Coal Conveyor for Cotton Factory

OK, so probably more detail that anyone wants to hear, but here is the coal conveyor saga:

The cotton factory apparently had a trestle where the coal was unloaded from rail cars.  This is a Sandborn Insurance map:

The trestle is left of the darker blue building and the coal bin is below it.  Well, no room on the layout for an elevated track!  Also, will need to locate the coal bin a little different.  But, we'll still have a pile of coal on the ground, close to the boiler room, representative of:

The siding will have to approach from the other side of the Cotton Factory and serve the factory products as well as deliver coal hoppers.  Only problem, how to get coal from the hopper to the bin -- how 'bout a conveyor?!  Several are available in plastic, but the Hoffa Cement Company from Model Power seemed to have the conveyor needed, with maybe a few modifications.

First, let's check the location and size of the conveyor hopper that would need to be mounted under the tracks:

OK, that works and can be positioned far enough up the siding so the rail car will not need to be turned end-for-end to unload a full load of coal.  So, pull up some of the siding to cut the cork roadbed and plywood underneath:

Turns out, the width of the hole in the cork is not 3/4" nor 1" -- the size of wood bits in my drill assortment.  But, sometimes Murphy doesn't work against you and you've JUST found a loose 7/8" bit.  That worked great -- two holes plus a saber saw trim and the hopper fits, from underneath:

And there's a hole in the track where some ties were cut with a Dremel tool.

So, if that looks like it's going to work, let's construct the conveyor:

Don't think the wheels will be needed, but the axle is in place!  Just as suspected, the support pieces keep the conveyor too high compared to the track.  So, these were trimmed back, a short brace was added, and some "weathering" was attempted.  Used Testors rust and flat black paint, as well as some watered down acrylic flat black.  Tried the "dry brushing" technique.  Weathering skills need a lot more development.

In the meantime, the Hoffa Cement bin walls were adjusted from three bunkers to only one for the Cotton Factory.  And it does look like everything will go in place.

Now it's how do you support the bin from the underside and then add coal.  It's been chilly in the unheated workshop recently, but temps are supposed to get into the 60's later in the week.  That gives time to figure out an approach. . . maybe.  Oh, and the hole in the roadbed/plywood needed a little enlarging so the conveyor didn't dump coal directly into the boiler house!  No problem, saber saw to the rescue.