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Most of yr question has been expertly answered already. The big engine terminals had ash pits, often under more than one track. If the volume warranted, the ash pits might have had conveyors to lift the askes from the pit(s) and dump them into a gon or hopper car, parked on an adjacent track expressly for that purpose. In smaller terminal or on branch lines, the dumped ashes would be removed by men with shovels as previously posted. Hot ashes could be damaging to ties & capable of starting fires, so dumping would be confined to certain areas except in case of emergency where the fire had to be dumped to prevent a boiler explosion. The ashes would eventually be hauled to a dump site or someplace where such material would have been suitable as fill. Ash removal & disposal with its attendant labor costs were another reason why railroads with coal-burning steamers were able to save money with diesels
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