Locomotive fireman job opportunity @ The Henry Ford Museum

Les Beckman · **Joined:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm **Posts:** 6482

SantaFe158 wrote:

wesp wrote:

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

Jake -

Thanks for the info and the link to the photo of the Soo Line (DSS&A) coal tower as it sat there in Marquette, Michigan. Finding a small wood prototype might have been difficult and I'm glad that THE HENRY FORD was able to locate such a structure.

Les

SantaFe158 · **Posted:** Mon Feb 07, 2022 10:23 pm

Chris Webster wrote:

Is your coal delivered by rail?

Until probably about 10 years ago it was (back when an old undercar conveyor was used to load the locomotives). Now it's brought in about 25 tons at a time by truck which has proven to be much easier logistically.

dworthy17 · **Posted:** Tue Feb 08, 2022 7:22 pm

Chris Webster wrote:

dworthy17 wrote:

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.

Is your coal delivered by rail?

It is no longer delivered by rail.

Les Beckman · **Joined:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm **Posts:** 6482

Daniel -

Would be neat if there was a coal hopper spotted behind the coal dock on a short piece of track, perhaps with the car half full of coal. The museum has a couple of 3 bay hoppers, one of which could be used for this display, which would show how coal arrived and then was taken up into the coal tower. Saying that, I realize that there is limited space to do it, especially considering that the fenced off spot behind the coal dock is probably where the truck deliveries of coal are made. Just seems like a natural thing to do and something that would enhance the visitor experience. This demonstration would be unique and certainly not done anywhere else in rail preservation.

Les