Coaling tower

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A steel coal tower at Grosmont Motive Power Depot

A coaling tower, coal stage or coaling station is a facility used to load coal as fuel into railway steam locomotives. Coaling towers were often sited at motive power depots or locomotive maintenance shops.[1]

Coaling towers were constructed of wood, steel-reinforced concrete, or steel. In almost all cases coaling stations used a gravity fed method, with one or more large storage bunkers for the coal elevated on columns above the railway tracks, from which the coal could be released to slide down a chute into the waiting locomotive's coal storage area. The method of lifting the bulk coal into the storage bin varied. The coal usually was dropped from a hopper car into a pit below tracks adjacent to the tower. From the pit a conveyor-type system used a chain of motor-driven buckets to raise the coal to the top of the tower where it would be dumped into the storage bin; a skip-hoist system lifted a single large bin for the same purpose.[2][3] Some facilities lifted entire railway coal trucks or wagons. Sanding pipes were often mounted on coaling towers to allow simultaneous replenishment of a locomotive's sand box.

As railroads transitioned from the use of steam locomotives to the use of diesel locomotives in the 1950s the need for coaling towers ended. Many reinforced concrete towers remain in place if they do not interfere with operations due to the high cost of demolition incurred with these massive structures.[1][4]

Existing Coaling Towers[edit]

The sortable tables below list existing steam locomotive coaling towers, coal stages, coal docks, coal chutes, and automatic loaders with the following information when known:

  1. Place name where the coaling tower is located.
  2. State, province, or county in which the coaling tower is located.
  3. Railroad for which the coaling tower was originally built.
  4. Year in which the coaling tower was built.
  5. Type of coaling station: tower or stage, chutes, dock, automatic loader.
  6. Capacity in tons of coal which the coaling tower was built to store.
  7. Builder or designer company.
  8. Remarks: whether the tower is adjacent to active tracks, name of the railroad yard, similar towers, number of tracks the tower was built to serve.
  9. Geographic coordinates.[5]

Australia[edit]

Place Name State Railroad Year Built Type Capacity (tons) Builder Remarks Coordinates
Casino[6] New South Wales Coal stage Active tracks 28°51′14″S 153°02′23″E / 28.85388°S 153.03983°E / -28.85388; 153.03983

Canada[edit]

Place Name Province Railroad Year Built Type Capacity (tons) Builder Remarks Coordinates
Aylmer Ontario Wabash Railroad c1939 Coaling tower Active tracks 42°46′49″N 80°59′46″W / 42.7803°N 80.99615°W / 42.7803; -80.99615
Fire River Ontario Canadian National Railway Coaling tower Location and status uncertain, similar to Camak, Chaska, Hornepayne, Social Circle, Washago 48°46′05″N 83°35′57″W / 48.76814°N 83.59916°W / 48.76814; -83.59916
Foleyet Ontario Canadian National Railway Coaling tower Active tracks 48°14′52″N 82°26′31″W / 48.24784°N 82.44185°W / 48.24784; -82.44185
Hornepayne Ontario Canadian National Railway 1921 Coaling tower Active tracks, similar to Camak, Chaska, Fire River, Social Circle, Washago 49°13′14″N 84°46′28″W / 49.22051°N 84.77434°W / 49.22051; -84.77434
South River Ontario Grand Trunk Railway Coaling tower Active tracks 45°50′41″N 79°22′30″W / 45.84464°N 79.37496°W / 45.84464; -79.37496
Toronto Ontario Canadian Pacific Railway Coaling tower Moved to Toronto Railway Museum, Roundhouse Park 43°38′29″N 79°23′12″W / 43.64137°N 79.38656°W / 43.64137; -79.38656
Washago Ontario Canadian National Railway 1936 Coaling tower Active tracks, similar to Camak, Chaska, Fire River, Hornepayne, Social Circle 44°44′46″N 79°20′04″W / 44.74601°N 79.3344°W / 44.74601; -79.3344

Chile[edit]

Place Name Region Railroad Year Built Type Capacity (tons) Builder Remarks Coordinates
San Rosendo Bío Bío Region Ferrocarriles del Estado 1929 Coaling tower 450 37°15′55″S 72°43′32″W / 37.26528°S 72.72567°W / -37.26528; -72.72567
Temuco Araucanía Region Ferrocarriles del Estado 1935 Coaling tower 3,000 es:Museo Nacional Ferroviario Pablo Neruda 38°43′41″S 72°34′14″W / 38.72799°S 72.57048°W / -38.72799; -72.57048

