Lionel Stuff: Coaling Station

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In an earlier post I wrote about the a freight platform structure that Lionel produced. Today I will look at a coaling station I re-habbed after finding it in pieces at a train show. 
This coaling station comes from another structure kit that Lionel put out originally during the MPC period (1970-mid 80s.) Those who bought Lionel in 1970 appear to have been hesitant about re-issuing some of the classic coal handling accessories from the post-war period. It was probably a money thing. Plastic kits are much more inexpensive. The coaling station here is a behemoth although not as large as the grain elevator that was released during the same period. There is talk on some O gauge boards that the earliest releases of this structure also had some rudimentary manual coal loading action. Trains can pass underneath the one side of the building and perhaps simulate coal loading from a large mine operation. 

Car can go underneath elevated side

Some assemble required for pre-1990s releases
Recently Lionel has released this coaling station as a pre-built item with a light in a few variations most recently in 2011 catalog. However, I do note they have a newer one too which has not been cataloged as far as I know.
For a more hi-rail look this is the coaling station for you.

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