steam engine

[nicko]

Steam engine, why not? fuel wood and water == power of some sort.

All we need is the engine or parts to make it run.

maybe one day.

[Muk_Pile]

As a self-proclaimed steam enthusiast, any ideas involving steam technology captures my interest and holds my approval. 

However, to me TLD is more of centered around surviving alone out in the wilderness than rebuilding civilization after the apocalypse.  And steam engines really requires a developed, interconnected society to make the technology practical: a steam engine is generally most efficient when it's built very large and running almost constantly, so not only do you need a steady supply of fuel, water, lubrication, and spare parts to maintain it's productivity, but you also need a large enough consumer base to utilize all that energy your engine is producing all day long. Not to mention that repairing and operating a steam engine requires an advance degree of knowledge that you just can't safely learn on the job (there's a reason why you need a license to legally operate a steam boiler at over 15 p.s.i. here in the U.S.A.).

All in all, it dampens my heart to say that I don't think resurrecting and utilizing steam engines would really work in TLD, at least not as long as it is focused on personal survival than community creation.

[EternityTide]

same argument can be made for the resurrection of a diesel engine, but sadly was turned down: A touch of warmth

[Wastelander]

Maybe once the Survivor and some NPCs in the future have reestablished agriculture and meaningful food preservation they can set their minds to this, but now they have more urgent things to do. The idea isn't bad, but it doesn't have a place in the current game in my opinion.