The LNER Encyclopedia

I am using an LNER coaling stage on my new layout and have a query as to exactly how coal was shifted from wagons into the lower hopper. I have looked in my reference books on LNER sheds and it appears to be based on the stage at Lincoln. I'm particularly concerned about the track on the right and how close it should be to the stage.

Does the steel frame attached to the hopper go completely over the wagon? Is the whole wagon lifted from the rails and the contents tipped into the hopper? There appears to be a structure the other side of the track in the Lincoln picture I have. Was that part of the coaling stage? Was that involved in the lifting process?

I'd be grateful for any guidance you can give as I want to put the hopper feed track in the correct position.

Hi gordons19

I have also built an LNER coaling stage, see pictures below, for my engine shed layout. This is a mixture of a number of different styles.

There is a very good scale drawing of a tower and lifting gear in the book "British Railways - Engine Sheds No.1" on page 40. From research I have done by looking at lots of pictures in in the three volumes of the Great Northern Engine Sheds, the following is how I think it works. The wagon was placed on a section of decking, either wood or metal, which was then lifted and tilted at the same time by a small tower structure with pulleys, which was controlled from the main cabin. This is your structure on the other side of the tracks, the tower not the cabin.

The steel frame on the hopper I think stops the wagon from falling into the hopper and stops it at the right angle for emptying.

The distance for the wagon track to the tower should be, according to the drawing in the above book, 32 feet 10 inches between the centre of the road under the coaling tower and the wagon road.

I hope this is of help and if anyone has further information or can correct any mistakes in my description of operation, please feel free to do so.

Regards

Richard

Thank you so much for the information Richard. It all makes sense now.

I have ordered "British Railways -Engine Sheds No 1", which appears to be a 40 page paper/soft back book. The title is given as "British Railways Engine Sheds : An LNER Enheritance No 1" by Chris Hawkins, so I hope it is the correct one.

I have now seen a picture of the tower at Frodingham, which appears to have a cable from the very top of the stage itself to the pulley on top of the girder tower on the other side of the track. The stage I bought did not have the steel hoist, hence my confusion.

http://www.scienceandsociety.co.uk/resu ... Collieries

(pics at bottom of the page)

Many thanks.

Hi gordons19

Yes you have ordered the right book.

There were two types of this tower, the one you described with the pulley cable running from the coaling tower itself, the other which I have modelled, had the pulleys controlled from under the decking.

Glad to been of help.

Regards

Richard

Thanks again Richard. The book turned up this morning. Some super pics and the drawing on page 40 is really helpful, but I'm still a little vague as to how the coal got into the lift hopper. I'm not sure if modellers licence has been applied to this particular tower, but the skip that is being lifted is deeper than the hopper below and would not be able pass between the lower hopper and the tower.

Was this just hand loaded? Surely not....

The pic on page 38 seems to show the lift hopper going behind the base hopper which would suggest it was auto loaded below ground.....

The pic on page 13 shows the hopper higher up, but if that it is the lift hopper at the top, then it is a different shape.

Here's a better pic of my coaling stage so you can see why I am a little confused...

(Just realised clicking on the pics enlarges it... )

Yes the hopper is loaded below ground. If you look at the drawing on page 40 it shows the small hopper at the bottom with a loading chute from the main concrete hopper, I have tried to replicate this, see attached picture. The small hopper ran up rails between the tower and the concrete one, so I think modellers licence has been applied.

If you need any more help just let me know.

Best regards

Richard

Thanks again Richard. Somehow I thought that may be the answer you would give. I must say your own model really has followed the prototype perfectly.

Faced with the choice of trying to cut away the hopper and trying to move it away 10mm or so without damaging the whole thing, or leaving it as is, I guess I'll live with it. I bought it from another modeller who originally commissioned it from a well known professional builder. Nice to know these guys are human too....