Saturday, January 1, 2022

Baltimore, MD: CSX/B&O Curtis Bay Coal Dock, Railyard and Brooklyn (BX) Tower

Coal Dock: (Satellite)
Railyard: (Satellite)
Tower: (Satellite, it was on the south side of the tracks)

I knew that US still exported coal from Newport News, VA. The following post taught me that we also export from Baltimore, MD. In fact, coal is also exported from Penny's coal dock in Baltimore.

(Update: on Dec 30, 2021, there was a coal dust explosion in the transfer tower    . Fortunately, there were no injuries. The boom set off car alarms and shattered windows. It was heard across the Baltimore waterfront, 3-4 miles away. [ChesapeakBayMagazine]
safe_image for Explosion in Curtis Bay CSX coal silo shakes Baltimore, but so far no injuries reported, officials say
Heavy damage is seen on the coal transfer tower and north tunnel of the CSX Curtis Bay Pier. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)

It knocked at least one house off of its foundation that was 12 blocks away! A City Council hearing was conducted Jun 15, 2022, because CSX has yet to explain to the residents of the area what went wrong. In fact, CSX refused an invitation to attend the meeting. In a written statement CSX estimates the investigation will be completed by July. This and other industrial accidents in the area are an example of "environmental injustices rooted in racism." [BaltimoreSun]
)

This dock can handle ships up to a 41' draft, 650' x 81' and 47' air draft. [MoranShipping] A recent capital improvement program raised the annual capacity of the dock to 14 million tons. In addition to coal from Northern Appalachia (NAPP), it exports coal from the Central (CAPP) and Southern (SAPP) Appalachians and from the Illinois (ILB) and Colorado and Powder River Basins (PRB). "China received 25% of the coal, while the rest went to South Korea and the Netherlands." Even though the dock has dust suppression equipment, residential air pollution continues to be a problem. [gem] A goal of the $60m, 5-year capital improvement was to increase dumping capacity so that they can transfer directly from just-in-time trains to ships and thus avoid storage and double-handling costs. CSX also exports NAPP and CAPP coal from their Toledo Docks. [CSX]

1957 Curtis Bay Quadrangle @ 1:24,000

Baltimore Firefighters IAFF Local 734, via Facebook via Trains





Darren Reynolds posted
B&Os "BX" Tower (Brooklyn)   Baltimore, MD.
"BX" Tower was manned 24/7- it wasn't a very busy place. At one time I heard thay had a recliner in there..
Don Smith: Was this along I 895 leading into Curtis Bay?
Darren Reynolds: Don Smith yes..
Rick Gould: Had to hand up yarding instructions to coal trains.
worked it many times - got lots of sleep there
 
Darren Reynolds posted
B&Os "BX" tower (Brooklyn) Baltimore, Maryland 
"BX" tower is at the Beginning of curtis bay yard 
It wasn't a very busy tower only about 8 to10 trains a day, Some operators would enjoy their time on the roof watching cars go by on interstate 895. Some operators would just simply watch TV.. this is " BX" now closed 
On December 26,1988
Photo by: Steve Salamon

It is near the left side of this aerial at the curve in Frankfurst Ave. I have confirmed that a tower is too insignificant to appear on a topo map.
EarthExplorer: Dec 14, 1959 @ 60,000; ARB593503503520

J Doug Polaski posted
The office in Curtis Bay on Curtis Ave its long been torn down.
Wil Bathgate: The building was abandoned in the very early eighties or late 70's. Burned to the ground by arsonists in 1981 or 1982.

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