Structure Question

It is very easy to google your answer.  You can get accurate scale drawings of all of these items and know you answer.  I have attached a drawing of one of the Chesepeake and Ohio coaling stations.

Wood is correct.  It is probably faster and just as comprehensive as it could ever be to do a little internet research.  Also realize there is no single answer.  Coal towers, etc., came in various sizes: generally those built later were bigger and taller both because they had to have room for taller/bigger locos under them, and they just held more coal, period.  You can find all the detail you need with a little reserach, plus more history and interesting tidbits about them that you ever will need.

Sunset Golden Gate coaling tower is 22 1/4" (89ft)

BTS  Orbisonia Station, a (2 story station) is 9 1/4" (37ft)

Korber control tower  7 1/2" (30ft)

I've been looking for scale plans or just good elevation drawings of the C&O coal towers they built for the Chessie.....the Art Deco Streamline looking towers like they had at Clifton Forge Va. Any ideas????THX

C&O Historical said they didn't have anything.

There does exist a model RR magazine index that's searchable and if you find a potential citation of interest you might be able to get a copy from the NMRA library.

I've had some luck getting plans for some traction freight cars doing that out of trade magazine artilces from the 20's and 30's.

Trainhead,

Water towers will typically be about 60 to 80 feet to the balcony (platform at base of tank). That would be about 15 to 20 inches in scale and would probably look too tall compared to the other structures on the layout. When I build water towers, I use about 12 inches (48') to the balcony and that fits in well.

Alan Graziano

My favorite place to search for anything related to Coaling systems is Google Patents.