Coal Supply/Cost Issues

[12C]

I see the East Lancs have put out a notice today that they are experiencing problems with the supply of coal and will be rationing steam locos to busier days.

I take it that this is something which is going to cause trouble for the whole industry. Is loco coal mainly imported now?

https://www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk...nd-timetable-changesm-12-march-10-april-2022/

Due to the uncertainties regarding the supply of coal, operation of steam locomotives is being rationed to busier days and dining services. Please note that this does mean that the Steam Double Headers on 18 Apr, 15 May, 31 Jul and 11 Sep 2022 have had to be cancelled, though we are still running services on those days.

The following dates are affected:

• 13, 27 March, 3, 10 April: Public services diesel hauled. Lancastrian Lunch will remain steam hauled.
• 6 – 8 April: Steam services will be “top n’ tailed” steam and diesel, including dining services.

Find all updated timetables here.

This will be reviewed monthly. We thank you for bearing with us.

 

[bleeder4]

All coal is imported, as the last UK coal mine that produced steam-grade coal stopped in January. Coal primarily comes from Russia, but with the Ukraine crisis it is now being imported from Kazakhstan and Colombia instead, which is putting the cost of coal beyond the reach of smaller heritage railways. Early tests are underway using Ecoal and Biocoal but they are also quite expensive and more quantities of them need to be burned in order to produce the same power. I would suggest you pop to the newsagents and buy the latest copy of Steam Railway (issue 529) as pretty much the whole magazine is devoted to this issue.

 

[12C]

All coal is imported, as the last UK coal mine that produced steam-grade coal stopped in January. Coal primarily comes from Russia, but with the Ukraine crisis it is now being imported from Kazakhstan and Colombia instead, which is putting the cost of coal beyond the reach of smaller heritage railways. Early tests are underway using Ecoal and Biocoal but they are also quite expensive and more quantities of them need to be burned in order to produce the same power. I would suggest you pop to the newsagents and buy the latest copy of Steam Railway (issue 529) as pretty much the whole magazine is devoted to this issue.

Thanks for the info, I buy a copy and have a read of that. It’s certainly worrying times for preservation, as you say especially for smaller lines.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Do the majority of GB heritage lines have alternative diesel locos for use in case of need? Any that don't?

 

[geoffk]

Do the majority of GB heritage lines have alternative diesel locos for use in case of need? Any that don't?

Bluebell just shunters I thought, but not sure. Perhaps they have a class 33.

 

[LGM08]

All coal is imported, as the last UK coal mine that produced steam-grade coal stopped in January. Coal primarily comes from Russia, but with the Ukraine crisis it is now being imported from Kazakhstan and Colombia instead, which is putting the cost of coal beyond the reach of smaller heritage railways. Early tests are underway using Ecoal and Biocoal but they are also quite expensive and more quantities of them need to be burned in order to produce the same power. I would suggest you pop to the newsagents and buy the latest copy of Steam Railway (issue 529) as pretty much the whole magazine is devoted to this issue.

Exactly this.

Pre-covid, coal per tonne was around £230 for us, its now hitting just over £400 mark so things are getting expensive. This “Biocoal” is £500 per tonne at the current rate.

Even diesel has increased to around 90p per litre so it’s near enough doubled.

 

[Bessie]

It’s not really a supply issue, more a cost issue. The heritage railway I volunteer at is looking to get more diesel traction in on quieter days

 

[LGM08]

It’s not really a supply issue, more a cost issue. The heritage railway I volunteer at is looking to get more diesel traction in on quieter days

That’s the reason why cost is an issue, demand is high and supply is low especially with Russia being banned from exporting to us. They supply something like 50% of coal to Europe.

 

[Ediswan]

Early tests are underway using Ecoal and Biocoal

For some, part of the attraction of a steam railway is the smell. How do these fuels smell ?

 

[Ashley Hill]

Unfortunately most of the general public turn up expecting steam haulage. Many don’t care if it’s a Manor,Black 5 or an L&Y pug as long as it toots and chuffs. Enthusiasts do care however so a die hard steam fan or Joe Public might not want to ride behind a 25,37 or on a pacer and not travel.

 

[12C]

Unfortunately most of the general public turn up expecting steam haulage. Many don’t care if it’s a Manor,Black 5 or an L&Y pug as long as it toots and chuffs. Enthusiasts do care however so a die hard steam fan or Joe Public might not want to ride behind a 25,37 or on a pacer and not travel.

Sadly I think this is true, diesel will never have the same appeal to the ‘normal’ family/day out crowd so no doubt will put some off.

I did read for some trains the ELR will be using top/tail steam and diesel. I suspect the diesel will be doing the brunt of the work and the steam loco there to look the part. Possibly this might have to be a compromise, I doubt the majority of Joe Public would know/care whether it was powering or not as long as it was in steam.

Just speculative thought but I wonder how feasible it would be to reopen a small mine in the UK to supply the heritage sector? There must be a reasonable demand across preserved railways and other heritage attractions.

 

[Ashley Hill]

There must be a reasonable demand across preserved railways and other heritage attractions.

