<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META content="text/html; charset=windows-1252" http-equiv=Content-Type>
<META name=GENERATOR content="MSHTML 9.00.8112.16514">
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face="Century Gothic"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Century Gothic">Fred</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Century Gothic"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Century Gothic">But when the RRs went to stokers did they not
have to buy sized coal rather than mine run?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Century Gothic"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Century Gothic">Dwight</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=fwschneider@comcast.net href="mailto:fwschneider@comcast.net">Fred
Schneider</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org
href="mailto:pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org">Western PA Trolley
discussion</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, October 21, 2013 4:00
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [PRCo] Burning Leaves--and
Coal</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>Ah yes, the smell of coal smoke. Remember there was
an Allegheny County ordinance in 1949 prohibiting the use of coal for home
heating. We moved out in August 1949 forcing the new owner to put
in a gas furnace.<BR><BR>But I remember that my father was CHEAP in all
capital letters. Graded or lump coal cost money. Dad
installed a draft blower on the furnace so he could burn crap instead of
lumps. I think run of the mine was about $3.00 a ton back in the
1940s. For those unfamiliar, "run of the mine" was the same stuff
locomotives burned … just as it comes from the mine … big lumps, little lumps,
boulder size lumps of coal, slate, dirt, dust. But it was cheap
and ten tons would go a whole winter … can you imagine heating an entire house
for a winter for $30 bucks? That, adjusted for inflation, would be about
$530 today. You want to put this into real
perspective? A 275 Gallon tank of No. 2 heating oil in this state
would cost $880 today and you would probably burn about four tanks full a
year. Dad commented later on, after he found what oil cost him,
that you never minded pushing the thermostat up to 85 degrees in that
Pittsburgh house. At what he was paying, it was like it was
free. <BR><BR>As Paul Harvey would say, and now the rest of the
story. During the Arab oil embargo in the 1970s, the price of
run-of-the-mine bituminous went from $13 to $30 a ton. How do I
know? I was working part time for the Strasburg Rail Road and I
know what they were paying to fuel their engines. Why did it
suddenly jump? Might have had something to do with the fact that
four out of the five largest coal companies were owned by major oil companies
and they knew that industry would pay it …. it was still cheaper to run a
power plant on coal than oil. <BR><BR><BR>On Oct 21, 2013, at
11:04 AM, Dwight Long wrote:<BR><BR>> <BR>> Herb<BR>> <BR>> In
Beaver burning next to the curb was OK on concrete streets (we lived on one)
or brick ones (still several left in the 50s) but not on asphalt nor tarred
ones!<BR>> <BR>> Tar? When I was in first or second grade I came
home from school for lunch. On the way back to school the alley that I
used as a shortcut was being freshly tarred. I followed the tar
dispensing truck, fascinated. When I got to school I was sent home
immediately. I looked like the proverbial tarbaby. Lots of
turpentine and stiff scrubbing later, and a new suit of clothes, I returned
and was admitted.<BR>> <BR>> And we still had plenty of coal furnaces in
our town back then, although our house used gas. I well recall the smell
of the coal burning on cold winter days whilst delivering the Pittsburgh Press
to my paper route customers. The last time I encountered that smell was
just a few years ago in a suburb of Budapest while fotting the trams
there. Brought back many memories!<BR>> <BR>> Dwight<BR>>
<BR>> From: Herb Brannon <BR>> Sent: Monday, 21 October, 2013
10:48<BR>> To: Western PA Trolley discussion <BR>> Subject: Re: [PRCo]
Burning Leaves<BR>> When I was a child, in Akron, the common practice
was to burn the leaves<BR>> in the street but along the curb stones.
