Steamtown Loses Steam Heat

[SALfan1]

In the mid-1970s the U.S. Army built a number of new barracks at Fort Stewart, GA (Hinesville, SSW of Savannah) that were heated and cooled by something (I assume water) piped in from a central plant.  I never visited the plant, so have no clue what fuel it used.

[BEAUSABRE]

Con Ed in New York provides steam across Manhattan "We operate the largest steam system in the United States, serving more than 3 million New Yorkers, from the southern tip of Manhattan to 96th Street" How the New York City Steam System Works - Untapped New York (untappedcities.com). Hey modelers, the powerhouse is a destination for hoppers and tankers (and old hoppers to haul ash away) on your layout. And it can power....

When I was stationed at Ft Lewis, WA, I visited Vancouver, BC and got to see (and hear!) the Gastown Steam Clock in action. Hearing the Westminster Chimes played by steam whistles is a unique experience! (2) Steam Clock Performance - Vancouver, Canada - YouTube and (2) Steam Powered Clock in Gas Town Vancouver, BC - YouTube. If you are a modeler, you need one in the middle of your station square or in the park across the street!

[54light15]

Most if not all of downtown Toronto's buildings are heated by two central steam plants. I've inspected the boilers in both of them and the equipment dates from the 1950s. There was a plant that heated the Ontario legislature buildings but I think its been shut down. 

There is a parallel coolng system that uses Lake Ontario water with the intake a mile out in the lake, where it's always 34 degrees year round. There is the convention centre near the lake that has five 1,000 ton centrifugal chillers that have never been used because the CC is on the deep lake system. 

[tree68]

When Fort Drum, NY was expanded to house the 10th Mountain Division (LI) it was decided that a "co-gen" set up would be used.  The plant burned coal and petcoke (delivered by rail) and generated electricity.  The excess steam was piped to the numerous buildings (over 100) on the "new post" for heating purposes.

They ran into an interesting problem, however.  The steam lines began to spring leaks.

It wasn't a workmanship problem.  It was discovered that the pipes were corroding from the outside in, due to the makeup of the sandy soil there.

A mass changeover ensued, from steam heat to natural gas, which continues to serve to this day.  AFAIK, the old steam lines are still in the ground.

The co-gen plant continues to generate electricity, although the fuel source was changed from coal and coke to biomass (read: wood chips), which is trucked in.

[rixflix]

"There is no joy in Steamtown, for the mighty Babcock was struck down." Sorry, Casey! Among all the locomotives in their collection isn't there a little engine that could? Supply heat, that is.

As kids many winters ago we'd arrive home and remove mittens, galoshes and coats in that order. Then we'd sit on, against or hug the nearest hot water radiator. They were heated by a coal furnace in our first house and by oil in our second. 

Couldn't do that at 318 N. 5th Street in Reading however. That's where our two maiden aunts and bachelor uncle lived in a mansion built by their father around 1890. It's heat was provided by the Reading Steam Heat and Power Company which had over 300 commercial and residential customers in  the downtown area. You only got intimate with 318's radiators once before howling in pain. The company died a slow death. When it's funds got low and the 10,000ft system leaked and it's boiler died they borrowed a Reading Company T-1 for a while and finally ceased operations ca.1967. I did find pictures of the fire that destroyed their building on the internet and am looking through my books for the picture of that T-1 doing it's thing. 

Found some interesting stuff on the many "district heating systems" around the US.

Rick