After many years of dabbling in HO, I've decided to make the switch to O. I plan to build a steam engine service diorama for my first project and I am looking for a suitable coal tower. The Lionel tower looks good enough, but is expensive. A search of the web turned up the Suncoast offering which looks like a possibility. Can anyone tell me more about it? Photos? What track spacing is required? What footprint is required? Thanks for the help...
Scott
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Scott,
It is a good looking coal tower but the kits are hard to find. I just built one for Will Allen (see Prosperity photos on 3 rail forum). I think the plans and instructions are still around. I will make copies if you like. Evergreen sheet and strips are the way to go. The kit was really scratch building with precut pieces of styrene. Seems to me the footprint is 9x9 or so.
George Lasley
Just measured mine. It is 9" wide by 5 3/4 deep through the base. Add about 2 1/4 inches to the depth for the coal chute and ladders. Track clearance through the base is 4 inches.
Just found the Suncoast one for under $100 listed as in stock: http://www.hobbylinc.com/suncoast-model-trains.
On the other hand, i scratch built mine for less than $20. Sorry for the not-so-great pic.
jackson
Wow...I thought Suncoast was an old brand, and did not know they were still producing
kits. I checked the link because "styrene" didn't sound right for an old kit, but these
must be new.
Scott:
Walthers sells two different Suncoast Models Coaling towers. One is called the 200 ton concrete tower and is about $115. The other is called 'coaling station' and is about $45.
According to Walthers - "Each kit includes pre-cut styrene, color-coded wood, simplified stair construction, complete drawings and instructions. 9 x 9" space required. "
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