Challengers and coal

[NW Modeling List]

Bituminous coal qualities vary greatly by seam according to volatile matter, fixed carbon, Phosphorus, ash, sulphur and caloric value (BTU).  These values can vary within a seam around some average.

Depending on the proportion of these different coal characteristics within a seam (Pocahontas, New River, Sewell) the coal can be classified as to best use such as metallurgical (coke making), steam, bunker, domestic, smithing, etc.  Pocahontas coal had 12 identified seams, each with slightly different charteristics.  The preferred Pocahontas coal was from No. 3 seam and then No. 4 seam.

Western coal, in general, has a lower BTU value then eastern coal.  Eastern coal, while high in BTU value, could be affected by how well the coal was cleaned of slate and boney material.  This also varied by seam.

If you look at mining districts in N&W annual reports or coal publications you can get an idea of the variance in coal on the N&W.  The Poachontas district mainly mined coal from the Pocahontas seams although there was some coal from the War Creek (Beckley) seam that was considered a New River classification of coal.  The Tug River District produced coal from the Davy-Sewell, Welch and War Creek seams or if you were willing toput in a shaft mine you could reach the Pocahontas seams that were 300 to 500 feet below the surface.  The Thacker district mainly (in McDowell County) produced coal from the Cedar Grove, Douglas and Iaeger seams.

The seam characteristics were a great selling point and were used by sales agents in advertising coal.  Major coal companies had laboratories on premises to test the composition of coal being mined.  Other coal companies might use independent labs, but the coal was continually tested for chemical compostion.

Alex Schust      
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: NW Modeling List 
  To: nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org 
  Sent: Wednesday, February 24, 2010 5:09 PM
  Subject: Re: Challengers and coal


  The proportions of 'burnable carbon' and inert material vary considerably depending on the source of the coal.
  The UP needed a higher firing rate with their lower quality coal to attain performance.  In general; UP coal
  would produce more ash; require more air; and increase build-up in the hot side of the boiler tubes and flues.
  With better coal, the Clinchfield was able to maintain draft with a single stack.

  Jerome Crosson.




  -----Original Message-----
  From: NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>
  To: NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>
  Sent: Wed, Feb 24, 2010 12:12 pm
  Subject: Re: Challengers and coal






Not to sound stupid but what would be a "better" coal to use? Isn't the majority  
of coal deposits in the US  bituminous coal? 
 
Thanks 
Jon Kelley 
 
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry® 
 
-----Original Message----- 
From: NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org> 
Date: Wed, 24 Feb 2010 11:41:15  
To: 'NW Modeling List'<nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org> 
Subject: RE: Challengers and coal 
 
Maybe related and maybe not, but the Clinchfield did change the way the UP  
Challengers were drafted (i.e., single stack replacing double stack)    Jim  
Nichols 
 
I would guess 

> that better coal would make the Challenger steam easier. 

> The implication is 

> that it would increase the effective output. (as opposed to 

> theoretical 

> output)      Jim 

> Nichols 

=============== 
 
Trying to keep this on the lite side, I believe the Challengers Clinchfield got  
from D&RGW were of the same design as the last UP Challengers, so they must have  
run on some decent coal on CRR. ;-) 
 
Mark Peele 
Catonsville, MD 
 
 
 
 
       
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