Coal, for use on steam hauled heritage railways - merged posts

[whole diary]

[broadgage]

IME^▸ (in my experience), most visitors to heritage lines want and expect steam. This should therefore be provided whenever possible. The odd suspension of steam power is reasonable at times of extreme fire risk, or coal shortage, or of course during "diesel gala" type events.
But most visitors expect steam.

As regards the enviromental cost of coal burning, I have long felt that most heritage lines could be a bit greener in other respects. Solar power on buildings. Battery locomotive for shunting and ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock) moves. Electric pre heating of steam locomotives.
Battery train for any regular commuter trains that are to be run.

[broadgage]

I expect that a new and improved version of indulgences is under development and will soon be available. At present the purchase of indulgences permits fossil fuel to be burnt as normal in return for a payment.

The new and improved version will permit of burning Russian coal and other fossil fuels in return for a payment. Making the payment will ensure that the Russian fuel is now called "not really russian" Perhaps by offsetting whereby a poor farmer in Malawi agrees to stop burning Russian coal.

In some cases BOTH types of indulgence will be needed.

The old style, whereby fossil fuel becomes not really carbon emitting, AND the new style whereby russian becomes not really russian.

New style indulgences are now available.
Russian gas is bad, because purchase of same is financially supporting the invasion of Ukraine.
Chinese gas is good, or at least less bad than russian gas.
Russian gas transported via china now becomes good and can be burnt with a clean conscience. The indulgences are paid to the chinese government by way of the substantial price difference between bad russian gas and good chinese gas.

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/china-aggressively-reselling-russian-gas-europe

[infoman]

BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) breakfast news are reporting on Tuesday 22 August 2023.

[broadgage]

I have just received a delivery of Anthracite, this is still readily available but only from one mine in Wales.
There may be a VERY SHORT TERM shortage as the only UK^▸ (United Kingdom) colliery has suffered a "roof fall"
£640 a ton, though I needed half that much.
Patent coal derived smokeless fuels are readily available, but the late Fred Dibnah put me off those "gods good coal from which all the goodness has ben taken out"
I generally prefer to burn logs, but keep a reserve of coal for emergencies.
The last lot was stolen whilst I was in hospital.
The coal merchants advised that housecoal is no longer available, it was available until recently, but only in opened bags and not prepacked.

[infoman]

May I ask which mine suffered the recent "roof fall" was,

 as I can't find anything about a recent roof fall.

[Mark A]

Presumably Aberpergwm? It may well be some minor issue or other rather than a major incident.

https://www.energybuild.co.uk/

Mark

[infoman]

Thank you for the info.

[broadgage]

Yes AFAIK^▸ (as far as I know), the anthracite was from here.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aberpergwm#:~:text=Today%20Aberpergwm%20is%20the%20only,low%20sulphur%2C%20and%20high%20efficiency.
 The coal delivery driver stated that the roof fall was minor and that production was only expected to be halted for about 2 weeks. No reports of injuries.
Have only had one fire with this fuel, it seems to be good qaulity, though hard to ignite like all anthracite.
(I use a couple of pieces of barbeque charcoal soaked in bioethanol, and a handful of plain charcoal, success every time !

[Oxonhutch]

bioethanol

= Brandy

[broadgage]

bioethanol

= Brandy

Brandy is a form of bioethanol, but the term is more generally used to describe bioethanol intended for burning as fuel, and treated to render it undrinkable, as otherwise it would be very cheap vodka.
Ethanol fuel is used as an ALLEGEDLY green additive to petrol, and also to fuel camping stoves, food warming units, and lab burners if gas is not available.

[TonyK]

I use a couple of pieces of barbeque charcoal soaked in bioethanol, and a handful of plain charcoal, success every time !

I have one of those gas-fired weed burners. It's rubbish at weeding, but great for lighting fires, and would probably be safe indoors if use under a chimney.

[broadgage]

For lighting anthracite I use either some charcoal soaked in bioethanol, or an LPG^▸ (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) blowlamp
.

[Mark A]

The Welsh Highland Railway for one is struggling to source fuel of a suitable quality to meet the needs of both its locos and its neighbours.

Mark

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/dirty-coal-smoke-steam-train-30235925

[grahame]

The Welsh Highland Railway for one is struggling to source fuel of a suitable quality to meet the needs of both its locos and its neighbours.

Mark

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/dirty-coal-smoke-steam-train-30235925

It's a significant problem right across the sector and reading the article, the Welsh Highland and Ffestiniog company is looking for a solution.  The Tallyllyn has also identified the problem - mentioned in the article - but I have seen others reporting the issue too.

What is co-operation like between all the heritage rail groups on this - is this something that the Heritage Rail Association [is/could/should] be helping with?   There is talk of the expense of shipping appropriate coal from a world away - would that expense to both the environment and the heritage operators be reduced by bulk?

The people in Caernarfon feel are saying "this line is just for leisure - and this is our daily lives seriously damaged", asking perhaps for curtailment of the trains. But yet leisure brings people and business to the town, and their lives and and the town would take a serious knock if it were not to run.

It's questionable to me whether the Welsh Highland really is heritage, but in so many heritage /preserved lines, I see steam fading somewhat and more trains becoming diesel.  Not that switching is a magic solution - indeed diesel multiple units with engines under the carriage have made places like Westbury, where trains wait a while, thoroughly unpleasant at times. Engines /power plants burning any fuel at the extreme ends of the trains, away from the buildings are one thing but ticking over in the centre / near and under canopies and places where people are trying to eat / meet / work make those environments nasty.  Perhaps we should be moving all the more to electrification which can be sustainable, and where it isn't it uncouples the generation from the location of the train itself.

[broadgage]

Could not patent smokeless fuel be used in steam locomotives ? It was trialled back in BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) steam days and found generally satisfactory, but more expensive than natural coal. Back in the old days, this fuel was generally known as "ovoids" a reference to the shapes it was made in.

I can also see two ways in which coal consumption and smoke production may be minimised.
Firstly fit electric immersion heaters into the water space in the boiler. The boiler may thus be preheated by a shore supply before the first duty of the day. With the boiler full of hot water, steam may be raised quickly with minimum coal use and smoke production. AFAIK^▸ (as far as I know) one narrow gauge UK^▸ (United Kingdom) railway does this.

By increasing the electrical loading, it would be possible to raise steam thus rather than merely heating the water in the boiler.

A more radical suggestion would be to construct (or modify from existing stock) a few motor luggage vans as used on the southern decades ago.
Such a vehicle if equipped with traction motors of at least 500 HP, and a lithium battery able to supply full power for an hour could be usefully coupled behind the steam engine. Fit in the steam loco cab a simple push button control by which crew can select "nothing" or normal operation, "50% electric assistance" or "100% electric assistance" Most of the time the steam loco would be operated in the normal way. If the engine tends to slip under adverse rail conditions, or is at risk of stalling on an incline, then the driver can apply electric assistance.
This would reduce the temptation to "over-fire" the loco and would would reduce coal use and smoke production. Charge the battery overnight from a shore supply, one charge should last a working day, remembering that use is intended to be only brief under adverse conditions.

On DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) in general, consider shutting down one engine when stopped, saving fuel and reducing diesel fumes.

The larger heritage lines should consider a battery loco for ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock) moves and engineering trains. The odd passenger train could be hauled thus, some enthuisiasts would pay well for the novelty, though most expect steam.