A few CVRR pictures and some other related pictures....2

[rogruth]

Hi, I almost never post here because I don't think I have much interesting to contribute. However, Rufus, I'm curious about using coal in a fireplace. I have a sack of it and no, Santa Claus did not give it to me for Christmas. I've tried burning a few pieces of coal in my fireplace with a decent fire going but they didn't ignite. Is some type of grate needed for better airflow?

Thanks.

Look how much I have posted, then look at how many of my posts are interesting and then start posting more often.
You cannot get in trouble posting on MTJ. Remember you can always talk about trains on a train forum.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Hi, I almost never post here because I don't think I have much interesting to contribute. However, Rufus, I'm curious about using coal in a fireplace. I have a sack of it and no, Santa Claus did not give it to me for Christmas. I've tried burning a few pieces of coal in my fireplace with a decent fire going but they didn't ignite. Is some type of grate needed for better airflow?

No good answer, I'm afraid. Nothing special about the grate that I know about; old grate was 2 regular ones bolted together to get more area years ago before we had that fireplace rebuilt. The fire was just a very good hot wood fire using a lot of black locust. So, a good hardwood fire and good hard coal banked in would hold for part of the night.

[chuck]

Different grate in terms of size of the holes and elevation off the floor of the fireplace. It tends to burn hotter than most wood. Be careful with anthracite, it burns much hotter.

basically to have that English/Scottish coal fire ambiance you will simply have to find a "coal grate" - one with finer holes in it and start a small wood fire than add coal, a few chunks at a time. the grate will need to be elevated more than a wood fire, about 6" min from the bottom of the hearth. and you will need to poke down to the bottom of the coal bed periodically to drop the ash since it won't have the shaker grates like most in europe do.

I don't know about burning low grade coal in a fireplace. The high sulphur content may stink up the house!

[RBH29]

Thanks for the responses guys.

Roger, I enjoy your posts. I think they're interesting.

Rufus, I've tried putting a few pieces in the bottom of the fireplace and building a decent fire on top thinking the coal would ignite as the fire burned. I might as well have put in a couple of rocks. I think what's needed is airflow under the coal like real coal burning stoves have. I have an old, small, cast iron grate somewhere that I'll try using.

Chuck, I figured the coal would burn hotter and that's why I tried just a couple of chunks. No need to start the house on fire!

Regards.

[robert.]

My grandfather would hit the fire with a hairdryer. He had a 2 fr long 3 inch diameter metal pipe attached to it. It took about a minute to light it.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Rufus, I've tried putting a few pieces in the bottom of the fireplace and building a decent fire on top thinking the coal would ignite as the fire burned. I might as well have put in a couple of rocks. I think what's needed is airflow under the coal like real coal burning stoves have. I have an old, small, cast iron grate somewhere that I'll try using.

Yes, got to be elevate on a grate. I've always in every fireplace had a grate to keep the fire off the brick floor. Hard coal will burn hot and will beat up a grate, but so will black locust, Grate in my fireplace in PA is missing several sections and I have a new one here in garage.

Grates are all over the map on cost / quality,

[Rufus T. Firefly]

[Rufus T. Firefly]

[MurphOnMillerAve]

The dame in the photographer's studio, what is she so proud of, one can wonder .

Perhaps, it's her wholesomeness ?

[Rufus T. Firefly]

The dame in the photographer's studio, what is she so proud of, one can wonder .

Perhaps, it's her wholesomeness ?

Maybe it's because she's getting paid to pose for an obviously staged photo?

The two cards have the photo of a photographer in action in common.

I thought you'd be more interested in the boy in the 2nd one turning to get his mug in the photo.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

Moving top-to-bottom between the pair, yes, my eyes went right to that charming boy . He seems typical of an attitude seen in many boys his apparent age: life's and adventure and worth a gander and a bemused smile.

However, he's a lot cleaner and neater than any fellows I knew as a wildboy in my childhood 'hood.

For example, I was so often head-to-toe dirty, from climbing in and around the numerous new houses being constructed continually in my new suburb, that my father had a shower and "powder room" constructed in our basement so that after playing outside, I could only enter the house via the in-ground basement , put my grubby clothes directly into the wash machine , and step into the shower , dressing in clean clothes awaiting my clean self. My folks were organized and never seemed at all irritated by
my boyhood.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Moving top-to-bottom between the pair, yes, my eyes went right to that charming boy . He seems typical of an attitude seen in many boys his apparent age: life's and adventure and worth a gander and a bemused smile.

However, he's a lot cleaner and neater than any fellows I knew as a wildboy in my childhood 'hood.

It's clear that he's out for a family outing/picnic -- probably on strict orders to not get into being mess until after the photos are taken.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

Both photos are nice to see, as are all that you post in your thread. They are glimpses into a past, now, clearly, long-gone.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Both photos are nice to see, as are all that you post in your thread. They are glimpses into a past, now, clearly, long-gone.

Keep checking in! I've only got a few thousand more lined up.......

[Rufus T. Firefly]