Cale Posted August 11, 2013 Posted August 11, 2013 Those of you who know me are no doubt aware of how fond I am of my home town's railroading history. So in my continuing effort to model railroad operations from my home of York, Pennsylvania I bring you my latest models. The Pennsylvania RR's York coaling tower and Poorhouse Yard office. York Coaling Tower Coaling Tower Flickr Gallery This is one my favorite builds to date. This is the former Pennsylvania RR coaling tower from my home of York PA. Given my love of York's place in railroading history, when I set out to build a proper coaling tower for use on PennLUG's train layouts the PRR's tower from York was a natural choice. The York coaling tower was a concrete construction of a standard Pennsylvania RR design and was capable of fully servicing two steam locomotive at once with coal, sand and water. The tower was unfortunately demolished in the late 1960's after the demise of steam on American railroads rendered it obsolete. IMG_7643 by Cale Leiphart, on Flickr York coaling tower had a delivery track running through the center between the six legs where hopper cars loaded with coal could dump their loads through grates into a pit beneath the slightly elevated track siding below the tower. A skip hoist bucket on vertical tracks with a pulley mechanism picked up loads of coal from the pit and moved the coal to the top of the tower. IMG_7768 by Cale Leiphart, on Flickr The tower could service loco- motives on two tracks, one on each side of the tower. On the side of the tower with the skip hoist, the service track was farther away from the tower than the other side so that the locomotives could clear the hoist mechanism. The coal chute on that side of the tower was elongated to ac- commodate that longer distance. Both coaling chutes were located on the same end of the tower. At the other end of the sides from the chutes were pipes to provide dried sand to locomotives being serviced at the tower. IMG_7770 by Cale Leiphart, on Flickr IMG_7646 by Cale Leiphart, on Flickr Near the tower the tower next to the two service tracks there were two water columns The water columns were used to refill the tenders of the various PRR steam locomotives stationed out of York. They were fed from a large above ground water tank located nearby. IMG_7650 by Cale Leiphart, on Flickr York Poorhouse Yard Office Yard Office Flickr Gallery This is the Pennsylvania RR's Poorhouse Yard Office. The PRR's York rail yard was originally named after the nearby almshouse. This yard office located next to York Interlocking Tower , oversaw all operations in Poorhouse yard. IMG_7660 by Cale Leiphart, on Flickr I chose to model the office in it's later buff (tan) and brown trim colors rather than it's more steam era appropriate gray. I like these colors better as they stand out more from the gray of the ballast in our yard. The office is also technically on the wrong side of the tower from it's real life location. But PennLUG's rail yard was never meant to be a scale model of Poorhouse yard. I'm just taking inspiration from it. IMG_7792 by Cale Leiphart, on Flickr Questions and comments are always welcome. Cale Quote
zephyr1934 Posted August 11, 2013 Posted August 11, 2013 The coaling tower is one of my favorites, a great subject for your insane attention to detail. Quote
Hey Joe Posted August 11, 2013 Posted August 11, 2013 Hey! That coaling tower is a beautiful piece of work. The scale appears perfect. I think I've been through York, it's near Gettysburg? Does York still have it's old RR station? I like to photograph any that I come across. Gettysburg's is quite special of course with the Lincoln connection. I always enjoy going to PA, lots of interesting historical things there. Joe Quote
patje Posted August 11, 2013 Posted August 11, 2013 (edited) what a details and realistic wow Edited August 11, 2013 by patje Quote
Gioppa Posted August 11, 2013 Posted August 11, 2013 That is something for the new line of thrain TLC have to made! If you are on Cuusoo you have my vote, because it is amazing! Quote
medib Posted August 11, 2013 Posted August 11, 2013 love all the details. love the "dated" look of the control tower and adjoining building. Its just Perfect, Cale. Quote
JopieK Posted August 11, 2013 Posted August 11, 2013 Very very nice indeed! The yellow flower stems are also nice. They are apparently another part that does not exist (at least according to Bricklink)! Both the coal bucket and slide look very realistic! Quote
eurotrash Posted August 11, 2013 Posted August 11, 2013 The Coaling Tower is quite simply the best trackside MOC I have ever seen. It looks perfect. Quote
ronenson Posted August 11, 2013 Posted August 11, 2013 Awesome and very detailed. What a work of art. Quote
Cale Posted August 12, 2013 Author Posted August 12, 2013 Hey! That coaling tower is a beautiful piece of work. The scale appears perfect. I think I've been through York, it's near Gettysburg? Does York still have it's old RR station? I like to photograph any that I come across. Gettysburg's is quite special of course with the Lincoln connection. I always enjoy going to PA, lots of interesting historical things there. Joe There are still many former train stations doting York county. As for York city itself 2 of the 3 are still standing. The Maryland & Pennsylvania station and the Pennsylvania RR station both still exist today though they are no longer serving in their original functions. Sadly the most beautiful of the York city stations, the Western Maryland's station was torn down many years ago. The coaling tower is one of my favorites, a great subject for your insane attention to detail. Thanks. It was a challenge getting all the little details right. They are what I think in this case at least make the MOC. With out them it's just a big block of gray. Cale Quote
LEGO Guy Bri Posted August 12, 2013 Posted August 12, 2013 Fantastic work here Cale. Amazing detail and so realistic, it almost doesn't look like LEGO at all Quote
Esurient Posted August 12, 2013 Posted August 12, 2013 Great job on the coaling tower! It was very detailed Quote
timmyc1983 Posted August 12, 2013 Posted August 12, 2013 (edited) That coal tower is amazing such wonderful detail all over! And the office is a neat little building too, I really like the colour scheme! I look forward to seeing more, happy building Edited August 12, 2013 by timmyc1983 Quote
Hrw-Amen Posted August 12, 2013 Posted August 12, 2013 I actually thought that first picture was from a normal model railway and did not realise it was LEGO until I looked a lot closer. Quote
Duq Posted August 13, 2013 Posted August 13, 2013 I had seen a picture of the coaling tower before but hadn't realised the detail in the chute and lifting mechanism. Very impressive! I've never heard of an interlocking tower, is that another word for a signal box or something else alltogether? I love the style and colour scheme anyway. Next to the two towers the office looks a bit plain... Quote
zephyr1934 Posted August 14, 2013 Posted August 14, 2013 Very very nice indeed! The yellow flower stems are also nice. They are apparently another part that does not exist (at least according to Bricklink)! Those stems are probably altbrick weeds. I had seen a picture of the coaling tower before but hadn't realised the detail in the chute and lifting mechanism. Very impressive! I've never heard of an interlocking tower, is that another word for a signal box or something else alltogether? Yep! Quote
Cale Posted August 14, 2013 Author Posted August 14, 2013 (edited) Those stems are probably altbrick weeds. They are from Altbricks. I had seen a picture of the coaling tower before but hadn't realised the detail in the chute and lifting mechanism. Very impressive! I've never heard of an interlocking tower, is that another word for a signal box or something else alltogether? I love the style and colour scheme anyway. Next to the two towers the office looks a bit plain... Yes. Interlocking tower is just an American name for signal box. The office is plain because the real building is a bit plain. While York was an important stop on the Pennsy's Northern Central line it was hardly the beating heart of the railroad. A simple wood framed structure was all that was needed for the Poorhouse yard office. Not all railroading is glamorous. Cale Edited August 14, 2013 by Cale Quote
LEGO Train 12 Volts Posted August 15, 2013 Posted August 15, 2013 Wow!!! Gorgeous details ...I like this layout! Lego must produce such beautiful stuff for trains' fans! Quote
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