Hey guys so I am modeling the Port of Providence in the 1960s and am going to have a small barge/ship to rail coal operation and coal yard. I am having trouble finding images of this type of operation. How would the pier look? Would the coal be picked up with a crane and bucket and dumped in a hopper then carried down the pier to the shore and put in a pile for storage? Then later loaded in hoppers?
I found a lot of pictures of older coal piers late 1800s to early 1900s and also some that are reverse of what I am looking for (rail to ship).
The pier that used to be a coal pier in Providence is still there but used for petroleum products now. It does have a hopper (not a train car) at the very and that was there in an old picture but besides that it did not show how the rest of the operation would have worked. This doesn't have to be 100% prototypical to the Prov. Pier. As long as I model one that is realistic operation wise. Any pictures or info you guys may have would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
this might help, and you might search the site for others. http://www.loc.gov/pictures/search/?q=unloading%20coal&co=fsa
At large dock facilities, the big Huett loaders did the work:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hulett
I would guess that at a small facility, a crane with a clam shell bucket would handle the job.
The crane could drop the coal into a hopper, and a conveyor loads the coal cars, or I suppose it could drop it right into the cars.
A perfect job for an Ecrane:
https://www.e-crane.com/
I'm Googling around right now, try a search for transloading coal from barge to rail car, and see what you come up with. Try different word combinations.
Mike.
EDIT: JC'slink has some great ideas!
My You Tube
mbinsewiAt large dock facilities, the big Huett loaders did the work:
Huletts can only unload ships holds, Mike.
Here are some historic views of Providence harbor facilities:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/workingwaterfront/albums/72157601886712401
Commonly, a McMyler car dumper or similar was used. I can only see evidence of conveyor loaders but maybe I'm not looking closely enough. A large proportion of the coal seen here was stockpiled for use in the Sprague power plant.
Sprague Terminal Time Line Photo - Allen's Ave Early Date by Providence Working Waterfront Alliance, on Flickr
02-1954 New Oil Terminal Opened At Providence by Providence Working Waterfront Alliance, on Flickr
More here:
https://sites.google.com/site/rhodeislandrailroads/home/east-providence-south-of-india-point
Scroll down. They did have McMylers in East Providence.
Good Luck, Ed
gmpullmanHuletts can only unload ships holds, Mike.
I believe in his OP, he said a barge/ship to rail car operation. Being transloading coal from a ship or barge to rail cars.
Maybe I misread it?
A couple of coal moving threads in a row. One going from rail car to barge, and this one going from barg to rail car.
mbinsewiI believe in his OP, he said a barge/ship to rail car operation.
I believe you're right, Mike. Sorry
Seems like Sprague pretty much runs the show at that facility:
https://www.spragueenergy.com/terminals/providence,-ri
Interesting to see the footers and pilings of the docks and conveyors remaining from the last century.
It looks like coal loading ceased just before the Conrail era:
To transition the terminal from coal to oil, construction on the Tank Farm began in 1953 and completed in 1968, however, the three steam cranes were not removed until 1978. The coal conveyor-trolley system was
removed in 1985.
From Sprague Energy archives.
Regards, Ed
gmpullman Seems like Sprague pretty much runs the show at that facility: https://www.spragueenergy.com/terminals/providence,-ri Interesting to see the footers and pilings of the docks and conveyors remaining from the last century. It looks like coal loading ceased just before the Conrail era: To transition the terminal from coal to oil, construction on the Tank Farm began in 1953 and completed in 1968, however, the three steam cranes were not removed until 1978. The coal conveyor-trolley system was removed in 1985. From Sprague Energy archives. Regards, Ed
Thanks guys and Thank you Ed because you posted some things and pictures that help and I was not able to find. Yes it will be barge/ship to rail or barge to storage then to rail. I wam modeling the New Haven in 1964 and I wasn't even positive that there was still a coal operation at that point even though the P&W does transport coal from the port by rail today. I believe there was a time where coal operations ceased or slowed to almost none so you also answered a question that I had. Sprague is the industry I am modeling (for coal operations anyway) albeit not prototypical in size because of space limitations. The other coal dock link you posted is across the river in East Providence, Wilksbarre pier. Unfortunately I do not have near enough space to model that side of the river or that pier. The pictures of Sprague you found help a bunch though! Not sure how you found them but I tried and all I could find was arials of that pier after coal ooerations stopped, although in the modern picture it looks like a coal like at the beginning of the pier but I think it may be road salt as I believe Sprague deals in that or I think that's what their website says. Thanks again!
Nick