>I'm following up on a pet project I started about a year ago on the
>quality of coal available for preserved locomotives these days. Fewer
>mines are producing cobbled coal as they mainly produce crushed thermal
>and soft coking coal for domestic thermal use and for export.
>If you are involved with a mainline operator or tourist railway, I'd like
>to know your source of coal, the specific colliery if possible, but just
>the general area is sufficient. If you are or know steam firemen, comments
>on its quality would be appreciated. I also invite our New Zealand readers
>to respond.
I am a fireman / trainee driver for RailCo, on the Atherton to
Herberton line on Queenslands Atherton Tableland. Railco
operates an ex QR C17 on this particular section.
The coal we use comes from Blair Athol in central Queensland.
Because the coal comes to us at the "right price", we have no say
in the size of the lumps that are delivered. Hence we have to
fire with lumps ranging in size from pieces that will not fit through
the fire box door, down to a fine powder. It is an extremely good steaming coal
which burns down to a fine ash, and produces very little to no clinker. Its
also worth noting that we road haul the coal to Atherton because
its too expensive to rail here, although the line is still
connected the QR main line...
Hope this helps - I don't have the actual colliery details at
hand but they can be got if you want them
CYA
Michael Lee
Fireman, Trainee Driver, Roster Clerk - Railco :)