Seaboard musings

I have a few American Flyer coaling towers including one 752 and one 752A. While restringing one of these dandies, I began to wonder what prompted the folks at A.C. Gilbert to model this particular design. I’ve looked at several books on railroad coaling structures from the last century and have found nothing quite like this. Any thoughts on what is probably one of the most unique piece of equipment in any scale?