Norm:
Just Great Work! I see the wooden sections, but is the rest of the structure masonite covered with a little spackling on it?
Trainchief
TC, I am using 1/8" and 1/4" Masonite, 1/2" MDF, and foamcore.
Here is the sanding hardware. I don't think I want to do much more than this. This should be good enough for my layout.
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If you change your mind, Norm - I'll gladly give it a good home. 
Cheers
As usual, I thoroughly enjoy seeing your work, Norm.
Norm, you are a master modeller. By the time you're finished and it's on your layout, we won't be able to tell the model from the prototype!
David
Hello Norm,
Hope all is well with you. Your doing a great job! Question on the pulleys, did you make them or were they purchased? If purchased where from? From what I can tell, looks as though the chutes will be fixed in the upright position. If so why didn't you consider making one of them semi operable to be able to stage a coaling of a tender?
Kazar, the pulleys are Grandt and Tichy parts and scrap styrene. The chutes are fixed in the up position. I tried to get the angles right. I suppose I could have made them movable and I still could if I felt like it. According to the drawings I have, they have bearings that ride in slots beneath the fixed chute. There is some mention of being able to position the aprons laterally. My model is simplified and stylized in many ways.
Thanks Norm for the info. I understand the need to simplify and stylize the model as you can't recreate the real thing in miniature. Keep up the good work!
Norm, that's a wonderful build! Weathering and the concrete coloring is dead on. While the Plastruct may not be specific to that prototype, us admirers don't really notice, and when it's on a layout, it will look completely real and perfectly natural. You not entering it an O'Scale competition, are you? If you were, they'd probably give you a hard time. But we don't!
I think it's close enough. With the photos I have, I can not make out the valve that may have lived at the joint at the base of the delivery pipe. If I ever find one, I might fabricate it later on. Other than touchup and final weathering, I think this is ready for the layout once I finish the hopper.
Really nice scratch building.
Flawless.
What a talent!! That looks great!
Outstanding, Norm. You have convinced me to go concrete instead of wood, whenever I get around to a coaling tower. Well done!
Bruce
Here's a quick update. I finished painting all the rest of the parts. It's sitting here in its most likely spot.
I received my CLW ash hoist today, which will live right by the coaling tower, and man it is cool! I thought it was a kit at first then from reading old threads I saw that it shows up built. What I really didn't expect is that you can move the chute and the hoist bucket. Highly recommended fellas, if you need an ash hoist, snag this one!
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Another amazing job. Detailing is fantastic. I agree, the ash hoist is a great product.
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Thanks Don! I hope to start arranging my yard soon now that this showed up....
Norm, that tower looks fantastic. Makes me want to throw my Lionel one in the trash. I bought the ash hoist a few years ago. Just a great product at a great price. I ordered a car inspection pit for my freight yard that arrived today. Dave at Crescent Locomotive must have had a busy week getting products out for the holidays.
Keep them coming, please, I really enjoy them.
Thx you guys. I spent some time yesterday getting my yard trackage set up and the locations for all the facilities finalized (I think).
I also made made the hopper for the coaling tower, one of the lamest things I've ever built haha...
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That's going to be a great scene. I love the old, worn industrial look. Captured perfectly.
That yard scene is shaping up nicely Norm. Thanks for the update.
Nicely done
Thanks Norm this is fantastic. Perhaps will see you at the Chicago O-scale meet.
Glad you liked it. I've been to Chicago show a few times when I was in town for work.
The best steam yard work I have seen. I love to just gaze and use all of this for my own inspiration. Hopefully, my new steam yard will get a thumbs up from Norm.
Eliot
The model turned out great, Norm. I saw this and watched the video. Great stuff and thanks for doing it. I love this type of tower, have seen similar ones in IL and NWI and want one for my layout. Super cool look. You don't see concrete models, just the wood ones (like the GGD model).
Raif
A really good looking concrete elevator!
That's shaping up to becoming a great steam servicing area! The realistic coal station is a very nicely done centerpiece.
Quite impressive! Kind of reminds me of the old Suncoast kits from years back. I always wanted to build one, like the N&W coaling tower at Pritchard, West Virginia.
@Norm Charbonneau posted:Thx for the kind words fellas, here's the gate lifts in place.
I also closed up the aprons a little bit..
Hi Norm, you did a great job on the tower! would you mind sharing what color/paint you used on it? I scratch built one and it looks like fresh concrete, I need to repaint it.
Thank you,
It's very nicely done. Thank you Norm for originally sharing it, and to @Guitarmike for resurrecting it.
BTW -- It looks a lot like its real world counterpart in Grand Haven, MI. You can check that out here, along with PM 1223:
Grand Haven Railroad Park, Grand Haven, MI (6/11/22) | Mellow Hudson Mike
Mike
The basecoat is Rustoleum Camo Khaki. You can see the can in one of the earlier photos. It was washed, streaked and drybrushed with tube acrylics. If I were to build another coaling tower I'd definitely use my 3D printers to make the rigging, etc.
Is Durand the site of a famous cornered and towered station that is also well photoed by railfans? No wonder it is a popular place....
@Norm Charbonneau posted:The basecoat is Rustoleum Camo Khaki. You can see the can in one of the earlier photos. It was washed, streaked and drybrushed with tube acrylics. If I were to build another coaling tower I'd definitely use my 3D printers to make the rigging, etc.
Thank you Norm!
Rustoleum also has a camo sand color that could work too. It’s a little lighter than khaki as indicated by the cap color. 
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@colorado hirailer posted:Is Durand the site of a famous cornered and towered station that is also well photoed by railfans? No wonder it is a popular place....
It is.
You can see the station here in the background, along with SP 4449 in the foreground, when the Daylight visited mid-Michigan and Durand back in 2009:
SP 4449 at Durand Union Station (12/6/21) | Mellow Hudson Mike
Mike
Norm,
This is perfection at its best.
