If anyone is interested in steam technology, and late 19th century railroading this could be a job for you. We are currently seeking a locomotive fireman here @ The Henry Ford Museum. This is a demanding job but also a chance to learn great knowledge as well.
Please share. If you would like more info please contact me at:

danielw@thehenryford.org

https://the-henry-ford.breezy.hr/p/11a2 ... -part-time

While I’m not personally interested in the job, I want to take this time to mention that the Henry Ford is one of the best railroad museums in the country! 3 operating, coal burning locomotives, a working roundhouse, a working coal tower (the only one that is used in the USA to my knowledge?) historic Depot, a collection of working signals, and of course the beautiful period appropriate surroundings of Greenfield Village.

If I were 25 years younger - I would apply for this job.

Edit: well maybe 30 years younger.

Does the Cumbres and Toltec still use theirs?

I don’t think so. But I would be interested to know if it’s still operational and when it was last used even for demonstrations.

It has been restored by the Friends group and could be used, but it is easier to keep using the loaders as their coal is delivered by truck and dumped near the carpenters' shed. As near as I can tell, the Chama tower was only accessed by rail. Using the tower now would mean getting the truck to the tower pit so it can be elevated up.

Is the wood coal dock at Greenfield Village an authentic structure moved from someplace else and then rebuilt, or is it a replication? Thanks for any info.

Les

It is a replica tower. Here are some photos of the construction in March of 2014. (Not my photos)

GTW Dude -

Thanks very much for the photos. I was able to find three different videos on the internet of regular trains stopping to take coal. Twice with the "Edison" 4-4-0 #1 and once with D&LN 4-4-0 #7. The train passengers (and bystanders) get a nice view of what was once done on railroads when coal burning steam locomotives were in regular service. A much better experience I think, than a bucket loader doing the honors.

Les

The only time we use a bucket loader now is for when we receive Thomas from Strasburg. Other than the coaling tower always sees use.

IIRC, the locomotives stop for water roughly 3 times during the operating day, and once for coal and those stops are at pretty much the same times every day, so someone who wants to photograph the operation can easily plan to be there and see it. Greenfield Village is a beautiful operation with so much to see and do that folks who only budget one day to visit, will really be missing out on a lot. If you go, buy the membership and stay a while.

I want to get back there this year, hopefully to see the Detroit & Lima Northern 4-4-0 run. That's the only engine I have not had a chance to photograph.

Love your avatar, BTW!

/Kevin Madore

One of the better pictures captured along with me in it! Thanks for taking it!

Daniel,

Was the coal tower built based on an earlier historic design, or was the tower designed from scratch?

Thank you,

Wesley

It's based on a Fairbanks Morse designed tower that was located in Marquette, MI until I believe sometime in the 1970s.

A photo of the prototype tower is near the bottom of this page.

https://www.american-rails.com/coaling.html

Is your coal delivered by rail?