.The New Buffalo Michigan Coaling Tower is located at 214 Washington Street New Buffalo, Michigan. It stands as a prominent physical monument to sw Michigan’s rich heritage as a massive 20th century rail hub.

History and Operational Specfications

It was built in 1942 by the Pere Marquette Railroad. It has a capacity of 250 tons of coal.

Mechanics

an electric bucket elevator hoisted coal up into a massive storage bin. Train firemen pulled levers to gravity feed coal into steam locomotive tender

Tracks straddled.

The coaling Tower was built directly over main track. The tower was capable simultaneously refueling 2 main line trains and servicing side tracks

. Life span was 14 years.

The rapid rise of diesel locomotives in the 1950’s made steam coaling facilities obsolete.

This coaling tower is intact and standing physically straddling the tracks.

The tracks are owned and operated by CSX