edcayton Posted November 18, 2012 Share Posted November 18, 2012 I can see that a coaling tower needed to lift a wagon up and discharge it into a loco below, but why were ash towers so big? Ed Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Posted November 18, 2012 Share Posted November 18, 2012 Ed, They were just like smaller versions of coaling plants. So they'd have hoisting gear at the top, a bunker to store ash beneath, discharge door operating gear, and then headroom beneath that to clear a locomotive. I guess that adds up to quite a tall structure. Here's a diagram of one. http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.freed.myby.co.uk/railway/ashplant2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.newrailwaymodellers.co.uk/Forums/viewtopic.php?f%3D6%26t%3D17094&h=800&w=588&sz=92&tbnid=ehooOA5CzpCT8M:&tbnh=90&tbnw=66&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dlocomotive%2Bash%2Bplant%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=locomotive+ash+plant&usg=__yDR7v2ZmCSplzVW0_YKYMk1eJ6s=&docid=7xrNQR5p1DXpBM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=fyypUML1HtGa0QWR8ICICQ&ved=0CDQQ9QEwBA&dur=378 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coombe Barton Posted November 18, 2012 Share Posted November 18, 2012 For economies of scale you have to collect quite a bit of ash to take it away in trainloads - hence the big bunker which accounts for half the height of the plant. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
edcayton Posted November 18, 2012 Author Share Posted November 18, 2012 Thanks for that Arthur. It must have been a pretty messy business tipping ash into wagons in windy conditions. Ed Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady_Ava_Hay Posted November 18, 2012 Share Posted November 18, 2012 Thanks for that Arthur. It must have been a pretty messy business tipping ash into wagons in windy conditions. Ed Actually, ash is so hot and dry when it leaves the loco that as it cools it is actually hydroscopic and becomes damp. Various ideas were used to deal with ash in large quantities at the larger MPD's of which the ash plant was the top of the tree. Many smaller MPD's were carpeted up to rail head level with ash, soot and coal dust and still are. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pobrien Posted November 19, 2012 Share Posted November 19, 2012 Here are two photos of the coaling plant and ash tower at Bristol Barrow Road http://www.flickr.com/photos/bristolsteam/5891443528/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/bristolsteam/5891443394/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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