Re the sizes of coal the railways liked to use, I recall that in around 1950-52 a shipload of
coal was delivered to Britain from the USA, one of the first such imports. I think it
came to a Scotish port, and the father of a fellow student of mine at the School of Mines
had the task of selling it, he then working for the NCB, having been the sales director of
the Fife Coal Company prior to nationalisation.
He had great difficulty in disposing of this cargo - which had receved much publicity in
the national press - because of the screen analysis. It was too big for the electricity
generators, who liked fine coal for their power stations, but not large enough for the
railways, who liked large lump coal for their main line locomotives. It eventually went
to the railways, at a much reduced price, for engines employed on local routes and
shunting duties.
Tony Brewis
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