Dunsten, most of the coal fired in English locomotives came from northern or Welsh pits. Most of this coal was hard black coal called Anthracite. In the days of the the "Big Four" the railway companies had coal mines they sourced their coal from. When BR came into being in 1948 they broke the system up into regions. In the begining the coal was sourced from the same pits but as mines started to close coal was sourced from other mines and from overseas.
Depending on the firebox the coal was generally in 2" to 4" lumps. Later as the coal quality decreased more processed coal was used in the form of oviods and bricquettes. Bricquettes were the worst as this was coal slack formed in cubes. These broke up easily and was usually formed from high ash, high sulpher content coal.
Nearly all English locos were hand fired using the little and often method. Generally you tossed an couple of shovelfuls into each corner, a shovelfull along the edges, two under the door and a couple in the midlle and left the door open about a quarter. This method generally worked well with the BR standards with locos from the big four you had to adjust this method to suit. Only a couple of locos had trials with stokers. Berkley mechanical stokers were fitted to three class 9F 2-10-0's in 1958. Wether it was because steam was on the wane or due to the fireman's inexperience with such devices they were removed from the locos in 1962. Steam finished in the UK on August 14th 1968.
Charles Emerson
Queensland
Australia
Depending on the firebox the coal was generally in 2" to 4" lumps. Later as the coal quality decreased more processed coal was used in the form of oviods and bricquettes. Bricquettes were the worst as this was coal slack formed in cubes. These broke up easily and was usually formed from high ash, high sulpher content coal.
Nearly all English locos were hand fired using the little and often method. Generally you tossed an couple of shovelfuls into each corner, a shovelfull along the edges, two under the door and a couple in the midlle and left the door open about a quarter. This method generally worked well with the BR standards with locos from the big four you had to adjust this method to suit. Only a couple of locos had trials with stokers. Berkley mechanical stokers were fitted to three class 9F 2-10-0's in 1958. Wether it was because steam was on the wane or due to the fireman's inexperience with such devices they were removed from the locos in 1962. Steam finished in the UK on August 14th 1968.
Charles Emerson
Queensland
Australia
Quote from: Dusten Barefoot on August 14, 2008, 09:45:11 PM
What kind of coal do English engines burn? Do they burn a soft or hard coal? I have noticed that most of the engines I see on youtube have a beautiful clean white smoke. I wonder if it is the coal you are burning or your firing technique.
Thanks
Dusten