Sometimes the piles of leaves were<BR>> so large that the fires would
become too large and would spread to the<BR>> treelawn. Then the fire
department would be called to put out the fires. It<BR>> made for an
exciting day or evening. Ranking right up there with the smell<BR>> of
burning leaves are also the smell of coal smoke and the smell of fresh<BR>>
tar.............three of the "little joys of life" now gone by the
wayside.<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> On Mon, Oct 21, 2013 at 10:33 AM, Dwight
Long <<A
href="mailto:dwightlong@verizon.net>wrote">dwightlong@verizon.net>wrote</A>:<BR>>
<BR>>> <BR>>> Herb<BR>>> <BR>>> I can remember back in
the 50s coming back to Beaver from auto trips to<BR>>> the East that
involved the Pa Turnpike—we would use the Warrendale exit and<BR>>> the
back roads to Beaver. Coming down into the (Beaver) valley off
the<BR>>> hill the whole floor of the valley would be engulfed in leaf
smoke.<BR>>> <BR>>> Unhealthy, they say, but it sure did convey
the impression that Autumn was<BR>>> upon us!<BR>>> <BR>>>
Dwight<BR>>> <BR>>> From: Herb Brannon<BR>>> Sent: Sunday,
20 October, 2013 10:36<BR>>> To: Western PA Trolley
discussion<BR>>> Subject: Re: [PRCo] Phil asked about music<BR>>>
You mentioned something I really miss.............the smell of
burning<BR>>> leaves in October.<BR>>> <BR>>> <BR>>>
On Sun, Oct 20, 2013 at 8:37 AM, DF Cramer <<A
href="mailto:alto_trombone@hotmail.com">alto_trombone@hotmail.com</A><BR>>>>
wrote:<BR>>> <BR>>>> <BR>>>> <BR>>>>
<BR>>>> Well, what have I been up to? The beginning of the month I
performed<BR>>>> Copland, Brahms, & Dvorak with the Butler County
Symphony,our (my wife<BR>>>> plays cello) 28th season with the
ensemble. I am back at IUP and<BR>>> delivered<BR>>>> two
arrangements of French Noels from the Baroque period to begin
the<BR>>>> semester and last week conducted a first reading of my
"The Eternal<BR>>> Flame",<BR>>>> a commemorative piece for
double trombone choir and narrator I wrote to<BR>>>> mark the 50th
anniversary of the Kennedy assassination. All of that will<BR>>>
be<BR>>>> performed on November 19 at the university. Next week I
perform with IUP<BR>>>> brass & organ faculty at Zion Lutheran in
Indiana for Reformation Sunday<BR>>>> and the following week we are
doing Charlie Chaplin's "City Lights" in<BR>>>> Butler. Chaplin
created the musical score for this silent film and we<BR>>>
will<BR>>>> be showing the film as we perform. (Side note: if you
want tickets let me<BR>>>> know as soon as possible--I usually get 4
free ones)<BR>>>> Other than that, I spent quality time with Ed at
the Alle-Kiski<BR>>> Historical<BR>>>> Society, led a new
operator training class at PTM, printed and stuffed<BR>>>> ballots
for PTM, and am going to the opera today to see Aida (football<BR>>>
fan<BR>>>> alert--Franco Harris is leading the Grand March in the
opera today)<BR>>>> I spend lots of time practicing and cleaning up
leaves. I mulch some and<BR>>>> burn others---yes we are still
permitted to burn here.<BR>>>> If you missed it--I also performed at
the PTM 50th Anniversary luncheon.<BR>>>> See the most recent issue
of PTM Trolley Fare, Fred Schneider took some<BR>>>> great
images.<BR>>>> Dennis F. Cramer<BR>>>> <A
href="http://home.windstream.net/dfc1/">http://home.windstream.net/dfc1/</A><BR>>>>
<BR>>>>> Date: Sat, 19 Oct 2013 05:49:49 -0700<BR>>>>>
From: <A
href="mailto:pcc_sr@yahoo.com">pcc_sr@yahoo.com</A><BR>>>>> To: <A
href="mailto:pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org">pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org</A><BR>>>>>
Subject: Re: [PRCo] still having issues<BR>>>>>
<BR>>>>> Stereo-vision isn't it Mr.Cramer! Soapbox
opportunity; make the most<BR>>> of<BR>>>>
it!<BR>>>>> <BR>>>>> You have not recently mentioned
anything about your concert or music<BR>>>>
engagements.<BR>>>>> I find them fascinating. Music is not
at all unlike laughter is it;<BR>>>> both speak a universal
language.<BR>>>>> <BR>>>>> Yes; BB are the last posts
I have seen. There was not much of anything<BR>>>> before your
BB posts for several weeks. You mentioned a book in
relation<BR>>>> to this; please tell more.<BR>>>>>
<BR>>>>> <BR>>>>> Phil<BR>>>>>
<BR>>>>> <BR>>>>> <BR>>>>>
--------------------------------------------<BR>>>>> On Sat,
10/19/13, DF Cramer <<A
href="mailto:alto_trombone@hotmail.com">alto_trombone@hotmail.com</A>>
wrote:<BR>>>>> <BR>>>>> Subject: [PRCo] still having
issues<BR>>>>> To: "<A
href="mailto:pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org">pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org</A>"
<<BR>>>> <A
href="mailto:pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org">pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org</A>><BR>>>>>
Date: Saturday, October 19, 2013, 3:52 AM<BR>>>>>
<BR>>>>> it seemed very interesting that after<BR>>>>>
I posted on the list, several emails came through. I assume people<BR>>>
were<BR>>>> responding with reply all. I have received no posts
from the list other<BR>>>> than those dealing with Billy
Baxter.<BR>>>>> <BR>>>>> Dennis F.
