Old rotary dumper (wagon tippler) operation

[Flintlock76]

I found this nine-minute Norfolk-Southern "informercial" about the Lambert's Point coal dumping operation, you may find it interesting.

Aside from the modern electronics and inventory control the heavy mechanical operations of coal dumping haven't changed since the old Norfolk & Western days.  You'll see just how they handle all those cars of coal.

Most coal-dumping operations in the old days handled the cars in a pretty similar manner.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-PTDJfKfnI   

[BaltACD]

At Curtis Bay Coal Pier in Baltimore a electic car mover known locally as a 'Barney' would shove cars to the dumper - past the dumper the track was a down grade loop into the Return Yard where the empty cars would be assembled to be pulled into the regular yard for inspection and dispatchment back to the mine or cut out for loading at the adjacent Curtis Bay Ore Pier.  As a load is shoved into the dumper, they car that was previously dumped is shoved out and begins its journey to the Return Yard.

All coal is not the same.  'In the day' Curtis Bay Coal Pier specialized in blending coal as it was being dumped in ocean going vessels.  The ocean motion of coal in the holds of these vessels would 'homoginize' the multiple grades of coal dumped into a hold while moving the loaded vessel to its desination.

[steve24944]

I think the empty would roll down a ramp through a spring switch on to a side track, then the next full car would be pushed onto the rotary dump.

Steve

[BrianS]

Greetings all,

I happened across this neat old video on Youtube which I believe is footage of the first rotary dumper.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0br89U8K-U

What I am curious about is how did they handle the empty wagons after being dumped?  Besides the next loaded wagon pushing the empty out.  It certainly seems to me like the locomotive would not be able to pass though the dumper itself.  Anyone know how this was handled at that time?

Thanks in advance

Brian