Poland[edit]

Place Name Province Railroad Year Built Type Capacity (tons) Builder Remarks Coordinates
Gdynia, Grabowek Pomorskie Polskie Koleje Państwowe c1950 Coaling tower Ross & White Company Construction plans and mechanisms provided by UNRRA; similar to Kraków, Sullivan, Tarnowskie Gory, Warszawa 54°32′07″N 18°30′08″E / 54.53529°N 18.50232°E / 54.53529; 18.50232
Kraków, Prokocim Małopolskie Polskie Koleje Państwowe c1950 Coaling tower Ross & White Company Construction plans and mechanisms provided by UNRRA; similar to Gdynia, Sullivan, Tarnowskie Gory, Warszawa 50°01′28″N 20°01′27″E / 50.02446°N 20.02415°E / 50.02446; 20.02415
Tarnowskie Gory Śląskie Polskie Koleje Państwowe c1950 Coaling tower Ross & White Company Construction plans and mechanisms provided by UNRRA; similar to Gdynia, Kraków, Sullivan, Warszawa 50°28′06″N 18°52′53″E / 50.46830°N 18.88140°E / 50.46830; 18.88140
Warszawa, Odolany Mazowieckie Polskie Koleje Państwowe 1951 Coaling tower Ross & White Company Construction plans and mechanisms provided by UNRRA; similar to Gdynia, Kraków, Sullivan, Tarnowskie Gory 52°13′00″N 20°55′32″E / 52.21671°N 20.92557°E / 52.21671; 20.92557

South Africa[edit]

Place Name State Railroad Year Built Type Capacity (tons) Builder Remarks Coordinates
Beaconsfield Kimberley, Cape Provine Coaling ramp Active tracks 28°46′06″S 24°46′17″E / 28.76845°S 24.77135°E / -28.76845; 24.77135
Voorbaai Coaling tower Active tracks 34°08′08″S 22°06′17″E / 34.13563°S 22.10475°E / -34.13563; 22.10475

United Kingdom[edit]

Place Name County Railroad Year Built Type Capacity (tons) Builder Remarks Coordinates
Carnforth[7] Lancashire London, Midland and Scottish Railway 1939 Coaling tower 150 Active tracks, at Carnforth Motor Power Depot 54°07′47″N 2°46′23″W / 54.12986°N 2.77294°W / 54.12986; -2.77294
Didcot Oxfordshire Great Western Railway 1932 Coaling stage Active tracks, at Didcot Railway Centre 51°36′45″N 1°14′38″W / 51.61263°N 1.24383°W / 51.61263; -1.24383
Grosmont Yorkshire Coaling stage Steel tower, active tracks, North Yorkshire Moors Railway 54°25′57″N 0°43′30″W / 54.4325°N 0.72504°W / 54.4325; -0.72504
Immingham North East Lincolnshire London and North Eastern Railway 1930s Coal stage Rumoured demolished in Feb 2018 53°37′13″N 0°11′32″W / 53.62030°N 0.19223°W / 53.62030; -0.19223

United States[edit]

