Re: 483 Getting Ready=Chama Yard =Photos

MD Ramsey Wrote:
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> I was never sure how much this actually reduces
> the fines, but does really good at washing them to
> the bottom of the coal pile. The fireman still has
> to deal with them, in one big batch, and throw
> them somewhere, usually in the firebox. I always
> experienced that it would gradually decrease the
> coal space by allowing the fines to accumulate at
> the bottom.
>
> Back in the day, we would do this now and then on
> the D&S in Durango. At that time, it made a big
> mess and tended to loose some good coal to the
> ground. Again, it seemed to concentrate all the
> fines to the bottom of the coal space rather than
> removing them and decreasing coal capacity..
>
> I was always the fireman that kept the coal wet
> with the squirt hose so as to keep the dust to a
> minimum. The squirt hose was also good for eroding
> the fines in a coal space that 1/2 to 1/4 full and
> allowing the good coal to fall forward. Any
> wet/muddy fines were thrown out the gangway so as
> to increase coal space for the next load.
>
> That was my feeling during my time, but the
> current C&TS folks may have a more positive take
> on all this.
>
> MDR

The railroad tells me it is worth doing.