Urgent - future of coal in UK

[TRP]

I think the concern is that the current pits/surface mines have a limited operational life and with environmental concerns urging the government to eliminate coal use, then even if the heritage railways can secure an exemption from the environmental regulations, a continued supply would be needed - the new proposed mine would continue to operate after some of the others have ceased production. Without it, the heritage railways would become ever more reliant on imported coal.
There's a lot of ifs and buts though!

Tony

[JEB-245584/2]

A lot of coal used on heritage railways is already imported Tony. I've thrown coal from Poland, and Russia over the past few years in the firebox of 337. It all depends on the coal merchants stock and price at the time of ordering on what coal ends up in the yards coal bunker.

Cheers John

[aussiesteve]

The Don River Railway (Tassiemania) used wood in their soot belcher some moons ago due to the limited coal supply. But, they were only puffing a short distance at relatively slow speed. You would need a lot of wood and a good spark arrester to puff any distance at speed. Mind you, yer Pommy soot belchers might look good with Yankee diamond stacks. Our Aussie oil supply is reliant on mostly imports, whereas we got swags of black diamonds lurking underground. Hence, the Baldwin built NSWR 59 class Mikes, which lobbed down-under as oil burners were quickly converted to coal burners. There was also community angst at the gunge that erupted from them 59ers when still burning oil. To keep the flues clean etc, a handful of sand hurled into the oil burner fire box at intervals. This causing a sudden belch of gunge, which landed on backyard clothes lines. An hysterical mob two footer soot belcher was converted from burning bagasse (sugar cane pulp, the usual fuel for cane tramways) to oil burning. This did permit DOO (driver only operation) as the driver was able to control the oil burner firebox as well as manipulate the regulator. Yes, there are numerous blends of coal, depending upon the intended use. Our best steaming coal originates in the Hunter Valley region of NSW, Newcastle coal as it was dubbed. The worst coal being that dug up south of the border in our Mexico. BROWN coal, not only looking ghastly exhaust wise but also less thermal efficient. Ah well, if you lot don't want to bung pantographs ontop of yer soot belchers, you could bung solar panels on the carriages. We have the worlds first solar powered train percolating here in NSW, a two car dmu. Anyhoo, if you lot continue to import coal, don't do like the Nippons some moons ago and hide it under the salt water waves. Salt water don't do much good for coal, as they discovered. ALL fossil fuel will be on the "outer" if global warming continues to increase and cause global concern.
Steve.