actually the first steam locomotives were around in 1804, British Engineer Richard Trevithick, 22 years before America had them, in fact the first American steam engines were built by the British and were shipped ober to America. They probably ran on oil but coal and wood was also used, wood, not so much, that seems to be an American thing.
Round house do make a the same loco but called some thing else. all you would have to do is repaint it and rename it. Of course it dosen't run on coal though!
This is a fascinating series. I just wish it had links as to where the absolute complete beginner could purchase track and motive power etc ready built. It would also have been useful to know what guage this railway is. Is it 0 or G scale? Lots of exceptionally useful tops however and superbly presented.
Fishplates installed like this will only work for a few months. Screw clamps will last for years and never need grease. Plus you can take them off at ease in secs shoild they need de crudding.
im pretty sure the early american locos would have been mostly coal burners,, like the british ones they were based on,,, of course the later locos used in the west did use wood as there was no coal,,,,