Place Name State Railroad Year Built Type Capacity (tons) Builder Remarks Coordinates
Flomaton Alabama Louisville and Nashville Railroad 1943 Coaling tower Active tracks, similar to Decatur and Oneonta 31°00′01″N 87°15′02″W / 31.00016°N 87.25065°W / 31.00016; -87.25065
Montgomery[5][8] Alabama Western Railway of Alabama 1913 Coaling tower 600 Roberts & Schaefer Company Abandoned, Chester Yard 32°23′30″N 86°18′27″W / 32.39166°N 86.30757°W / 32.39166; -86.30757
Opelika Alabama Western Railway of Alabama Coaling tower Active tracks 32°38′43″N 85°23′01″W / 32.64537°N 85.38348°W / 32.64537; -85.38348
Union Springs Alabama Central of Georgia Railway 1925 Coaling tower Fairbanks-Morse Similar to Raymond 32°08′22″N 85°42′55″W / 32.13956°N 85.71523°W / 32.13956; -85.71523
Osier Colorado Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad Coal dock Active track 37°00′50″N 106°20′10″W / 37.01391°N 106.33623°W / 37.01391; -106.33623
Vance Junction Colorado Rio Grande Southern Railroad c1890 Coal chutes Historic restoration, wooden Burnett & Clifton 8-pocket automatic loader 37°56′14″N 107°53′57″W / 37.93724°N 107.89912°W / 37.93724; -107.89912
New Haven Connecticut New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad 1927 Coaling tower 2,400 Roberts & Schaefer Company Active yard, Cedar Hill Yard (CSX Transportation/Providence and Worcester Railroad), 5 tracks 41°19′25″N 72°53′39″W / 41.32362°N 72.89422°W / 41.32362; -72.89422
Ivy City Washington, D.C. Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Coaling tower Active yard, Ivy City Yard (Amtrak). Possibly B&O Railroad steam-heating plant coal supply for Ivy City Yard buildings, not for locomotives. 38°54′50″N 76°59′50″W / 38.91387°N 76.99712°W / 38.91387; -76.99712
Wilmington Delaware Philadelphia, Baltimore & Washington (Pennsylvania Railroad) 1919 Coaling tower 1,200 Roberts & Schaefer Company Active yard, Edgemoor Yard (Norfolk Southern Railway), similar to Newport News 39°44′32″N 75°31′29″W / 39.7423°N 75.52477°W / 39.7423; -75.52477
Camak Georgia Georgia Railroad Coaling tower Active tracks, similar to Chaska, Fire River, Hornepayne, Social Circle, Washago 33°27′05″N 82°39′02″W / 33.45149°N 82.65049°W / 33.45149; -82.65049
Macon Georgia Central of Georgia Railway Coaling tower 32°49′31″N 83°37′38″W / 32.82535°N 83.62733°W / 32.82535; -83.62733
Newnan[5] Georgia Atlanta and West Point Railroad 1913 Coaling tower 600 Roberts & Schaefer Active tracks 33°22′11″N 84°47′49″W / 33.36982°N 84.79694°W / 33.36982; -84.79694
Raymond Georgia Central of Georgia Railway 1926 Coaling tower 150 Fairbanks-Morse Active tracks, similar to Union Springs 33°20′24″N 84°42′59″W / 33.34001°N 84.7165°W / 33.34001; -84.7165
Sardis Georgia Savannah and Atlanta Railway Coaling tower 32°58′30″N 81°45′22″W / 32.97498°N 81.75622°W / 32.97498; -81.75622
Social Circle Georgia Georgia Railroad Coaling tower Active tracks, similar to Camak, Chaska, Fire River, Hornepayne, Washago 33°39′13″N 83°43′01″W / 33.6537°N 83.71695°W / 33.6537; -83.71695
Glenns Ferry Idaho Union Pacific Railroad Coaling tower Active tracks 42°57′10″N 115°18′02″W / 42.95269°N 115.30063°W / 42.95269; -115.30063
Bluford Illinois Illinois Central Railroad c1925 Coaling tower 38°18′58″N 88°43′43″W / 38.31599°N 88.72855°W / 38.31599; -88.72855
Carbondale Illinois Wabash Railroad c1913 Coaling tower Active tracks, triple towers 37°44′23″N 89°13′04″W / 37.73983°N 89.21777°W / 37.73983; -89.21777
Centralia Illinois Illinois Central Railroad 1912 Coaling tower Active tracks 38°29′52″N 89°08′47″W / 38.49791°N 89.14635°W / 38.49791; -89.14635
Decatur Illinois Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Coaling tower Active yard, Decatur Yard (Norfolk Southern Railway), similar to Flomaton, Oneonta 39°50′54″N 88°56′31″W / 39.8482°N 88.94188°W / 39.8482; -88.94188
DeKalb Illinois Chicago and North Western Railway Coaling tower Active tracks 41°55′40″N 88°44′00″W / 41.92783°N 88.73345°W / 41.92783; -88.73345
