Hey all. Building my hollow core door layout based on a small fictional coal breaker, but figured I'd name it loosely on a real breaker in the area. I have yet to build my breaker building, but was aiming for the traditional corrugated siding, but now am debating maybe taking a look at wooden contructed one. I'm still looking at one that is operational in the mid 1950s ( 1958 is the last year of my modeling).

Anyone have any ideas? My breaker will be 2-3 tracks for service and accomodate 6-9 twin bays or 4-6 40' hoppers.

Here is the LC&N No.14 breaker, although built in around 1964 small enough to fit your size desires. This first is an early shot as to the details in the background, and the second photo is about the late 80's but gives an idea of the layout. The conveyor to the left was the material feed from the stripping operation. The conveyor at the top was the slate refuse to a hopper which was then trucked for removal. The big black circle is the thickner where the water used to wash the coal was sent to be "recycled" back to the plant. Now there was one track under the breaker, rails in concrete for trucks also to be loaded on that side. All sizes from rice to stove had pockets for rail loading. Just an idea hope this may help.

Bill

The Dando breaker model that was shown at the meet was an interesting one I'd never heard of.
Apparently a "modern" wood breaker built during WWII restriction era. There's a pic in the caboose section.

Was this served by the Reading?

I'm guessing so. I can't find anything online about it. Another area to consider would be the South Tamaqua Coal Pocket operation, which is still in business. Lne 401 can probably lend some info on that as well. Here's a link to some older breaker pics.

home.epix.net/~captclint/breakers.html

Here are some of those Dando pics from the modelers meet. I will have to do this in two posts as I took ten shots, enjoy Fred's craftsmanship!!!