could an electrical powered boiler provide enough heat to power a steam locomotive?

Answer 1

I don't think it could. I went on the footplate of a steam locomotive on a private railway, and when the firebox door was opened, the power of the heat was incredible (coal fired). I doubt that electrical heating could boil the water fast enough to create the required steam.

An alternative might be a nuclear powered locomotive, in effect uranium fuel rods would be used to heat up the water (like in a nuclear power station). I wouldn't fancy cooking breakfast on the shovel, though.

Answer 2

Could it? In principle, yes.
Should it? No. Electricity must be generated somehow. Producing heat to generate electricity, then turning the electricity into heat, is extremely wasteful. See 2nd law ot thermodynamics. Even if you have a so-called renewable means of electricity generation (hydro, wind, solar), it will be more efficient to use the electricity directly as work than to turn it into heat.

Modern long-haul locomotives - in which a diesel engine runs at a constant speed, where it is highly tuned for efficiency, and drives a generator that powers traction motors - are far more efficient than the old steam locomotives could ever be.

Answer 3

If you are talking real locomotive (the kind that weighs 100 tons) that would be one very long extension cord to keep the electricity going to the boiler. That is why diesel fuel powered locomotives that generate electricity to run the train's electric motors have made steam obsolete.

Answer 4

It's merely a matter of watts of heat. Yes to your question. The issue is what is the source of fuel to generate the electricity....from electrified tracks, on-board nuclear plant, or what?

Answer 5

Yes if you had in excess of 100 kw Its not very practical