Freeport Illinois Illinois Central Railroad Coaling tower 42°17′48″N 89°36′32″W / 42.29676°N 89.60880°W / 42.29676; -89.60880
Gilman Illinois Illinois Central Railroad Coaling tower Active tracks, Double towers 40°47′15″N 87°59′23″W / 40.7876°N 87.98959°W / 40.7876; -87.98959
Nelson Illinois Chicago and North Western Railway 1947 Coaling tower 300 Ross & White Company Active tracks 41°47′59″N 89°35′49″W / 41.79963°N 89.5969°W / 41.79963; -89.5969
Reevesville Illinois Illinois Central Railroad Coaling tower Active tracks 37°20′45″N 88°43′04″W / 37.34583°N 88.71787°W / 37.34583; -88.71787
Frankfort[2] Indiana New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad (Nickel Plate) Coaling tower Active tracks 40°16′56″N 86°31′30″W / 40.28211°N 86.52504°W / 40.28211; -86.52504
Lafayette Indiana Monon Railroad Coaling tower Active tracks 40°26′28″N 86°52′49″W / 40.44108°N 86.88026°W / 40.44108; -86.88026
Michigan City Indiana New York Central Railroad Coaling tower 250 Roberts & Schaefer Company Active tracks 41°43′33″N 86°52′31″W / 41.72586°N 86.87537°W / 41.72586; -86.87537
Sullivan[9] Indiana Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad 1941 Coaling tower 500 Ross & White Company Active tracks 39°06′53″N 87°24′19″W / 39.11472°N 87.40528°W / 39.11472; -87.40528
Council Bluffs Iowa Illinois Central Railroad Coaling tower Active yard, Council Bluffs Yard (Iowa Interstate Railroad) 41°16′27″N 95°51′50″W / 41.27429°N 95.86399°W / 41.27429; -95.86399
Great Bend Kansas Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway 1928 Coaling tower 300 Roberts & Schaefer Company Active tracks 38°21′19″N 98°46′12″W / 38.35525°N 98.77007°W / 38.35525; -98.77007
Central City Kentucky Illinois Central Railroad Coaling tower 37°17′35″N 87°07′06″W / 37.29317°N 87.11837°W / 37.29317; -87.11837
Dawson Springs[2] Kentucky Illinois Central Railroad Coaling tower Active tracks, Double towers 37°09′54″N 87°40′41″W / 37.16502°N 87.67809°W / 37.16502; -87.67809
Irvington Kentucky Louisville and Nashville Railroad Coaling tower Active tracks 37°52′54″N 86°16′53″W / 37.88171°N 86.2815°W / 37.88171; -86.2815
Lebanon Junction Kentucky Louisville and Nashville Railroad 1914 Coaling tower Active tracks 37°49′54″N 85°44′02″W / 37.8316°N 85.73389°W / 37.8316; -85.73389
Lexington[10] Kentucky Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Coaling tower 300 Netherland Yard, now a cement plant 38°02′21″N 84°28′23″W / 38.03919°N 84.47314°W / 38.03919; -84.47314
Owensboro Kentucky Illinois Central Railroad Coaling tower 100 Howlett Construction Active tracks 37°46′18″N 87°05′03″W / 37.77166°N 87.08416°W / 37.77166; -87.08416
Derby[11] Maine Bangor and Aroostook Railroad Coaling tower Roberts & Schaefer Company Active tracks 45°13′55″N 68°58′00″W / 45.23204°N 68.96655°W / 45.23204; -68.96655
Millinocket[11] Maine Bangor and Aroostook Railroad Coaling tower Roberts & Schaefer Company Active tracks 45°40′03″N 68°42′44″W / 45.66737°N 68.71235°W / 45.66737; -68.71235
Northern Maine Junction[11] Maine Bangor and Aroostook Railroad Coaling tower Roberts & Schaefer Company Active tracks 44°47′24″N 68°51′40″W / 44.79011°N 68.86102°W / 44.79011; -68.86102
Northern Maine Junction[11] Maine Maine Central Railroad Coaling tower Roberts & Schaefer Company Active tracks 44°47′26″N 68°51′39″W / 44.7905°N 68.86085°W / 44.7905; -68.86085
Oakfield[11] Maine Bangor and Aroostook Railroad 1933 Coaling tower Roberts & Schaefer Company Active tracks 46°06′15″N 68°08′56″W / 46.10404°N 68.14896°W / 46.10404; -68.14896
Lees Maryland Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Coaling tower Overturned off the right-of-way, legs removed 39°15′22″N 76°46′43″W / 39.25611°N 76.77861°W / 39.25611; -76.77861
Chester Massachusetts Boston and Albany Railroad Coaling tower Active tracks 42°17′14″N 72°58′56″W / 42.28734°N 72.98222°W / 42.28734; -72.98222
