Hard Coal - the real thing

[The Johnster]

I have a supply that will outlast me, courtesy of Tomparryharry who is involved with the Pontypool and Blaenafon Rly.  I had a previous lump that I mined myself at Big Pit years ago.  Coal is one of those things that can scale down for layout use, as is wood, and I use it as wagon loads, bunker filling, and the dust as a scenic material.  There is a heap of it in the corner of the NCB coaling stage, and the Hornby W4 has a few lumps in it's bunker inside the cab.

[tomparryharry]

I suggest that if you're after the real stuff, then pop along to your local steam railway, and ask kindly for 'dust' . If you're lucky, you will get it ready sized. Always ask where the donation box is; they will appreciate the gesture.  Remember that soft coal is quite friable, so how you fix it in place will depend of which grade you will use.

 

The ideal size of coal  (in real life ) is  approximately the size of a man's fist. But! Remember to scale it down.  I keep a bag of coal dust here, which is just right for 00 work. 

[jasp]

I used a piece of steel bar as a “hammer” with small pieces of coal in a tin can, then graded the coal. Better than a plastic bag.

Jim P

[bike2steam]

Good old hard Anthracite, the best to use for 'real coal' on model railways, if you use the softer Bitumen over a period of time will probably turn brown, the softer the quicker it will go.

[Right Away]

Here’s a quick pic of Welsh Anthracite in the tender of an ex-works S15 (won’t stay like that for long!), which was purchased off the “Bay“

Crushed with hammer as per other posts.