SR_Krause Wrote:
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> I was wondering if that was the goal. So, to
> rephrase: It's worth the trouble to deal with a
> muddy mess of fines at the bottom in fire
> potential reduction. Good choice to me!
>
> SRK
>
> John Bush Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Washing the coal pile was instituted this
> summer.
> > The goal is to reduce the amount of coal that
> has
> > been ground down to a very small size (fines)
> > before it gets to the fire box.
> > When the locomotive is working hard the fines
> tend
> > to get carried up the stack still burning. That
> > increases the chance of line side fire. This
> > summer despite the drought we had substantially
> > fewer than usual fire issues.
> >
> > John Bush
IMHO the mess by the water tank is not a big deal and it is gone before very long.