This is the coaling tower just north of Marion, Ohio. Told somebody (can't remember who) I had pictures of it, and then couldn't find them. So, I took some more when I was in Ohio two weeks ago.

Sorry, it was getting dark when I went by.

Anybody give us some details about the tower. I know it's on an NS line now.

Texas Steam

hkading@rypn.org

Another picture of the same tower.

Texas Steam

hkading@rypn.org

> This is the coaling tower just north of
> Marion, Ohio. Told somebody (can't remember
> who) I had pictures of it, and then couldn't
> find them. So, I took some more when I was
> in Ohio two weeks ago.

> Sorry, it was getting dark when I went by.

> Anybody give us some details about the
> tower. I know it's on an NS line now.

This was on the Sandusky Branch of the PRR, originating out of Columbus. This was a major line that carried a lot of coal to Lake Erie during and after WWII. There is a picture of it in Pennsy Power I on page 99 with a J1 (2-10-4) starting up after a stop at the tower. It's amazing to me that it still stands. Anyone know what its future is?


prrq2@prairieinet.net

At the risk of spamming everyone,
If you'd like to see this coaling station in operation, you might want to see our video
"Steam & Diesel on the PRR Vol 2".

In 1956, Donald Krofta filmed several trains there on 16mm film. He showed coal being loaded in the tower and even a pet raccoon that was tamed by the tower's operator.

This tower also appears in Pennsylvania Glory Vol. 2
-Jim Herron

hrvideo@mindspring.com

Although I was never a Pennsy fan before I went to College, this tower has become a welcome site for me over the past ten years or so. I always new I was past the halfway point to Denison when I'd see that tower out my windshield. Now when my wife, son and I visit my wife's parents, my son (now 2 years old) points to it and says "choo-choo" and "ah-ha-ha", his word/ expression for something that is really tall. Although I'd loved to see it preserved, my guess is that the only reason that it still stands is that it would cause too much of a disruption to NS to take it down.

It probably should be mentioned that there is also a short branch which comes off the Sandusky Main on the otherside of US23. Much too long to just serve an industry, it goes all the way along the other side of 23 until the next overpass. Although its strictly used for storage now, it looks like it has been cut back over the years, and that it once went under the overpass and then zagged off to th east. Anybody now what this was used for, and when they chopped it back?

T.J.

> At the risk of spamming everyone,
> If you'd like to see this coaling station in
> operation, you might want to see our video
> "Steam & Diesel on the PRR Vol
> 2".

> In 1956, Donald Krofta filmed several trains
> there on 16mm film. He showed coal being
> loaded in the tower and even a pet raccoon
> that was tamed by the tower's operator.

> This tower also appears in Pennsylvania
> Glory Vol. 2
> -Jim Herron


Port Huron Museum

tjgaffney@phmuseum.org

That branch was indeed an industrial track that served several industries along 23.

I used to use that same tower as my halfway point between my old place in Columbus and my girlfriend's place in Ottawa. Once I saw the tower I knew that I was 1 hour from my destination.

todengine@woh.rr.com

Great early evening photos of the old PRR coaling tower by Hume Kading. Hume gave it the look of a story/picture book, with the great lighting and framing.

Growing up only a hand full of miles north of the concrete coaling tower N. of Marion, in Bucyrus, my buddies and I visited the towering coal dock more than once during the 1960's.
(By the way, I think this is the same design as Renovo, PA's PRR tower. Still standing? Anyone Know?)
In the 1960's the metal (Iron)ladders and walk ways were still in place and we would climb to the top and explore the old structure. Man, what a view from way up top!
The Marion, Ohio Marion Union Station Group/Museum has some great B&W photos by Bob Lorenz (?) in the museum, of the coal dock.
Check out the historical station/AC Tower and museum while in Marion. You'll see a ton of trains crossing the diamonds at the museum area.

The former Erie Lackawanna RR shops and yards are still there also. Due west and down the tracks of the station in Marion.
The Union Tank Car Co. has a good business now at the former Erie Engine House/shops and there is a lot of tank car rebuilding and etc. going on there. The Erie Yds. went due west of the Erie shops for about 1-2 miles.

My assumptions are that the PRR coal dock was about the midway point between Columbus and Sandusky, Oh. on the Sandusky Branch. And so it was built to service the steamers. What a grand era indeed!

A wonderful reminder of our past PRR history, still standing.

Who would like to turn back the hands of time to the 1950's and be able to spend a day at the coal dock facility watching the big J's chugging up to stop for coal, water and sand ? And then storming off into the distance with a load of coal cars as the coal dock crew got ready for the next frieght to stop for service. Man, were those really the "Good old Days"? Sure seems that they were!!

Thanks Hume for a grand web site and the opportunity to "chat" about the good olde days!

By the way. Just remember that by having and keeping this Railroad interest in our blood, it will help to keep us "forever young."

(I don't have a scanner or I would include a few old B&W shots of the Coaling tower from the 1960's.)

Ron Widman, Columbus, Ohio

r35bl4s@juno.com