Burning Anthracite in Locomotives ?

miket145 · **Posted:** Sun Nov 11, 2012 1:31 am

Doug wrote:

We're the Camelbacks most for switching?

It varied by railroad. Some used them for yard service, some used them for freight service, while others used them for both.

Camelbacks were outlawed in the late 1920's. Their design was not very safe for the crew members.

M.T.

Miner Dave · **Posted:** Sun Nov 11, 2012 9:19 am

I believe that the Camelbacks were freight hogs. The Reading used them on coal drags, and freight train as far as I know. They were dangerous because the engineer's seat was next to the boiler,above the driving wheels. If a connecting rod broke at even moderate speeds, the engineer's wife would be wearing black, hence the name
Widow-makers .

flatlander · **Posted:** Fri Nov 23, 2012 5:25 pm

there were switchers, but there were plenty of mainline engines also. eveything from an 0-4-0 industrial switcher to 2-8-0 heavy freight engines

Miner Dave · **Posted:** Mon Nov 26, 2012 3:06 pm

Did the Clinchfield ever have any locos with a Wooten firebox? I've seen some pictures of some that look like they do. Also, was there really a Clinchfield 311?

Doug · **Posted:** Mon Nov 26, 2012 6:16 pm

That may be a question for a Clinchfield Historical Society. As I understand... Wootten Fireboxes were designed for Anthracite Coal and Clinchfield ran from the Kentucky / Virginia Border south to South Carolina. What would have been the reason for using a Wootten Firebox when most if not all of the coal in that area would have been Bitumenous?

Miner Dave · **Posted:** Fri Dec 14, 2012 5:58 pm

Didn't the Northern Pacific use Wooten Fireboxes in their Yellowstone class locomotives? I heard that when the first one's boiler was done, they had a celebration party in it's firebox, it was that big, so that they could burn brown coal.

miket145 · **Posted:** Mon Dec 17, 2012 2:34 am

Miner Dave wrote:

Didn't the Northern Pacific use Wooten Fireboxes in their Yellowstone class locomotives? I heard that when the first one's boiler was done, they had a celebration party in it's firebox, it was that big, so that they could burn brown coal.

Sorry Dave, I can not answer your question. I am only knowledgeable in the steam locomotives that operated in the Anthracite Coal Region.

M.T.

Miner Dave · **Posted:** Mon Dec 17, 2012 8:54 am

OK. Maybe someone else?

Welder Dave · **Posted:** Sat May 30, 2015 12:02 am

Sorry to bring up this old topic, but I was wondering, would a ship need a special firebox to burn anthracite? I recall reading somewhere that Confederate Blockade Runners would burn anthracite to keep a clear stack, so that the blockade ships could not see them when they slipped out at night.

flatlander · **Posted:** Mon Nov 02, 2015 12:30 pm

hey all, been a while. to answer your question, dave, no. maybe some specific grates, but as was already stated high grade anthracite will burn in any firebox. and about your 3 year old question about the NP yellowstones, their gigantic fireboxes were designed for burning lignite, a VERY low grade of coal, not much more tan hardened peat moss. it was found in vast quantities along the NP line,

Burning Anthracite in Locomotives ?

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