Atmospheric Railways

[whole diary]

[Teignrail]

Has anyone tried recreating an atmospheric railway ? The basic idea is sound, and with modern flexible sealing strips rather than leather it should work.
Unlikely to be competitive with steam, diesel, or electric trains, but as a tourist attraction ?

The vacuum could be created by either a replica of the original centrifugal machines, or something based on large scale central vacuum cleaning plant.

The system was recreated at the former Starcross pumping station when, in the 1980s, it was briefly a museum dedicated to the atmospheric means of propulsion. A trolley on which one person could sit was run along a line with, if I remember correctly, a four-inch soil pipe between the rails. The air was exhausted ahead of the trolley by an upright vacuum cleaner. The demonstration was sponsored by Hoover.
One Sunday afternoon I had the place to myself and was given a tour by the curator, who led me up the stairs of what remained of the chimney to enjoy a fine view of the estuary.
Sadly, the museum was never popular: I couldn't even persuade the P.W.I. Secretary to organize a group visit.

[broadgage]

Another possibility is fireless steam, where the steam to operate the traditional steam locomotive's cylinders comes from a large insulated task of superheated water that takes the place of the traditional firebox/boiler/smokebox.  These locomotives were used in some industrial sites where the factory already had industrial boilers that could readily provide the superheated water.  In a future heritage world the water heating could be powered by local green sources; and heritage buffs would enjoy the traditional chuff-chuff sounds.

Such locomotives were used until recently in high risk places such as explosives stores and petrol depots. In the traditional format, not suitable for hauling passenger trains due to the lack of continuous brakes, to avoid the continual steam use of a vacuum ejector or a Westinghouse air pump.
It would be possible to provide a battery operated air compressor to work air brakes.