Augusta[2][3] Michigan Michigan Central Railroad 1923 Coaling tower 500 Fairbanks-Morse Active tracks, 4 tracks 42°19′18″N 85°22′10″W / 42.32179°N 85.36948°W / 42.32179; -85.36948
Baldwin Michigan Pere Marquette Railway c1936 Coaling tower 250 Fairbanks-Morse Active tracks 43°53′49″N 85°51′46″W / 43.89683°N 85.86273°W / 43.89683; -85.86273
Clarendon Michigan Michigan Central Railroad 1929 Coaling tower 42°07′52″N 84°50′47″W / 42.13109°N 84.84625°W / 42.13109; -84.84625
Detroit Michigan New York Central Railroad Coaling tower Active yard, Livernois Yard (CSX Transportation/Norfolk Southern Railway) 42°19′17″N 83°07′19″W / 42.3213°N 83.12195°W / 42.3213; -83.12195
Durand Michigan Grand Trunk Western Railroad 1886 Coaling tower Active tracks 42°54′56″N 83°59′52″W / 42.91566°N 83.99769°W / 42.91566; -83.99769
Escanaba Michigan Chicago and North Western Railway Coaling tower 45°44′57″N 87°03′36″W / 45.74905°N 87.05987°W / 45.74905; -87.05987
Grand Haven Michigan Grand Trunk Western Railroad 1925 Coaling tower Chinook Pier Park 43°04′04″N 86°13′49″W / 43.06765°N 86.23014°W / 43.06765; -86.23014
Greenfield Village Michigan Weiser Railroad 2014 Coaling tower 50 Wooden, museum display, at The Henry Ford 42°18′26″N 83°13′46″W / 42.30728°N 83.22952°W / 42.30728; -83.22952
Lake Station Michigan Pere Marquette Railway Coaling tower 250 Pere Marquette Rail-Trail 43°51′06″N 85°00′04″W / 43.85177°N 85.00117°W / 43.85177; -85.00117
Lansing Michigan Grand Trunk Western Railroad Coaling tower Active tracks, 4 tracks 42°43′09″N 84°31′14″W / 42.71929°N 84.52055°W / 42.71929; -84.52055
Ludington Michigan Pere Marquette Railway Coaling tower 500 Fairbanks-Morse Active tracks 43°56′55″N 86°25′53″W / 43.94851°N 86.43141°W / 43.94851; -86.43141
New Buffalo Michigan Pere Marquette Railway 1921 Coaling tower 250 Roberts & Schaefer 41°47′07″N 86°44′33″W / 41.78530°N 86.74256°W / 41.78530; -86.74256
New Buffalo Michigan Pere Marquette Railway 1942 Coaling tower 300 Roberts & Schaefer Company Active tracks, 2 tracks 41°47′12″N 86°44′32″W / 41.78668°N 86.7421°W / 41.78668; -86.7421
Pontiac Michigan Grand Trunk Western Railroad Coaling tower 42°39′15″N 83°18′58″W / 42.6543°N 83.31607°W / 42.6543; -83.31607
Saint Paul Minnesota Northern Pacific Railway Coaling tower Northern Pacific Railway Company Como Shops Historic District 44°58′21″N 93°09′15″W / 44.97239°N 93.15412°W / 44.97239; -93.15412
Lambert Mississippi Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad Coaling tower Active tracks 34°11′53″N 90°16′57″W / 34.19819°N 90.28249°W / 34.19819; -90.28249
McComb Mississippi Illinois Central Railroad 1912 Coaling tower Active tracks 31°14′46″N 90°27′04″W / 31.24618°N 90.45104°W / 31.24618; -90.45104
Marceline Missouri Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Coaling tower Active track 39°42′29″N 92°57′19″W / 39.70815°N 92.95514°W / 39.70815; -92.95514
Ely[12] Nevada Nevada Northern Railway 1917 Coaling tower Roberts & Schaefer Active tracks, Nevada Northern Railway Museum 39°15′36″N 114°52′11″W / 39.26°N 114.86967°W / 39.26; -114.86967
Chama[13] New Mexico Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad 1924 Coaling tower 75 Wooden, active tracks, Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad 36°54′15″N 106°34′40″W / 36.90414°N 106.57779°W / 36.90414; -106.57779
East Syracuse New York (state) New York Central Railroad Coaling tower Active tracks 43°03′45″N 76°04′17″W / 43.06244°N 76.0715°W / 43.06244; -76.0715
Malone New York (state) New York Central Railroad Coaling tower Abandoned 44°51′54″N 74°16′37″W / 44.86503°N 74.27697°W / 44.86503; -74.27697
Oneonta New York (state) Delaware and Hudson Railway Coaling tower Abandoned, similar to Decatur, Flomaton 42°26′53″N 75°05′14″W / 42.44813°N 75.08718°W / 42.44813; -75.08718
West Seneca New York (state) Pennsylvania Railroad 1890s Coaling tower 42°50′56″N 78°45′45″W / 42.84876°N 78.76257°W / 42.84876; -78.76257
