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Kenilworth
Coal Bunker
Coal Bunker
In March 1905, the Rahway Valley Railroad consolidated with the New Orange Four Junction Railroad. Upon taking over the latter, Louis Keller began instituting a number of improvements on the old New Orange railroad property. He had a coal bunker constructed in Kenilworth to aid in the fueling of the railroad's locomotives. This was situated between the mainline and the later location of the RV's storage track, directly across from the water tank.
The coal bunker, or coal box, was supported by 8" x 8" x 4' high wooden bents atop 14" x 14" x 6" deep masonry blocks. The bents were located 7’ 6” center-to-center. The box itself measured 10' x 58', with what appears to be a trapezoidal shaped coaling platform attached at one end (see diagram). The coal box's floors were composed of 2" boards and the sidewalls appear to be 2" x 8" boards. The old structure survived, albeit in a dilapidated condition, until it was dismantled in 1938.
This 9/22/1928 photograph shows a small portion of the coal bunker at the right. (Richard J. King collection)
Coal Pile
Coal Pile
During World War II, a large stockpile of coal appeared at the rear of the Kenilworth terminal. This coal pile, which supplemented the coal bin, persisted until near the end of regular steam locomotive operation. Coaling was done by hand for years until a conveyor was acquired in either October or November 1943. It was a 20’ scoop portable coal conveyor, complete with gasoline engine (serial No. 5908). It came with a new canvas belta complete with cleats. The location of the coal pile was later supplanted by the diesel fuel tank and pump house. The coal conveyor was retired in June 1953.
In 1943, grading was completed alongside the storage track for a coaling track. Rails weren't installed until October 1945. This siding was removed about 1950.
No. 12 viewed from the coal pile. (William S. Young photo)
No. 15 backs into Kenilworth, as viewed from the coal pile. The Station Pond is seen to the left.
(William S. Young photo)
(William S. Young photo)
No. 12's tender is stored on a remnant of the coaling track. The coal pile and conveyor are seen to the right. (Don Maxton collection)
No. 14 is coaled by the section men, 12/31/1949. (William S. Young photo)
No. 13 is coaled by the section men, c.1950. (William S. Young photo)
Coal Bin
Coal Bin
In 1936, the RV constructed a coal bin between the water tank and freight house at Kenilworth. The purpose of the bin was to hold coal bound for the fireboxes of the RV's steamers.
George Clark, supposedly, purchased the best coal he could find for the RV's engines. The coal arrived from the CNJ in hoppers or gondolas. The section men would unload the 50-ton hopper, utilizing scoops and shovels, into the coal bin. Six days a week, the first job of the section crew was to fill the tenders of the locomotives. By eight o'clock start time, an average of eight tons of soft coal would have been loaded into the tender.
The coal bin measured 50’ long by 14’ wide x 5’ deep, located alongside the mainline track on 8” x 16” yellow pine (creosoted) and 15” steel I-beam girders supported by cross tie posts encased in concrete piers. There were also eighteen 6” x 8” x 8’ creosoted posts.
The RV’s last steam locomotive, No. 15, left the property in June 1959 which thereafter rendered the coal bin obsolete. The bin was removed by outside interests for salvage recoverable between December 3 and 18, 1959.
The coal bin, 1957. (Charles R. Griffin photo)
The rear side of the coal bin, 1957. (Charles R. Griffin photo)
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