Hermon, ME: BAR Two Coaling Towers and Depot

Coaling Tower 1: (Satellite)

Coaling Tower 2: (Satellite)

Depot: (Satellite)

BAR = Bangor & Aroostook

Street View, Jul 2023

This is what taught me that there are two coaling towers left in this yard. After first seeing the tower by the depot, I noticed the tower on the left side.

Erik Winter, Nov 2023, cropped

james burt, May 2018

Henry Vaughan posted
Provided the fuel, the old Bangor & Aroostook Railroad coaling plant at Northern Maine Junction in Hermon Maine summer of 1998.

A coaling tower with some of its metal parts intact is rare.

Erik Winter, Nov 2023

Let alone its hoist machinery.

Erik Winter, Jon 2023

Jake Stofko, Sep 2022

Lucas Leighton posted three photos with the comment: "The former BAR station at Northern Maine Jct (Now owned by CPKC) is coming down this week [May 13, 2024]. It’s one of only 3 remaining stations on the former Southern Division, and the only not preserved. I believe it was last used by Guilford and Montreal Maine and Atlantic as a crew office in the early 2000’s. Since then, the foundation has settled on one end, causing a large bulge between the first and second floors. Luckily most of the paperwork, PR film and photos, among other items which were stored here have been saved by the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad Archives."

Caoimhín Kevin Bunker: I'm as concerned, if not more so, about threatened coaling towers (background) as infrastructure artifacts. These are not easily saved, let alone moved, particularly reinforced concrete examples.

Lucas Leighton: Caoimhín Kevin Bunker yeah those aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. There are still ones at NMJ, Derby, Millinocket and Oakfield. One of the ones at Oakfield they demolished in the 70’s. However following that disaster of a project, they opted not to take down any more. I forgot how many pounds of explosives they packed into the legs on it, but all that did was make it lean some if I remember correctly. The rest are still in pretty good condition, aside from some minor concrete spawling. These will probably outlive CPKC and whatever railroad comes after them.

Matthew Minson: Caoimhín Kevin Bunker MMA or CMQ also looked into taking them down but it was determined to not be feasible. Rail was used instead of rebar in these.

1

2

3