen a picture of peat shed for locomotives, but it should at least had a roof to protect the peat from rain and snow. The coaling device in a small station may as simple as a raised platform with a pulley to lift up a basket filled with coal. Weinert has a model of coal (or peat) basket in either white metal or cast brass. Weinert also has a model of coaling platform with pulley, although it is going to be a lot more expensive than a plastic model or a scratch built model. In a simpler operation there wasn't even a platform. Locomotive crews just put a ladder against the tender and carried the basket filled with coal or peat up the ladder. Regards Greg

Gary, I believe it was quite widespread in Bavaria for a while as Greg suggests. I have seen peat sheds marked on station plans and there are models of peat-fired locomotives with massive covered tenders. Of course peat was hygroscopic so it had to be covered. You also needed far more of it, so sometimes there were additional peat wagons hauled behind the engines. Trix/Märklin have produced some lovely models of peat-fired locos and even a 'peat train' set. Dated to the 1880s I believe.

Peat sheds
Hello Paul, I would like to suggest Manfred bergers books " Bahnhofsbauten" Vol I-III bublished by Transpress several years ago. The are scaledrawings of south German railway stations of the 1880ies. Best regards , Wolfgang