🚀 go-pugleaf

dslr <dslr.nospam@btopenworld.com> wrote in message news:<407BF6D7.4F2024AA@btopenworld.com>...
> Jim Guthrie wrote:
> Certainly was at the steam MPDs - much easier to just empty a trainload
> into the hopper every now and then than one wagon every, what, 3 or 4
> locos?

Many coaling plants at MPDs had two or more hoppers within the
structure, for different grades of coal.  Hoppers were selected by
means of large moveable flap valves.

The more sophisticated ones had measured discharge (by the
hundredweight), and one could 'blend' a tenderful of coal from the
various hoppers.

On 13 Apr 2004 05:11:17 -0700, a.kirkham@LTScotland.com (Andy Kirkham)
wrote:

Andy,

>Then I recalled those monstrous coaling stages that were found at
>steam MPD's (except GWR ones). Once again, I wondered what was the
>point in dropping coal from such a great height.

I think you'll find that there's a very large hopper inside the
structure for storing a large amount of coal.   This would allow the
speed of loading wagons to be somewhat independent of the rate of
supply of the conveyor belts,  or whatever.


Jim.

"Andy Kirkham" <a.kirkham@LTScotland.com> wrote in message
news:5e43d78b.0404130411.54f9be09@posting.google.com...
> tall as a 12 to 15-storey building. Why does it need to be so high?
> Why can't the coal be dropped from a height just above the wagons'
> tops?

Total guess -
from height, dropped coal has lots of energy and scatters on landing,
filling all corners of wagon.
from less height, coal might form a pyramid under the conveyor instead?

Richard

Jim Guthrie wrote:
>
> On 13 Apr 2004 05:11:17 -0700, a.kirkham@LTScotland.com (Andy Kirkham)
> wrote:
>
> Andy,
>
> >Then I recalled those monstrous coaling stages that were found at
> >steam MPD's (except GWR ones). Once again, I wondered what was the
> >point in dropping coal from such a great height.
>
> I think you'll find that there's a very large hopper inside the
> structure for storing a large amount of coal.   This would allow the
> speed of loading wagons to be somewhat independent of the rate of
> supply of the conveyor belts,  or whatever.

Certainly was at the steam MPDs - much easier to just empty a trainload
into the hopper every now and then than one wagon every, what, 3 or 4
locos?


--
regards,
dslr

"Jim Guthrie" <jim@sprok01.plus.com> wrote in message
news:5tnn705d3nbg616lgic4mgirsuofk1pqma@4ax.com...
> On 13 Apr 2004 05:11:17 -0700, a.kirkham@LTScotland.com (Andy Kirkham)
> wrote:
>
> Andy,
>
> >Then I recalled those monstrous coaling stages that were found at
> >steam MPD's (except GWR ones). Once again, I wondered what was the
> >point in dropping coal from such a great height.
>
> I think you'll find that there's a very large hopper inside the
> structure for storing a large amount of coal.   This would allow the
> speed of loading wagons to be somewhat independent of the rate of
> supply of the conveyor belts,  or whatever.
>
>
> Jim.

I believe these hoppers are called flood loaders, they act as a buffer so
the MGR train can be loaded quickly

Mike


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On 13 Apr 2004 05:11:17 -0700 someone who may be
a.kirkham@LTScotland.com (Andy Kirkham) wrote this:-

>Then I recalled those monstrous coaling stages that were found at
>steam MPD's (except GWR ones). Once again, I wondered what was the
>point in dropping coal from such a great height.

Some steam MPDs. These were large ones that had been modernised
after roughly the 1914-18 war. The hopper allowed rapid loading of
tenders, compared to shovelling coal from wagons or using small coal
tubs. Also many coal wagons could be unloaded into the hopper at a
convenient time. Much the same arguments of delivery to and from a
site apply today.


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