Okay, I have had a plasticville coaling tower for several years now. What exactly is it for?? Is it to load hoppers or tenders??
Not stupid at all.
Tenders. Pull your engine up alongside and station the tender near the chute. Now where the coal in it come from - hoppers. There might be a track alongside for the coal to be dumped and then hoisted.
The smaller “chimney” like structure on the opposite side of the tower form the discharge chute would have housed a bucket brigade/scoop style hoist to load coal into the main hopper.
No question is a stupid question.
The only exception is when you ask if your question is a stupid question, because then your question becomes the stupid question due the fact that no question is a stupid question and therefor asking a if your question is in fact a stupid question you are violating the no question is a stupid question so your question about a stupid question becomes a stupid question. [swg]
The only way to find out something you don’t know is to ask … we all on here at one point knew nothing of trains . And we really enjoy helping out new collectors who need information . Ask away !!! … No question is stupid … lord knows no one on here knows everything … but you have a huge brain trust of a wealth of knowledge to help everyone . [:D]