Cramer<BR>>>>> <A
href="http://home.windstream.net/dfc1/">http://home.windstream.net/dfc1/</A><BR>>>>>
<BR>>>>> <BR>>>>> <BR>>>>>
_______________________________________________<BR>>>>>
Pittsburgh-railways mailing list<BR>>>>> <A
href="mailto:Pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org">Pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org</A><BR>>>>>
<A
href="https://mailman.dementix.org/mailman/listinfo/pittsburgh-railways">https://mailman.dementix.org/mailman/listinfo/pittsburgh-railways</A><BR>>>>
<BR>>>> <BR>>>> <BR>>>> <BR>>>>
-------------- next part --------------<BR>>>> An HTML attachment was
scrubbed...<BR>>>> URL:<BR>>>> <BR>>> <A
href="http://mailman.dementix.org/pipermail/pittsburgh-railways/attachments/20131020/9fb2601a/attachment.html">http://mailman.dementix.org/pipermail/pittsburgh-railways/attachments/20131020/9fb2601a/attachment.html</A><BR>>>>
_______________________________________________<BR>>>>
Pittsburgh-railways mailing list<BR>>>> <A
href="mailto:Pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org">Pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org</A><BR>>>>
<A
href="https://mailman.dementix.org/mailman/listinfo/pittsburgh-railways">https://mailman.dementix.org/mailman/listinfo/pittsburgh-railways</A><BR>>>>
<BR>>> <BR>>> <BR>>> <BR>>> --<BR>>> Herb
Brannon<BR>>> *In Pittsburgh...*<BR>>> *......the Greatest City In
The U.S.*<BR>>> Let's Go Pens<BR>>> Let's Go Steelers<BR>>>
<BR>>> <BR>>> <BR>>> -------------- next part
--------------<BR>>> An HTML attachment was scrubbed...<BR>>>
URL:<BR>>> <A
href="http://mailman.dementix.org/pipermail/pittsburgh-railways/attachments/20131020/d92cc5ec/attachment.html">http://mailman.dementix.org/pipermail/pittsburgh-railways/attachments/20131020/d92cc5ec/attachment.html</A><BR>>>
_______________________________________________<BR>>>
Pittsburgh-railways mailing list<BR>>> <A
href="mailto:Pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org">Pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org</A><BR>>>
<A
href="https://mailman.dementix.org/mailman/listinfo/pittsburgh-railways">https://mailman.dementix.org/mailman/listinfo/pittsburgh-railways</A><BR>>>
<BR>>> <BR>>> <BR>>> -------------- next part
--------------<BR>>> An HTML attachment was scrubbed...<BR>>>
URL:<BR>>> <A
href="http://mailman.dementix.org/pipermail/pittsburgh-railways/attachments/20131021/0e66d86f/attachment.html">http://mailman.dementix.org/pipermail/pittsburgh-railways/attachments/20131021/0e66d86f/attachment.html</A><BR>>>
_______________________________________________<BR>>>
Pittsburgh-railways mailing list<BR>>> <A
href="mailto:Pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org">Pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org</A><BR>>>
<A
href="https://mailman.dementix.org/mailman/listinfo/pittsburgh-railways">https://mailman.dementix.org/mailman/listinfo/pittsburgh-railways</A><BR>>>
<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> -- <BR>> Herb Brannon<BR>> *In
Pittsburgh...*<BR>> *......the Greatest City In The U.S.*<BR>> Let's Go
Pens<BR>> Let's Go Steelers<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>>
-------------- next part --------------<BR>> An HTML attachment was
scrubbed...<BR>> URL: <A
href="http://mailman.dementix.org/pipermail/pittsburgh-railways/attachments/20131021/d430bad4/attachment.html">http://mailman.dementix.org/pipermail/pittsburgh-railways/attachments/20131021/d430bad4/attachment.html</A>
<BR>> _______________________________________________<BR>>
Pittsburgh-railways mailing list<BR>> <A
href="mailto:Pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org">Pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org</A><BR>>
<A
href="https://mailman.dementix.org/mailman/listinfo/pittsburgh-railways">https://mailman.dementix.org/mailman/listinfo/pittsburgh-railways</A><BR>>
<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> -------------- next part --------------<BR>> An
HTML attachment was scrubbed...<BR>> URL: <A
href="http://mailman.dementix.org/pipermail/pittsburgh-railways/attachments/20131021/f38f69c0/attachment.html">http://mailman.dementix.org/pipermail/pittsburgh-railways/attachments/20131021/f38f69c0/attachment.html</A>
<BR>> _______________________________________________<BR>>
Pittsburgh-railways mailing list<BR>> <A
href="mailto:Pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org">Pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org</A><BR>>
<A
href="https://mailman.dementix.org/mailman/listinfo/pittsburgh-railways">https://mailman.dementix.org/mailman/listinfo/pittsburgh-railways</A><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>Pittsburgh-railways
mailing list<BR><A
href="mailto:Pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org">Pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org</A><BR><A
href="https://mailman.dementix.org/mailman/listinfo/pittsburgh-railways">https://mailman.dementix.org/mailman/listinfo/pittsburgh-railways</A></BLOCKQUOTE>
</BODY></HTML>