“Aye, every little boy grows up wanting to be a train engineer. But no one sees the work behind these black beasts!” barks Shaymus McHaulem. “My team and I have been at this Kitty Pryde Coal Refuel station from the earliest days. Since before they had them lumber mill at Schumacher or before Jane & Stanley’s harvested their first fine vintage. Yet we get little credit.”
Shay and his coal crew are in charge of the only coal refuelling stop for Halland Railroad. Located just a stone’s throw from the depot, no locomotive begins it’s passenger or freight run without first taking on fuel and water at the station’s siding.
“We really don’t mind,” interjects understudy Clarence who has been with the crew for some time now. “I know Shaymus complaints a lot but he means well. He looks out for us, as well as the engines. They’re all his family.”
What may seem like a straightforward job is probably one of the toughest and most important in all of Halland. Shaymus and his crew have to ensure that the coal supply is always topped up and ready from daily inbound freight wagons from Amberton Coal. Once unloaded, the empties are returned to Amberton Coal to make way on the siding for any incoming locomotives from St Andrew’s that need the precious black fuel, sand and water before commencing their run.
“We’ve never had an accident. Never had a delay. A couple of close shaves and injuries, especially that one time when those damn piglets escaped their Sty! That facility is way too close!” grunts Shaymus. “Oh but you never complain, when it’s time to head to the market for fresh meat,”
Clarence grins as Shaymus trudges away to welcome the inbound Locomotive. “Number 4’s here! Look alive people..” Shaymus barks, his booming voice even overpowers the chugging rhythm of the incoming engine.
While the vast majority of my locomotives and rolling stock are Marklin – intentionally because of their high quality and long-lasting characteristics – there are very few Marklin structures in Halland. One is the repurposed station building at Astoria and the other is this Coal and Sanding kit located at Kitty Pryde.
They are very good plastic kits and I highly recommend them. However they are more European in design so fitting them in your layout takes a bit of freelancing and imagination. Like many of my resources, this coal building has been with me for many years and the truth is I’ve forgotten where and when I acquired it. I do know that this is the first time I’ve assembled it for a layout as this is my first layout dedicated to steam power. While the coal fuels mainly American old steam locomotives, I still feel it looks at home in the sleepy town of Kitty Pryde.
Zoo Octan Rail 