Where does one find a coal shovel these days? I've been to numerous small hardware stores (they always carry more exotic stuff that Lowes or Home Depot)

Any recommendations on size?

We purchase our coal scoops through Farmers Hardware in Boone. They special order them. I think we have to buy like 6 at a time. At Tweetsie we use a #6 scoop. Most others ive seen seem to use a #4 scoop.

> Where does one find a coal shovel these
> days? I've been to numerous small hardware
> stores (they always carry more exotic stuff
> that Lowes or Home Depot)

> Any recommendations on size?


http://tweetsie.com
tssmith@boone.net

We get ours from McMaster-Carr Supply. They used to number them, but the latest catalog does not. The smallest is what we use on Thomas, and the others are #2, #4, and #6. Just type in the stock number when at their home page to go to them. They take credit cards. You can get one at a time, always in stock.

Shallow-Blade Scoops
Steel
9 1/2" 14" D Wood 29" #6211A23 $36.45

11" 15" D Wood 27" #6211A11 $37.73

12" 17" D Wood 27" #6211A15 $48.12

14 1/2" 17" D Wood 27" #6211A25 $44.33

The size required depends on how much coal you have to move. At the Strasburg Rail Road, we burn about 1/3 of a ton per hour, and a #2 is just the ticket on the small engines, and a #4 on the larger ones. Though a #6 is handy for banking the fire at night, a #6 during the day will wear you out just moving the extra weight of the shovel. A smaller shovel will allow you to keep a better looking, more level fire. Of course, for higher consumption, go to a larger size.



McMaster

There's always Ebay too. You can get one from your favorite RR. I picked up an Omaha #4 scoop pretty cheap.

ablemanscurve@hotmail.com