As i ran my 2343 Santa Fe’s around my Christmas tree earlier i sat staring at the coal laying around my 97. Its original Lionel 206 “Artificial Coal.” It looks soooooo real. So its the black sheep of the load accessory pieces from Lionel. The milk cans are too big, the merchandise containers arn’t pictures of realism, and the logs look like dowel sticks… So what is the coal. At first i thought maybe broken up bakelite? No its not the right consistency, some sort of plastic maybe? Anyone know? happy holidays.
its bakelite makes a big mess too
It was chopped bakelite, I would guess it is chopped plastic today.
Mike
Anthracite Coal Dust was used in the manufacture of Bakelite. So in reality, the coal that Lionel made then is partly real coal. Take Care.
Bakelite it is.
The new stuff is some sort of thermoplastic, probably ABS. As I understand it, it’s basically just whatever black colored scrap plastic they have lying around. Most of it looks to me like molding sprues and things of that sort-a lot of it has an overall round shape.
Really? This is so cool to learn!
LIONEL Tipple coal is as others on this forum has said looks like rat turds. Made this way as not to jam up the Lionel coal tipple. I also have used this type of coal for my Bethlehem Gantry crane with clam bucket to fill up hoopers. Works great with crane.
laz57
I am fortunate to have a bucket of ‘real’ coal I’ve broken up to fit on my coaling platforms and hoppers. It’s heavy [;)]
I am fortunate to have a bucket of ‘real’ coal I’ve broken up to fit on my coaling platforms and hoppers. It’s heavy [;)]
What ever it is its one coal I wouldn’t complain about in my Christmas stocking. The stuff probably compares to, aleast, silver on a per ounce basis.[:)]
Hey Laz, what in blazes is a “hooper”??? [}:)][(-D][(-D] Sorry-I just couldn’t resist. Ken
KEN,
DA STUFF DAT GOES around the hopper?[:O][:D][:I] MY BAD!!!
laz57
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