Re: Floresta Coal Breaker

RDannemann Wrote:
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>
> Many homes used coal for heating and cooking long
> ago.
>
Anthracite, aka "Black Diamonds", in particular was very popular (if you could afford it) for home use.
In fact the switch from Anthracite coal to elec/oil/gas for home heating (ca late 1920's to 1940's) was the first major step in the decline of the coal mining industry in general. In RR terms, if you look back east, that switch killed the "Old & Weary" and was the first, and largest, blow to the RRs of Pennsylvania (DL&W, Rdg, LV, CNJ's Penn. subsiduary, etc) that led to them going down in the 1960's and winding up in Conrail in '76. (O&W abnd in 1957 but was profitable into the mid-1930's, lost the anthracite traffic, went into recievership and never came out.)
The history of the coal industry in the late 20th century is wierd. Only reason we still have one (other than a bit of meturgical use & export) is the 1970's Energy Crisis. Only reason the Powder Basin Field in Wyoming was developed was air quality regulations! (mix low-sulfer PB coal with local stuff, reduce emissions. Big in the Midwest in the 1980's and the reason China wants it now!)
Really can't say more about that without straying into politics, or possibly religion, so I'll shut up!
hank