Re: Economics of Coal as a Locomotive Fuel

Roger and doodlebug,

I was thinking the same thing, it would take an enormous cost to retrofit railroading to handle coal, in any form, and water. Also, think of all those hot bot detectors that will have to be shut off or modified somehow to ignore a firebox.

Also, Unions would love it, because a Fireman would have to be added? The railroads are not gonna like to add several hundred, if not thousands of Fireman to the payroll.

And, market forces will raise the price of coal once the owners and distributors find they have a new use for their product. It called capitalism, I think. This would negate the possible cost savings, perhaps enough to make it not worth doing.

dan