Anthracite coal was (and remains) more expensive than other types. It burns the hottest and slowest, hence the need for larger "Wooten" fireboxes more surface area for the coal and for heating surfaces. It was used extensively for home heating again because a little went a long way, burning for a long time (minimal stoking of the furnace in the middle of the night) and it tended to burn with much less smoke think "Blue Flame"...
In the 50's and 60's as coal's use for home heating went away the industry and the railroad's fortunes went down hill, although Anthracite coal is still mined in PA and CO... In the days of steam locomotives, it made sense for railroads in that region to use it; they just needed the firebox design to make it possible. Just like the use of Lignite coal required special designs and appliances in the locomotives that used it... Jim Kindraka --- In [email protected], "Gene Cimino" <ecphora123@...> wrote: > > Least we forget that the Reading was located in the heart of the Anthracite > coal mine area. At some point John Wooten designed the fire box to accomodate > the burning of this type coal. There is another area of the US where > Anthacite was mined, but the Reading area was the area where the largest > deposits were located. If I remember it has to do with how the coal was > formed during the Pennsylvanian period; snd resulting downward pressure > exerted over millions of years. As far as being cheaper, I'm sure it would > have been less expensive since the railroads of the area wouldn't have to > move coal over very long distances. > > Gene Cimino > ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
