davesgcr
Reading books
Today's announcement on coal tip clearance in Wales is potentially good news - much of the content of these old slag heaps contains reasonable amounts of coal , as back in the day miners were paid for large coal (bigger than say an orange) , so a lot of smaller coal went to tips. Carefull reclamation gives good options for recovering good , burnable coal , ideal for locomotives . This has been done before.
Can someone raise this issue , as appropriate. Decent coal without mining it. Locals used to forage tips for coal in the past , especially during strikes !
Regarding excessive smoke , some years ago I paid to fire and drive in Wolszyn , Poland - so having read every book going , I followed the "little and often" techiques of breaking the slabs up with the coal pick and lightly firing - only to be told off by the Polish crew to not bother , so I was told to fill the box up , shovelling in not just massive lumps but to soaking wet slack at the bottom of the shovelling plate , basically blacking the sky out as we rattled into stations etc. Good burning Polish coal , could not some of that be acquired ? - probably the odd 20ft containers worth , though tip coal seems a good option to me.
Mind you , when I climbed off the cab , my relief fireman laughed out loud , to say I was black with coal dust was an undestatement , took several baths and hot showers to clean up.......
Can someone raise this issue , as appropriate. Decent coal without mining it. Locals used to forage tips for coal in the past , especially during strikes !
Regarding excessive smoke , some years ago I paid to fire and drive in Wolszyn , Poland - so having read every book going , I followed the "little and often" techiques of breaking the slabs up with the coal pick and lightly firing - only to be told off by the Polish crew to not bother , so I was told to fill the box up , shovelling in not just massive lumps but to soaking wet slack at the bottom of the shovelling plate , basically blacking the sky out as we rattled into stations etc. Good burning Polish coal , could not some of that be acquired ? - probably the odd 20ft containers worth , though tip coal seems a good option to me.
Mind you , when I climbed off the cab , my relief fireman laughed out loud , to say I was black with coal dust was an undestatement , took several baths and hot showers to clean up.......
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