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which coal to use

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which coal to use

Home › Forums › Beginners questions › which coal to use

Viewing 4 posts - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)
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  • 30 December 2011 at 21:46 #5826
    Ben Clarke
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      @benclarke31388
      30 December 2011 at 21:46 #80874
      Ben Clarke
      Participant
        @benclarke31388
        I have a 7 1/4 ” gauge steam locomotive. large loco, 5 feet long.
        Which coal should I use?
        Do I need a special steam coal or does it really not matter?
        30 December 2011 at 22:58 #80878
        mgj
        Participant
          @mgj
          I have a 3″ LS- so I’m not sure if one is comparing apples with apples.
           
          Anthracite I am not too fond of. It burns very hot and it seems to like a lot of draught, so its either white hot or dying and nowhere in between.
           
          I’ve used various types of steam coal- seems to burn more red than white, but its not so up and down so I find it rather easier to use. But then I have also had some (theoretically) steam coal which clinkered very badly after hard work, and left the grate clogged.
           
          Housecoal they say is pretty good – akin to steam coal. I like the smoke (which you don’t get with anthracite). I didn’t built a steamer to be all eco.
           
          A lot has to do with getting the lumps the right size for the grate in use.
           
          Truth is I doubt it matters, so long as you have grate, blast nozzle and coal sizes, and blower nozzle size set for the stuff one is using, but I prefer steam coal, or failing that a mix of anthracite and steam coal, using plum sized lumps.
           

          Ask at the club, see what they suggest for such a loco and then give that  a go – see whatt happens? At the end of the day its a steam engine – ain’t that critical and ain’t exactly rocket science.

          Edited By mgj on 30/12/2011 23:00:55

          31 December 2011 at 16:16 #80920
          Tony Martyr
          Participant
            @tonymartyr14488
            Ben
            You should avoid the very bituminous coals because, unlike the steam coals (which have a very high carbon content) they can clog the fire when the lumps weld themselves together.
            My first attempts at firing a 31/2″ loco were completely frustrated by using house coal. In any case house coal is a very variable mixture some with high ash and silica contents and other, like mine, with high tar content. It is worth getting steam coal from a specialist supplier. I got mine from a guy at the Midlands Exhibition in October and start the fire with kerosine soaked BarBQ charcoal and have no clogging problems since.
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