Ratio 547 Coaling Tower (LMS)

[grovenor-2685]

I rather like this coaling tower which fits into a small shed area better than one of the large concrete ones, I have found pics on the web of the prototypes at Stranraer and Speke Jcn, however, only one of each and neither of them show the two critical parts that Ratio have missed out from their kit.
These are, first, the arrangement at the bottom of the conveyor for receiving coal from wagons and directing it into the conveyor entrance, and secondly the arrangement at the hopper bottom to open and close the coal outlet.
Before I imagineer something does anyone know where any prototype information might be found?
Regards
Keith

[LesGros]

Hi Keith,
Complements of the season. Not sure if it will help, but the NYMR have a similar coaling tower arrangement at the Grosmont shed. I have a few photographs from a visit a few years ago if you are interested.

regards

[grovenor-2685]

Les,
Thanks for the offer, I would like to see them, hopefully will give some clues.
Thanks
Keith

[grovenor-2685]

See also comments in guest book at http://www.scalefour.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=1782
Keith

[Mark Tatlow]

Dave/Keith,

These are a couple of the pictures of the coaler at Wick. This was one of the first to be installed of this type on the LMS, earlish in the war. It was installed at Wick due to the heavy traffic demand occassioned by serving the navy up there.

Wick Coaler 2.jpg (18.04 KiB) Viewed 758 times

Wick Coaler.jpg (19.99 KiB) Viewed 758 times

The rights to the photographs are owned by Richard Oake who lurks as Ben Alder on RMweb and are with his permission. It is requested that they are not duplicated further without permission - however, permission is likely to be granted if it is requested.

[grovenor-2685]

Thanks for those Mark,
It does look as though no two of these plants had the same details, the Ratio one seems to have some features from Wick and some from Stranraer.
None of the pics yet show how the coal was delivered to the bottom of the conveyor, nor enough detail to see how the flow of coal out of the hopper was controlled. The wick one seems to have an extended discharge pipe with bars sticking out of either side, but no obvious control mechanism. Did the crew have to climb up on the tender to operate it?
Regards
Keith

[grovenor-2685]

From Dave Franks.

Hi Keith, have a look and see what you think. You asked about the wagon unloading, Jimmy said that a wagon parked under the canopy and the side door dropped down onto the side of a small hopper for the elevator which you can see on the drawing, the hopper was between two platforms and was about 4 foot high. the big hopper had sliding plate doors and was operated by a drop chain and sprocket wheel, it could be operated from ground level. East Kilbride club have the original drawings on file and this was a drawing tidied up and produced to 4mm scale, you can post it if you like.

The info in the drawing will allow the missing parts to be added.

Coaling_stage_4mm_print[1].doc

(969.5 KiB) Downloaded 87 times

Regards
Keith