Charcol Engine

During WWII (I was 6 or 7 at the time), I seem to remember that someone in town had converted a Ford Station Wagon (old wooden body) to burn charcol as its means of propulsion.

Had a smoke stack on the rear and resembled a steam locomotive going down the road.

Where can I find more info on this, I searched the web but with no results.

This is not a joke. I distinctly remember it. Bound Brook, New Jersey sometime in the 1943-1945 time frame.

The person who drove it was a engineer at Union Carbide, so perhaps they may have had something to do with the development of it.

Thanks

I think you are referring to coal dust.

There have been experiments with burning a fine mist of powdered coal and air for many years. It pre dates the development of liquid petroleum fuels (gas, diesel, etc)

Sounds more likely than external combustion.

During WWII (I was 6 or 7 at the time), I seem to remember that someone in town had converted a Ford Station Wagon (old wooden body) to burn charcol as its means of propulsion.

Had a smoke stack on the rear and resembled a steam locomotive going down the road.

Where can I find more info on this, I searched the web but with no results.

This is not a joke. I distinctly remember it. Bound Brook, New Jersey sometime in the 1943-1945 time frame.

The person who drove it was a engineer at Union Carbide, so perhaps they may have had something to do with the development of it.

Thanks

Was it possibly something like this:
http://www.gengas.nu/bilder/pics/finbil_P1010010.JPG

The gasgenerator on the rear produces carbonoxide which is then fed to the engine where it burns to form carbondioxide. Was used instead of gasoline which was difficult to buy under the war years.

I think you are referring to coal dust.

There have been experiments with burning a fine mist of powdered coal and air for many years. It pre dates the development of liquid petroleum fuels (gas, diesel, etc)
they also had gunpowder engines before liquid petroleum fuels