The April 2014 issue of RAILRAOD MODEL CRAFTSMAN has a very nice article by Jim Hertzog about a truck dump near Mahanoy City, PA. What the article did not cover though are some details such as "Why the large pair of 30 pane windows at the bottom of the structure", "What did the interior behind those large windows look like? and the large plastic drain pipes seem to be a more modern modification, "Did the tin siding extend all the way to the ground at one time, and if so, was there an access door?". This little structure is quite interesting and is a great canidate for a scratch building project. Just a few details of information seem to be wanting before the raid on my styrene supply begins.

Interesting questions, but I don't have the answers. The loader in question is just west of Mahanoy City. Doesn't load Reading Anthracite, but was being used by Blaschak Brothers, back in the 80's when I lived up there. Perhaps a Reading Modeler in the area could check it out.

Would such a structure have contained a scale in the bottom area? or operationally did the Reading accept loaded cars from assorted customers and then weigh then in a few specific places to keep billing accounts in proper order? The idea of a large "floating beam" scale visible in the area behind those large windows sounds plausable, or am I just grasping at straws in the wind?

I imagine anything is possible. As I looked at the article I thought "I wonder if they are surprised that there isn't much glass in the windows on the lower level." Now I imagine there must have ben a need to look out from there to see what was going on or why would one put a window underneath something that is dumping coal from right above it. Even with chutes and what not, fast moving rocks will bounce, rock, rattle and roll and inevitably "magnetically" find its way through the glass. If it were for a track scale, where is the scale in the track. Ground looks solid in front of the structure, and I do not see a break in the rail for the "scale track" movement. Having got myself that close to the building, I think I would have stuck my lens underneath there to get some photos up in under it, to see some of the structural design. We perhaps just didn't get to see those photos in the article due to space.

OK here is the good news. I took a ride up Rt. 54 today since this is a few miles from home. The loader is still actively in use, the pocket was full of stove coal. I took some photos and "snooped" around, basically this is a final wash for coal. The hopper discharges, the coal goes over a vibrator screen with fresh water spray nozzles rinsing the coal and out the discharge chute into the awaiting hopper. The bottom part of the structure houses a bin to collect the rinse water and the big black pipe (6") drains into a silt pond to the side of the structure. I will work up a sketch during the week, and post a few photos along with it. As far as the windows on the bottom, probably left over parts from the breaker. Lastly all loads dumped were most likely weighed at the breaker aiming for 95-105 tons per car.

If you are interested, I have many photos of a truck to rail dump operation that was/is in Madera, PA not far from my grandparents house in Central PA. This was served by the PRR on a branch line. Happy to post them if there is interest.