Akron Junction[2] Ohio Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Coaling tower 41°05′14″N 81°29′14″W / 41.08725°N 81.48723°W / 41.08725; -81.48723
Girard Ohio Pennsylvania Railroad Coaling tower Active tracks 41°09′01″N 80°42′18″W / 41.15037°N 80.70511°W / 41.15037; -80.70511
Harvey (Marion)[2] Ohio Pennsylvania Railroad Coaling tower Active tracks 40°38′44″N 83°06′16″W / 40.64549°N 83.10446°W / 40.64549; -83.10446
Springfield Ohio Detroit, Toledo and Ironton Railroad Coaling tower Active tracks 39°54′19″N 83°46′04″W / 39.90516°N 83.76773°W / 39.90516; -83.76773
Bartlesville Oklahoma Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad 1926 Coaling tower Roberts & Schaefer Company Active tracks 36°44′44″N 95°59′09″W / 36.74562°N 95.9858°W / 36.74562; -95.9858
Cushing Oklahoma Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway 1917 Coaling tower United States Railroad Administration design Same design at Skedee 35°58′34″N 96°46′30″W / 35.97621°N 96.77507°W / 35.97621; -96.77507
Muskogee Oklahoma Kansas, Oklahoma and Gulf Railway Coaling tower 35°45′54″N 95°22′05″W / 35.76495°N 95.36818°W / 35.76495; -95.36818
Oakland (Susquehanna) Pennsylvania Erie Railroad Coaling tower Roberts & Schaefer Company Active tracks 41°56′38″N 75°37′34″W / 41.94393°N 75.62609°W / 41.94393; -75.62609
Pittston Pennsylvania Lehigh Valley Railroad Coaling tower Active tracks 41°21′16″N 75°48′09″W / 41.35437°N 75.80254°W / 41.35437; -75.80254
Red Bank Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Railroad Coaling tower 40°59′07″N 79°33′17″W / 40.98518°N 79.55462°W / 40.98518; -79.55462
Renovo Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Railroad Coaling tower 41°19′36″N 77°45′39″W / 41.32679°N 77.76071°W / 41.32679; -77.76071
Rockhill Furnace (Orbisonia) Pennsylvania East Broad Top Railroad and Coal Company Coal chutes 40°14′15″N 77°53′59″W / 40.23747°N 77.89975°W / 40.23747; -77.89975
Chaska Tennessee Louisville and Nashville Railroad Coaling tower Active track, similar to Camak, Fire River, Hornepayne, Social Circle, Washago 36°31′42″N 84°04′36″W / 36.52844°N 84.07667°W / 36.52844; -84.07667
Leadvale (Rankin)[14] Tennessee Southern Railway 1925 Coaling tower Roberts & Schaefer Company Leadvale Coaling Station and Cut-off 36°04′45″N 83°14′23″W / 36.07909°N 83.23985°W / 36.07909; -83.23985
Monterey Tennessee Tennessee Central Railway Automatic loader Fairbanks-Morse Concrete column only 36°08′44″N 85°16′02″W / 36.14569°N 85.26714°W / 36.14569; -85.26714
Paris Tennessee Louisville and Nashville Railroad Coaling tower Active tracks 36°17′57″N 88°20′19″W / 36.29909°N 88.33866°W / 36.29909; -88.33866
Balcony Falls[2][10] Virginia Chesapeake and Ohio Railway 1942 Coaling tower 300 Ogle Engineering Company Active track, 2 tracks, similar to Charlottesville, West Hamlin 37°37′37″N 79°27′28″W / 37.62695°N 79.45769°W / 37.62695; -79.45769
Charlottesville[10] Virginia Chesapeake and Ohio Railway 1942 Coaling tower 300 Ogle Engineering Company Active track, similar to Balcony Falls, West Hamlin 38°01′39″N 78°28′21″W / 38.02743°N 78.47241°W / 38.02743; -78.47241
Clifton Forge[4][15] Virginia Chesapeake and Ohio Railway 1922 Coaling tower 800 Fairbanks-Morse Active tracks 37°48′40″N 79°49′56″W / 37.81104°N 79.8322°W / 37.81104; -79.8322
Gladstone[2][10] Virginia Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Coaling tower 300 Fanning-Schuett Active track, 1 track 37°32′52″N 78°51′12″W / 37.54776°N 78.85341°W / 37.54776; -78.85341
Lynchburg[10] Virginia Chesapeake and Ohio Railway 1948 Coaling tower 75(100) Ogle Engineering Company Active tracks, last coaling tower built by C&O 37°23′55″N 79°07′18″W / 37.39858°N 79.12159°W / 37.39858; -79.12159
Miller's Yard Virginia Clinchfield Railroad Coaling tower 36°51′46″N 82°24′39″W / 36.86271°N 82.41091°W / 36.86271; -82.41091
Newport News[9][10] Virginia Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Coaling tower 300 Roberts & Schaefer Company Similar to Wilmington 36°59′17″N 76°25′47″W / 36.98800°N 76.42977°W / 36.98800; -76.42977
