I have a Xerox copy of an old photo of a coaling station on the B&O branch line in Lexington, OH c. 1900. This is a huge structure where hopper cars are somehow hauled on top, either by engine or winch, and their load discharged directly into the chutes. I count 10 coaling chutes on the structure and there are three hoppers shown atop the structure in the photo. I can't believe this structure was unique to Lexington. Has anyone ever heard of such a coaling station; any good photos? I would like to model it if I can get more detail. I would be happy to share the photo if it would help identify it.
Bill
Those were very common types of coaling towers. They came in all sizes. Even the East Broad Top, a narrow gauge line that lasted into the 1950's and was/is a tourist line has one.(although smaller). The Reading had several, the MP and NP both used them at some places.
Searching the HABS-HAER site I found these:
DL&W trestle
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?hh:23:./temp/~ammem_XJ4S::
There may also be some others on Shorpy.com but they are harder to find.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
ndbprrThe PRR had a couple. Best known one was at Denholm Pa on the middle division mainline. Should be several pictures on the net.
Try a Google search for "denholm thorndale coal wharf" for photos.
IIRC back around 1960 Model Railroader Magazine had an article with photos and drawing of a coal wharf in the Midwest, possibly Missouri?
Thanks guys. I searched for a couple of months on the web without finding anything. I guess my problem was I had never heard the term "coal trestle" before. The Denholm trestle is different than the one in Lexington in that it is at right angles to the track and served many parallel tracks. The DL&W trestle is exactly what I was looking for; thanks again,
The walkway from the parking lot to the shopping mall across the tracks at Steamtown is on the footprint, and approximates the track profile of, the coaling trestle which once stood there. The site model inside the roundhouse and old pictures of the area make this clearer.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)