bbrantI know of several people who still have, and use, the old coal furnaces to heat their homes. Here in Somerset there are still some older commercial buildings that still burn coal for heat as well as the schools in the Somerset Area School District. Not a whole lot left but there are still some places (not counting the outdoor burners) that use coal for heat.
That wouldn't likely be the same kind of coal involved in this derailment. You will not have fun trying to burn bituminous, whether steam or met coal, in a furnace set up for efficient operation on anthracite. Let alone subbituminous PRB grades if that's what is involved here.
Overmod bbrant I know of several people who still have, and use, the old coal furnaces to heat their homes. Here in Somerset there are still some older commercial buildings that still burn coal for heat as well as the schools in the Somerset Area School District. Not a whole lot left but there are still some places (not counting the outdoor burners) that use coal for heat. That wouldn't likely be the same kind of coal involved in this derailment. You will not have fun trying to burn bituminous, whether steam or met coal, in a furnace set up for efficient operation on anthracite. Let alone subbituminous PRB grades if that's what is involved here.
bbrant I know of several people who still have, and use, the old coal furnaces to heat their homes. Here in Somerset there are still some older commercial buildings that still burn coal for heat as well as the schools in the Somerset Area School District. Not a whole lot left but there are still some places (not counting the outdoor burners) that use coal for heat.
As I recall, the derailed train originated from Bailey Mine in SW Pennsylvania and was headed for Export through the Port of Baltimore. Bailey is the highest production of all the SW Pennsylvania mines and loads 7 trains a day when operating at capacity. Both CSX & NS haul train to destination, NS serves the mine.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
BaltACDAs I recall, the derailed train originated from Bailey Mine in SW Pennsylvania and was headed for Export through the Port of Baltimore.
If so, bituminous steam coal, about 13000 BTU/lb and sulfur at 2.38%.
I dimly remember my parents' coal furnace in west sububan Chicago, initially hand-fired, later an Iron Fireman stoker. In both cases, the coal was bituminous (source unknown).
desertdogMy dad would also buy coal dust that had been shaped into bricks that were wrapped in heavy paper.
We burned those "Bricks" one winter. Company called them "HAPPY PACKS" much cleaner than lump coal with all its fines and dust. One winter, my dad got a load of coke. Boy, did it burn hot. Had to be very careful on how much air you let in to the firebox or the fire would "run away". Steam boiler, safety set at 10 lbs. Sometime in the late fifties, it was converted to oil and we got a thermostat.
Electroliner 1935 desertdog My dad would also buy coal dust that had been shaped into bricks that were wrapped in heavy paper. We burned those "Bricks" one winter. Company called them "HAPPY PACKS" much cleaner than lump coal with all its fines and dust. One winter, my dad got a load of coke. Boy, did it burn hot. Had to be very careful on how much air you let in to the firebox or the fire would "run away". Steam boiler, safety set at 10 lbs. Sometime in the late fifties, it was converted to oil and we got a thermostat.
desertdog My dad would also buy coal dust that had been shaped into bricks that were wrapped in heavy paper.
Worked the B&O station at Lester, Ohio in the late 1960's. Heating was a coal stove. Company would deliver a ton or two to the coal bunker. Coke trains operated past Lester inroute to the mills in Cleveland - coke would sometimes fall off these trains, and in the spare times of the Operators they would police the area and collect the coke to use to supplement the heat output produced by the coal. Grate life suffered.
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