Orange Virginia Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Automatic loader Fairbanks-Morse Active track, Washington Subdivision 38°13′37″N 78°06′55″W / 38.22694°N 78.11523°W / 38.22694; -78.11523
Vicker Virginia Norfolk and Western Railway Coaling tower Active tracks 37°09′47″N 80°29′26″W / 37.16311°N 80.49049°W / 37.16311; -80.49049
Bluefield[2][9] West Virginia Norfolk and Western Railway 1952 Coaling tower 2,000 Ogle Engineering Company Active yard, Bluefield Yard (Norfolk Southern Railway) 37°16′17″N 81°13′14″W / 37.2715°N 81.22042°W / 37.2715; -81.22042
Cane Fork (Eskdale)[10] West Virginia Chesapeake and Ohio Railway 1935 Coaling tower 50 Ogle Engineering Company Abandoned 38°05′42″N 81°26′30″W / 38.09496°N 81.44161°W / 38.09496; -81.44161
Cowen West Virginia Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Coaling tower Active tracks 38°25′12″N 80°32′56″W / 38.42008°N 80.54887°W / 38.42008; -80.54887
Elk Run Junction (Whitesville)[10] West Virginia Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Coaling tower 500 Active tracks 38°00′14″N 81°33′05″W / 38.00386°N 81.55145°W / 38.00386; -81.55145
Farm (Capels, Welch)[2] West Virginia Norfolk and Western Railway Coaling tower Active tracks 37°26′56″N 81°36′11″W / 37.44895°N 81.603°W / 37.44895; -81.603
Handley[10] West Virginia Chesapeake and Ohio Railway 1919 Coaling tower 500 Roberts & Schaefer Active tracks 38°11′07″N 81°21′25″W / 38.18539°N 81.35708°W / 38.18539; -81.35708
Hinton[2][10] West Virginia Chesapeake and Ohio Railway 1929 Coaling tower 800 Fairbanks-Morse Four tracks 37°40′42″N 80°53′02″W / 37.6782°N 80.88397°W / 37.6782; -80.88397
Iaeger West Virginia Norfolk and Western Railway 1956 Coaling tower 200 Active tracks, Auville Yard, the last coaling tower constructed 37°27′33″N 81°49′03″W / 37.45912°N 81.81763°W / 37.45912; -81.81763
Prichard[2] West Virginia Norfolk and Western Railway 1925 Coaling tower 2,000 Roberts & Schaefer Company Active tracks, six tracks 38°14′12″N 82°36′28″W / 38.23655°N 82.60789°W / 38.23655; -82.60789
Raleigh (Glen Morgan, Beckley) West Virginia Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Coaling tower 300 Active tracks 37°45′31″N 81°09′41″W / 37.75867°N 81.16131°W / 37.75867; -81.16131
Ronceverte, West Virginia[2][10] West Virginia Chesapeake and Ohio Railway 1935 Coaling tower 75 Ogle Engineering Company Active tracks, one track 37°44′56″N 80°27′43″W / 37.749°N 80.46201°W / 37.749; -80.46201
Thurmond[2][4][9][10] West Virginia Chesapeake and Ohio Railway 1922 Coaling tower 500 Fairbanks-Morse Active tracks, four tracks 37°57′36″N 81°04′54″W / 37.95993°N 81.08153°W / 37.95993; -81.08153
West Hamlin[2][10] West Virginia Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Coaling tower 300 Ogle Engineering Company Active track, one track, similar to Balcony Falls, Charlottesville 38°17′23″N 82°11′36″W / 38.28965°N 82.19322°W / 38.28965; -82.19322
Adams Wisconsin Chicago and North Western Railway Coaling tower 43°57′10″N 89°49′18″W / 43.95277°N 89.82171°W / 43.95277; -89.82171
Ashland Wisconsin Chicago and North Western Railway 1944 Coaling tower 150 Ogle 46°35′50″N 90°51′10″W / 46.59725°N 90.85264°W / 46.59725; -90.85264
Clyman Junction Wisconsin Chicago and North Western Railway Coaling tower Active track, two tracks, one remains 43°19′25″N 88°42′56″W / 43.32363°N 88.71554°W / 43.32363; -88.71554
Dalton Wisconsin 1943 Automatic loader Fairbanks-Morse Active tracks, two concrete columns remain 43°39′20″N 89°12′30″W / 43.65558°N 89.20830°W / 43.65558; -89.20830
Marinette Wisconsin Chicago and North Western Railway Automatic loader Fairbanks-Morse Active tracks 45°05′31″N 87°38′34″W / 45.09195°N 87.64288°W / 45.09195; -87.64288
Montfort Wisconsin Chicago and North Western Railway Coaling tower Abandoned 42°57′49″N 90°24′31″W / 42.9637°N 90.40871°W / 42.9637; -90.40871

