Fwd: CP/SP Coal History

I received the attached from Bob Pecotich. thought I'd share it.

Kyle

Note my NEW address of kwyatt@parks.ca.gov

Kyle K. Wyatt
Curator of History & Technology
California State Railroad Museum

---

Somewhere in my research on Sacramento shops, oil firing experiments for stationary boilers by Stevens, etc. I came across a factoid which discussed that there was no uniformity of converting from wood to coal to oil fuel on the Pacific lines. Seems that the general rule was that the cheapest fuel for the area was used. Coal stayed in use on the Salt lake division because of the local cheap supply from Carbon county. Wood was used for fuel as I hazily recall up until 1910 or so on the Oregon lines, even later in remote areas, becauuse of the abundant local supply. Seems logical that the Shasta division locos would be woodies circa 1901.

Bob Pecotich