10 replies to this topic

[malw]

Have just been listening to a programme on the local radio station 4CRB FM 89.3, good Country Music 4 -6 on Sundays. Heard a rendition of the 'Jolly Green Giant' obviously ,3801 burning newcastle coal on its run. Here's a question for some of you Older Drivers, who have experienced the 'Steam Era" What was so good about Newcastle Coal ? I can remember my Dad saying at times that a 'crook' batch of coal had been delivered to the Binnaway Depot, and had been causing a lot of problems ! Any suggestions from those that are in the know ? Cheers Mal.

[Jenolan]

If you look up the difference between black and brown coal, it has to do with the moisture content (and some udder fings).

[malw]

Nice to hear from you Larry. I have a feeling that 'brown coal' was never burnt in Steam Locomotives, it was used exclusively for 'power generation' in the Electricity Grid. If I can remember correctly it had something to do with how 'clean' the coal burned. Some inferior coals did not give up a lot of heat, and tended to form a 'clinker', in other words, a large mass that made a 'dead-spot' in the firebox and if it couldn't be broken up by shaking the 'griddle' (I don't know if that is the right term for the 'floor of the Firebox) it could cause a substansial loss in heat and cause a complete 'shutdown'. Another term I remember hearing is a 'blowout'. Cannot remember anything  else of importance and am prepared to be proven wrong by anyone who has had 'hands-on' experience standing on the 'foot plate' of a 'gentle giant'. Cheers Mal.

[Jenolan]

http://www.greatwest....uk/basic15.htm

[malw]

I've been given the right info on coals! Can I assume the Welsh Coal is more or less the same as the Newcastle Coal that was used from the mines in the Hunter Valley!  Thanks for the update ! Chers Mal.

[OzBoz]

Hi Mal,

Another interesting link.

Coal is a bit like crude oil.  Depending on where it comes from, even over a small geographical region, it can be like chalk and cheese.  Up at Hay Point, they have seven different grades stacked.  Newcastle is probably the same.

Cheers

[S301]

The VR burned (barely) brown coal in a fair few locos, since they had the brown coal mines at Wonthaggi. Only 'top' trains (Spirit of progress was really about it) burned black coal, which came from NSW. When there were coal strikes in NSW, they issues getting black coal, so only certain locos used it http://razorbackrail...tyle_emoticons/default/smile.png

Zec

[malw]

While we are discussing 'coal' and Steam Locos, is there anyone out there,'in the know', what Class of Steam Loco was affectionately nicknamed 'The Mae West'?? I have a feeling one of these Locos used to head the passenger train between Mudgee and Binnaway  many moons ago, most likely up until Steam was replaced by Diesels. Why would 'down-to-earth' Railway Men make a comparison between a Loco and a Great looking Woman of that time? The mind 'boggles'!

[hhdawrs]

RBR needs a Linda loco wif a rack of outstanding ditch lights.  A comfy caboose and rear red flasher should be kept in mind whilst laying out the chassis. http://razorbackrail...tyle_emoticons/default/cool2.gif

[OzBoz]

malw, on 11 October 2011 - 09:37 AM, said:

Why would 'down-to-earth' Railway Men make a comparison between a Loco and a Great looking Woman of that time? The mind 'boggles'!

I can think of a few, but I can't possibly mention them here.  There was one famous train, not loco, in the US that was named The Mae West but that was for the cargo it carried. (Use your imagination).

The only reference I can find to Mae West on the NSW railway is here.  The implication is that it was the train's name, not the loco.

Cheers

[malw]

Your research has unearthed the Name, but my recollections  steer me to a much smaller Engine with Two Big ....... Yep! U guessed it! Two bigger than normal "Driving Wheels"!. Maybe this was a nickname that only the Locals used to describe the "Mudgee Mail". Memory doesn't recall an Engine Number. I like the idea of a "Linda Loco" Cheers Mal.