When I toured an anthracite coal mine in PA several years ago, the guide told us that the only thing harder than anthracite is a diamond.
Bob Nicholson ________________________________________ --- In [email protected], "raisinone" <raisinone@...> wrote: > > 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/