Gallery[edit]

  • Hornepayne, Ontario

  • Toronto, Ontario

  • Temuco, Chile

  • Tarnowskie Góry, Poland

  • SAR Class 25NC 3437 (4-8-4) at the coal stage at Beaconsfield, South Africa

  • Carnforth, United Kingdom

  • Didcot, United Kingdom

  • Immingham, United Kingdom

  • Cedar Hill Yard, Connecticut

  • Camak, Georgia

  • Macon, Georgia

  • Social Circle, Georgia

  • Chama, New Mexico

  • Bluefield, West Virginia

  • Hinton, West Virginia

  • Thurmond, West Virginia

  • Mescal, Arizona (demolished)

  • Locomotive 2576 over ash pit at the roundhouse and coaling station at the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad yards, Chicago, Illinois (demolished)

  • Lordsburg, New Mexico (demolished)

  • Collinwood Yard, Cleveland, Ohio (demolished)

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Coal facility". Retrieved August 27, 2010. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Dixon, Thomas W., Jr. (2002). Steam Locomotive Coaling Stations and Diesel Locomotive Fueling Facilities. Lynchburg, Virginia: TLC Publishing, Inc. ISBN 1883089778. 
  3. ^ a b Locomotive Coaling Stations: Yard Storage Systems, Cinder Conveyers, Sand Plants; Bulletin No. 73001. Reprint by TLC Publishing, Sterling, VA: Fairbanks, Morse & Co. 1935. pp. 4–5. 
  4. ^ a b c Railway Age. Simmons-Boardman Publishing Company. 1922-01-01. 
  5. ^ a b c Railway Age Gazette, volume 53, number 5. Simmons-Boardman Publishing Company. 1912-08-02. p. 228. 
  6. ^ "Casino Railway Precinct and Locomotive Depot | NSW Environment & Heritage". www.environment.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 2016-06-24. 
  7. ^ "Carnforth: the coaling plant". The Heritage List. Historic England. Retrieved 23 June 2016. 
  8. ^ Dubin, Elisabeth (1999). "Coaling Tower Elevations - Western Railway of Alabama Montgomery Rail Shops, 701 North Perry Street, Montgomery, Montgomery County, AL; HAER AL-186 (sheet 14 of 14)". Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Online Catalog. National Park Service, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 27 June 2016. 
  9. ^ a b c d Brouws, Jeff (August 2016). "Coaling towers: enduring monoliths from the steam era". Trains. 76 (8): 34–41. 
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Dixon, Thomas W., Jr. (2014). Chesapeake & Ohio Coaling Stations. Clifton Forge, Virginia: Chesapeake & Ohio Historical Society. ISBN 9780939487660. 
  11. ^ a b c d e "Stalking Coaling Towers in Maine | Trains Magazine". Retrieved 2016-07-05. 
  12. ^ Railway Age Gazette, Volume 61, Number 14. Simmons-Boardman Publishing Company. 1916-10-06. p. 618. 
  13. ^ "Tipple". www.sandiasoftware.com. Retrieved 2016-07-02. 
  14. ^ "State of Tennessee Newsroom". www.tn.gov. Retrieved 2016-06-24. 
  15. ^ Railway Maintenance Engineer, Volume 18, Number 8. 1922-08-01. p. 294. 
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