T8 Lights loosing their brightness?

[Ford850]

Most people refer to coal cars as hopper cars.

We've always called them coal cars. I guess that comes from a lifetime of sitting at train crossings, seeing the many thousands of these hopper cars slowly cross in front of me and heaped with coal.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Do you know for certain that they are hauling coal? Maybe it's silica sand (fracking) that is big business around here...or grain.

In my area, coal is hauled in open cars, where you can see the coal. Sand is hauled in closed hopper type cars. Most of the local coal is now shipped overseas. Natural gas power plants are replacing coal fired.

 

[dnw64]

There is an old well right on the property line at the back corner... low output... about 400 gallons in 24 hours...??? sound like I could save a couple of thousand annually?

My uncle has a very low output well and would often run out.

He built a cistern in his basement that holds maybe 500 gallons and put his submersible pump on a timer to run X minutes per Y minutes (don't remember the numbers, but it would vary based on individual circumstances).

Primary power for the pump was controlled by a float in the cistern, so the pump would only run if the level was below the preset. Then he has a shallow well pump to supply house pressure.

He has never run out since.

Unless you regularly use more than 400 gallons a day, a similar setup should work fine for you if you want to put the time and effort in. Saving a couple thousand annually adds up - in 10 years that's $20 grand, well worth the time and effort if you ask me.

However, you do have to have a place for the cistern, and assuming that someday you will sell the place, some people will likely be put off by an unconventional system such as that.

 

[MossRoad]

We've always called them coal cars. I guess that comes from a lifetime of sitting at train crossings, seeing the many thousands of these hopper cars slowly cross in front of me and heaped with coal.

My father got me into the habit of counting the number of engines and train cars while sitting at crossings. Still do it to this day.

 

[ultrarunner]

My uncle has a very low output well and would often run out.

He built a cistern in his basement that holds maybe 500 gallons and put his submersible pump on a timer to run X minutes per Y minutes (don't remember the numbers, but it would vary based on individual circumstances).

Primary power for the pump was controlled by a float in the cistern, so the pump would only run if the level was below the preset. Then he has a shallow well pump to supply house pressure.

He has never run out since.

Unless you regularly use more than 400 gallons a day, a similar setup should work fine for you if you want to put the time and effort in. Saving a couple thousand annually adds up - in 10 years that's $20 grand, well worth the time and effort if you ask me.

However, you do have to have a place for the cistern, and assuming that someday you will sell the place, some people will likely be put off by an unconventional system such as that.

Although it was not said by the Water Company representative... I am sure they would find a way to assess sewer charges if I was on well water since I am connected to the city sewer system...

The house at the end of the block is septic... one of the very very few... it was built in 1950 and a 1000 feet from the line...

Here is a kicker... one of the Docs at work bought horse property... in the city... he paid 7 years for city sewer but had no city sewer... there was a problem and the plumber came out and discovered it... his wife took on the fight and it took about a year and hearing to refund 3 years of charges... statute of limitations is why they did not get all their money back...

Plenty of strange things that make one shake your head...

 

[ArlyA]

Gee whiz, most of of US coal production does not go overseas. There are coal fired plants all across the Midwest. I can't speak about other portions of the US.

From How much coal does the U.S. export and import? | American Geosciences Institute

In the third quarter of 2018, the U.S. exported 29.1 million short tons of coal (15% of total production)

 

[ultrarunner]

My father got me into the habit of counting the number of engines and train cars while sitting at crossings. Still do it to this day.

Speaking of South Bend... the mayor was here yesterday campaigning for President... here being the SF Bay Area... he did not speak about coal... I think the focus was it is time for the next generation to have a say in politics and the country's future.

 

[Streetcar]

Moss
Do you know where the coal that is headed east is coming from
All of our coal in Ohio comes from the East

 

[Industrial Toys]

Has anybody seen the string of locomotives, dare I say a thousand, in the desert, surplus to current requirements?

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Moss
Do you know where the coal that is headed east is coming from
All of our coal in Ohio comes from the East

Only one coal mine operating in my home county of east ohio, used to be several.