Would backwoods/ boondock type coaling towers always have a track for the delivery hopper
If not how would the coal get loaded into the tower
Like this tower ( not finalized )
That vertical wood tower along the rear of the coaling tower is where the skip bucket raises the coal to the main tower. The spur with the dump pocket can be to the rear or under the tower. I suppose you could have it right in the mainline, but it can take several hours to dump the coal and lift it with the skip bucket. Think of it as another ‘industry’!
Jim
That is an expensive structure for a “backwoods/boondock” railroad. A line meeting that description would be more likely to have a coaling platform operated by men with scoop shovels and perhaps a wheelbarrow. A hoist arrangement with large buckets for the coal was another low-cost method of coaling locomotives. Another example, as still in use at the Cass Scenic Ry, would be to have a spur elevated some, so that coal could be emptied from hoppers by gravity and then loaded into the tenders by hand.
That being said, my “backwoods” shortline also has a coaling tower and a roundhouse, as the engine servicing area is a great place to see trains.
Bill
How about a ramp built out from a hillside where a dump truck would back up and dump coal into the tender, now that’s a “backwoods” coal facility.
Mark
WGAS
No I’m sorry. A backwoods coaling facility would be a pile of coal and a couple guys with shovels and buckets to load tenders. The tower pictured would be at a major facility where several locomotives would be loaded in a four hour period. Perhaps the end of a branch line.
Pete
And here I thought that tower was bottom of the barrel compared to other towers I have seen which have multiple chutes etc and could be used out in the backwoods
BTW I originally had it as part of a service yard but decided that the problems with my turnouts and derailments wasn’t worth it so I took them out before I ballasted and have a simple two oval set up and wanted to use the water tower and coal tower as a remote type service but without a turnout
Here was the service yard
Maybe Backwoods was not the right term to use
I meant not a major service area but something out on the line
Her is how I wanted to use it but with the ballast down and things moving along I don’t want to put in a spur since I got rid of them as in the above post
How about a dump pit right on the main line in the area under the chute and a trench back under the tower to the lift tower
Just put one turnout with a siding to the rear or under the coal tower. If you have a lot of trouble with turnouts, this could just be a dummy with a couple of hoppers on the siding. Would make more sense with your layout.
- Bob
Ballast is down so no more sidings
The dump pit will be on the mainline with an underground chute to the bucket tower. Sort of like it would be if the dump pit was under the main tower
Instead of in the backwoods I will set it up with the water tower and my sanding house like I originally had (see the photo several posts up )but without the engine house, ash pit (anybody want them? FREE just shipping) and sidings but add a freight station and access road
Like this but with a freight station added on the left and access roads
