The use of Thermal Coal to produce steam is the primary reason why it is called Steam Coal.

In 1712 Thomas Newcomen, a British engineer and inventor, built a steam engine to mainly pump water from mines. This was a key moment in history as the steam engine would later go on to power the Industrial Revolution.

In the mid-18^th century, Newcomen collaborated with John Smeaton to make engines more efficient. But it was James Watt in the late 18th century who introduced significant modifications, including the use of a separate condenser, which increased the efficiency of the steam engine manifold. The improvements by James Watts are credited for the widespread and commercially viable use of coal to produce steam.

Thermal coal was being burnt to produce steam which then powered engines and machines in many industries. Coal was also burnt in boilers to generate steam for powering pistons and boilers of locomotives, thereby inextricably linking coal to steam and creating the nickname ‘Steam Coal.’

Thermal Coal was a readily available raw material with good energy density and was also inexpensive. So by the early 19^th century it became the primary fuel for steam engines, driving machinery in factories, powering locomotives for transportation and enabling diverse industrial processes that completely transformed manufacturing and production capabilities. Mass production of products was to become a reality.

While the applications of Thermal Coal in today’s world have changed dramatically, steam locomotives are still being used, although they now mostly ferry tourists across short distances over scenic routes, allowing us a fleeting glimpse into the past.