When was the coal refilled?

 

I think I will fill it after the trip, when on its way to the roundhouse area. This will be easy to demonstrate, i.e., start with a tender full of coal, and at the end of the trip the depleted coal can be restored to full level.

 

Thanks!

 

Alex

 

What I have seen, they load the coal in the engine after leaving the roundhouse or facilities. Very interesting topic. 

I can't believe you are old enough to have actually witnessed that process.

So let's take this a step further- it's not represented in our models but can anyone answer how aux coal/water tender loads were transferred to the front? Water I would presume had flexible lines attaching to the main tender but coal??  

P.S. Tv's used to have wood grain cabinets and dials that you had to get up and turn to change stations....just incase the youngsters were wondering.

A tanks just carry water.

 

Alex,

  In the early days the coal was refilled when the train passed the different coal and water station stops on the line, the trains stopped at the different locations depending on the size of the boiler and the size of the tender, and how the trains were routed on their schedule.  All this was figured by the train scheduler & router, along with the turn out controls.  The train conductor had a big part in making sure how all this got done, as the trains moved down the line & kept schedule, in the early days of railroading.  

PCRR/Dave

That depends on what era you are referring to. Generally, coal was not taken enroute, as the early 20th century railroads tended to changeout locomotives at the ends of their runs, based on fuel supply and lubrication requirements. In the more modern era of "big steam", such as the original poster's question about his UP Vision Line Big Boy,  coal was not added enroute, except ascending Sherman Hill. Water, however, could always be added at many different locations enroute.

Hot Water,

   You are absolutely correct, this also had to due with the size of the RR and how big the engines and tenders really happened to be, the smaller mountains railroads had to use many coal stops, where the bigger flat land RR trains hi balled it to and end refueling stop, many different things were done in different eras to make the trains run in an economic manner.

PCRR/Dave

Didn't many railroads change steam engines during a trip?  For example, did the same NYC Hudson on a passenger train run from Harmon to Chicago or was the engine changed several times.  The new engine, wherever it was changed, would be fully fueled and ready to go.

 

NH Joe

Some railroads did change locomotives at major terminals enroute. Since you mentioned the NYC, the modernized Hudsons ran all the way to Chicago, as they could scoop water from track pans. Coal was taken on in Cleveland at a main line coaling dock. Another example would be the Southern Pacific Coast Daylight passenger trains, with the GS class Daylight locomotives running through from LA to San Francisco. At the halfway point, San Louis Obispo, the locomotive was refueled (oil), lubricated, and refilled with water.

the GN was a good example of this practice.  it was based on the terrain to be crossed and fitting the locomotive to the task.  most locomotives never left their division.  on the Empire Builder, i believe there were only two divisions where the larger S2 4-8-4's were used.

 

the NYC from NY to Chi had the benefit of a water level route for the entire run.

 

cheers...gary