Coaling the Great Western Way

[Ian Roberts]

The last stop on my visit to Europe in August was the Great Western Society base at Didcot about 40 miles West of London

The site is not accessible by road so all heavy loads must come in by rail.

This includes loco coal which is transferred to tenders in the traditional way.

The links illustrate the process using photos from the Didcot Railway Center website and are copywrite

The posted photos later are own.

http://www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/g ... hed_02.jpg

This shows the coaling stage with the shed water tank on the roof.
The stage is approached by an earthen ramp up which the wagons are propelled.

http://www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/w ... 066_02.jpg
http://www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/w ... 67_01m.jpg

These two links show traditional Great Western loco coal wagons and a modern wagon repainted to display the style of these earlier wagons.


Loading the tubs from the wagon


The loading platform over the tender


The tub run out onto the platform


Tipping the coal into the tender

The tubs were used in preference to a modern coaling tower as South Wales Steam Coal is liable to break and the tubs allowed grades to be separated for difference classes of service

[Nathan Berelowitz]

I thought we were the only ones at FOTR who climbed into coal stages to trim them and loco tenders to trim clean. Coaling sometimes is very hands on affair.

[John Ashworth]

I can't believe that a bloke in a white shirt is coaling and his shirt is still clean! I get dirty when I just look at a coal stage...