from Henry Raudenbush
Coal for heating of elevated stations of Manhattan el, IRT and BMT, and for heating plants of IRT inspection shops, and for the Putnam drawbridge, was distributed in transit system work cars – flat cars with sides on the IRT & Manhattan, specially designed car 3070 on the BMT. The IRT had a bunker for coal and for ballast at 148th St yard, where bulk materials were delivered by barge. The Manhattan had “coal bridges” at 155 St and 129th St yard, originally to coal Forney engines, also receiving coal by barge. But this traffic disappeared in the 1950’s, when electric heaters were installed in the remaining elevated stations.
In the later 1950’s and 1960’s, track maintenance was mechanized. To provide ballast directly from quarry to subway tracks, the TA bought about 30 standard hopper cars (narrowed to fit the IRT). These were interchanged with the railroads, and coupled into TA work trains. (I was involved in a series of brake tests on the Pelham line with a consist of LoV motors, those hopper cars, with AB brake, and R-20 flat cars). But this through operation was completely separate from the old coal trains.
BMT Special hopper carabove; IRT 149th St. Yard Facility below:
