How did those old model steam train toys spew out fake steam, without using any heat/chemicals, only battery?

I used to be fascinated with them as a child, but I never understood how they worked.

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LGB The Blue Train Set in Box..used
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LGB G SCALE TRAINS 2040 CROCODILE LOOKS MINT NO RESERVE
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LGB 21988 Circus Train Set**Excellent Condition!
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LGB 20412PV (EUR) Train Set**Excellent Condition!
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USA TRAINS R22405 ALCO NYC PA ,PB SET LGB
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2 Comments »

  1. The only ones I knew did use heat and chemicals. The chemicals were heated by a heating coil inside the locomotive. No battery was involved, just the same low voltage AC transmitted through the tracks.

    Comment by Frank N — November 24, 2009 @ 3:41 am

  2. There was a small heating coil in the smokestack. Usually a pill of ammonium chloride would be put in the smoke stack. With a small amount of heat, it would sublimate, turn to gas then back into ammonium chloride in less than a second resulting in an airborne powder which looked like smoke. Being a salt, it was not very dangerous.

    Comment by DrScience — November 24, 2009 @ 3:41 am

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