Yes,it’s not only railways. Traction/Showman’s engines and pumping stations like Crofton for example. Steamships too! There will be other examples. Wasn’t there talk about reopening a pit or opencast colliery for steam coal a few years ago for this reason. I’d imagine the environmentalists would have a fit if it happened.

 

[fgwrich]

Bluebell just shunters I thought, but not sure. Perhaps they have a class 33.

While they do now have a 33 at last (33052), it is currently undergoing an extensive overhaul and wont be ready in time. They do have an 09 and have used it in the past, but that does of course present issues in it's own right (train length, just the one loco etc). Another 33 or 73 could be hired in - they've done that in the past, along with a 101/108 DMU Hybrid or, that long held ambition of hiring a Thumper.

 

[507020]

It is a waste importing coal, especially in small quantities, when it exists beneath our feet. If a new coal mine was to be opened to serve heritage attractions, could the mine itself become a heritage attraction open to the public whilst actively producing coal. A steam railway could even be built to transport coal away from the mine. I’m sure environmentalists can be reminded how much more efficient this would be than importing it from Kazakhstan!

 

[37114]

It is a waste importing coal, especially in small quantities, when it exists beneath our feet. If a new coal mine was to be opened to serve heritage attractions, could the mine itself become a heritage attraction open to the public whilst actively producing coal. A steam railway could even be built to transport coal away from the mine. I’m sure environmentalists can be reminded how much more efficient this would be than importing it from Kazakhstan!

Our coal mines were economically unviable compared to imported coal money talks and for all the time that remains the case then the UK coal will remain in the ground. The costs of keeping a mine active are colossal irrespective of how many tons you dig out. I do agree with you on the environmental impact is greater when you have to ship it halfway around the world.

 

[david1212]

It is a waste importing coal, especially in small quantities, when it exists beneath our feet. If a new coal mine was to be opened to serve heritage attractions, could the mine itself become a heritage attraction open to the public whilst actively producing coal. A steam railway could even be built to transport coal away from the mine. I’m sure environmentalists can be reminded how much more efficient this would be than importing it from Kazakhstan!

While under the UK and out to sea there is coal over the last 200 or so years at least most of the easy and much of the not so easy to extract coal has been taken. Without the environmental issues many mines closed because either the coal had been extracted or the cost of opening up new seams could not be justified.

There were plans for a new mine in Cumbria but I am unsure if it will progress.

I can not see how a small scale underground mine would be viable. Most viable would be open cast but is there anywhere not in an environmentally sensitive location? The other possibility would be a mine into a hillside. Again is there an unworked viable location ?

Mainline operations of course require the correct grade of coal. Back to the 1948 locomotive exchanges one reported issue was locomotives operating with different coal than normal.

However for preservation, steam rallies etc is the coal grade so critical ?

 

[bangor-toad]

Hi there,

If coal is becoming too expensive and difficult to obtain, have any heritage railways considerd wood chip/pellet as a fuel?
I know that the calorific value is typically only about 1/3rd of coal but for short heritage lines would this really be a problem?

Could this be a solution to keeping some steam working?
Cheers,
Mr Toad

 

[Mike Machin]

Oil firing will, I think, have to be the longe-term solution. It is very common with heritage locomotives in other countries, and there is an historical precedent for this in the UK. A number of locomotives, mainly of Great Western origin if I remember correctly, were converted to burn oil when there was a shortage of suitable steam coal for Britain’s railways immediately after WW2.

 

[Towers]

While under the UK and out to sea there is coal over the last 200 or so years at least most of the easy and much of the not so easy to extract coal has been taken. Without the environmental issues many mines closed because either the coal had been extracted or the cost of opening up new seams could not be justified.

There were plans for a new mine in Cumbria but I am unsure if it will progress.

I can not see how a small scale underground mine would be viable. Most viable would be open cast but is there anywhere not in an environmentally sensitive location? The other possibility would be a mine into a hillside. Again is there an unworked viable location ?

Mainline operations of course require the correct grade of coal. Back to the 1948 locomotive exchanges one reported issue was locomotives operating with different coal than normal.

However for preservation, steam rallies etc is the coal grade so critical ?

Plenty of bleak, windswept areas in the Welsh Valleys where I'd imagine there would be realtively little objection to seeing their historic lifeblood industry make a small-scale modern comeback.

I very much feel that given the looming economic disaster that sits just over the horizon, we - both as a nation and as a global society - might have to accept that a degree of the green agenda may need take a backseat for a relatively short time, while we realign certain global balances. Crucially, this means using our own sources of fuel; coal, North Sea oil, fracking etc, rather than pretending for political reasons that none of it exists. The timing isn't great, but civilisations need a reliable supply of the basics in order to function.

 

[eldomtom2]

Oil firing will, I think, have to be the longe-term solution. It is very common with heritage locomotives in other countries, and there is an historical precedent for this in the UK. A number of locomotives, mainly of Great Western origin if I remember correctly, were converted to burn oil when there was a shortage of suitable steam coal for Britain’s railways immediately after WW2.

