Greetings:

We have been experiencing some difficulties with coal suppliers this year.
Our long time favorite: Jewell Semi-Smokeless pre-sold a couple of months worth of their excess production. So we got a load of Low-Volatile from an outfit in Morgan Creek, MD; which then sold their entire production for an unknown period. We are now burning a Low-Volatile from near Williamsport, PA which is quite good and well liked by our crews. However, it costs us $253./ton, in our bins at Essex.

Today I read that the Peabody Coal Co. has posted 2nd Quarter profits up 38%.

In other coal news, Harold Keene (old timers will remember that he owned the short lived tourist railway: Bristol & Northwestern and operated former CB&Q No. 4960 on lease from Mid-Continent) has sold his coal operations to Jewell. Harold's coal was a bit smokey but he always seemed to have enough in stock to fill small orders.

Jewell has moved their corperate offices from coal country (Knoxville) to the commodity capitol: Chicago.

I guess that is the real point here: coal is a hot (pun intended) commodity.

J.David

sounds like the usual trend that business do, note the early streetcar lines were privately owned and eventually many merges/sold/boughtout and produced larger systems.

I wonder if its possible to look at a nearby major coal user, ask if they can donate coal and get a writeoff if your a non-profit.

I'm extremely curious to know where that Lo-Vo coal source "near Williamsport, Pa." actually is--that's broad enough to cover anything from anthracite or semi-anthracite near Shamokin, Pa. to bituminous near Clearfield.



If you were firing up a couple times a year, like the Grand Canyon (a for-profit, so don't ask) or the Williams Grove or Mt. Pleasant steam threshers group, maybe. But not if you're a regular user. Furthermore, the coal usually used for industrial boilers isn't necessarily the same stuff you want to shovel into a locomotive firebox. I'll let the experts with more experience chime in here......

As far as I know, the Grand Canyon has been burning oil when they operate steam. Lately its been bio-diesel and recycled french fry oil. Good point about profit vs. not-for profit, though-

Gee, what an idea... and non-profits should ask for donations of gasoline too... JDC

I bought coal last year from US Bulk. I don't know the specifics about volatility and such. Both Thomas and Flagg Coal #75 seemed to like it. Price in August 2010 was $85/ton with shipping at $43/ton with a 30% fuel surcharge. Call 1-800-642-8910 and ask for Pickel.

JohnB
If it isn't hot enough out for you, fire up the welder.