This I doubt. Even before the recent Russia crisis there was much talk of the increasing scarcity of coal as mines shut down due to the steady decrease in demand, and the same will happen to oil. Wood/biomass/etc. derived fuels seem the only option that will truly last.

 

[Mike Machin]

Yes, I agree, long-term some form of bio-mass product will probably be the way forward, but over the shorter-term going forward, oil, together with gas, will continue to be a commonly-used fossil fuel until at least 2050.

Used cooking oil, which is also readily available, is another viable alternative and has been successfully used in locomotives in various parts of the world, including the USA. It has excellent thermal efficiency, almost matching diesel traction in some cases.

So, in essence, I feel there will be a number of viable alternatives - but I’m pretty sure that coal won’t be seen as a realistic option at all in a surprisingly few years from now.

The burning of domestic coal is being rapidly phased-out in most ‘first world’ countries in the very near future, coal-burning power generation has nearly ended in most European countries, and heavy industry that still needs coal - such as steel making, uses a type of coal that is completely unsuitable for steam traction. Russian coal will not be an option for many years, and importing suitable coal in small quantities from outside Europe will be prohibitively expensive, as fuel prices in general continue to rise.

I would imagine the use coal burning steam locomotives will, in the next few years, be confined to short educational/demonstration runs on short lengths of track at museum sites by the end of this decade.

But I do see a bright future! In fact, in the longer term, the prospects for heritage steam is probably rosier than that for heritage diesel. The heritage sector will be able to capitalise on the fact that it has successfully transitioned away from dirty coal, creating wonderful opportunities for presenting the industry in a favourable way.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

I don't have the copy of Steam Railway referred to above, perhaps it covers the points.

How much coal are we talking about, UK heritage sector wide per year?
How large a mine would be required?
Where is the most suitable coal located?
Just how unsuitable are the other types of coal which may be more easily available?

Pootling along at light railway speeds, for a few miles each way, has rather different energy requirements than an express over Shap.

Are the Forest of Dean Free Miners still in business?
Could a small mine for good Welsh Steam Coal be opened in a similar manner?

I seem to recall that the Snowdon Mountain Railway converted to oil firing some time ago.

 

[eldomtom2]

Are the Forest of Dean Free Miners still in business?

Yes, but they're dying out as there is no longer a maternity hospital within the Hundred of St Briavels.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Yes, but they're dying out as there is no longer a maternity hospital within the Hundred of St Briavels.

Yes, I remember that from a DVD, possibly a Michael Portillo Great British Railway Journeys episode.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Michael Portillo did indeed visit a micro-mine within the Forest of Dean in a Series 3 episode ("Lydney to Newport"), which first aired in January 2012, so the episode must have been filmed some 11 years ago.

Anyone know if the micro-mines are still operational?

 

[robert thomas]

Plenty of bleak, windswept areas in the Welsh Valleys where I'd imagine there would be realtively little objection to seeing their historic lifeblood industry make a small-scale modern comeback.

I very much feel that given the looming economic disaster that sits just over the horizon, we - both as a nation and as a global society - might have to accept that a degree of the green agenda may need take a backseat for a relatively short time, while we realign certain global balances. Crucially, this means using our own sources of fuel; coal, North Sea oil, fracking etc, rather than pretending for political reasons that none of it exists. The timing isn't great, but civilisations need a reliable supply of the basics in order to function.

Unfortunately the Welsh Government has put a ban on planning permission for coal mining

 

[geoffk]

I believe the Ffestiniog used oil-firing some years ago and converted to coal when it became more economic to do so. They could presumably revert to oil.

 

[Alanko]

For some, part of the attraction of a steam railway is the smell. How do these fuels smell ?

I saw Tornado battering through Linlithgow on various occasions last year. I rarely if ever smelt anything, even when I was standing on a bridge as it passed underneath. Does a well fired, dialled in loco smell much? The 37s and 47s on charters smell more!

 

[StKeverne1497]

It is a waste importing coal, especially in small quantities, when it exists beneath our feet. If a new coal mine was to be opened to serve heritage attractions, could the mine itself become a heritage attraction open to the public whilst actively producing coal. A steam railway could even be built to transport coal away from the mine. I’m sure environmentalists can be reminded how much more efficient this would be than importing it from Kazakhstan!

Big Pit at Blaenafon? You could dig your own bag of coal on the underground tour. I believe steam coal was one of the types produced when it was a working mine and ship it out on the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway.

Disclosure, I work at one of the museums run by the National Museum Wales. We have a working replica of Trevithick's Penydarren engine and have recently stockpiled about four years' worth of coal (it only comes out three or four times a year) rather than just getting enough for the season.

 

[507020]

Big Pit at Blaenafon? You could dig your own bag of coal on the underground tour. I believe steam coal was one of the types produced when it was a working mine and ship it out on the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway.

Disclosure, I work at one of the museums run by the National Museum Wales. We have a working replica of Trevithick's Penydarren engine and have recently stockpiled about four years' worth of coal (it only comes out three or four times a year) rather than just getting enough for the season.

I have split a slate at the National Slate Museum and the other museums sound like they will be worth a visit. Stockpiling coal sounds like a good idea right now, especially from your own mine!