THURMOND, WV (SWVO) – Towering above the tracks of Thurmond, West Virginia, stands a relic of the steam era: the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Railway’s coaling tower.
Built in 1922, this massive concrete structure once played a major role in the operation of steam locomotives, refueling engines that passed through this once-bustling rail hub along the old C&O.
Rising 70 feet into the air, the tower was likely the tallest structure in Thurmond at the time. It could hold up to 500 tons of coal, which was funneled down through adjustable chutes into the waiting tenders of locomotives below.
In addition to coal, the tower was outfitted with a system to replace wet sand with dry sand—an essential material used in steam engines to maintain traction on the rails.
Designed by Fairbanks, Morse, and Company of Chicago and constructed by a New York firm whose name has been lost to history, the coaling tower was a major investment, costing approximately $85,000—an impressive sum for its time.
Even as other railroads phased out coal-fired engines in favor of diesel, the C&O continued using the Thurmond tower well into the mid-20th century.
The railroad’s prolonged reliance on coal was closely tied to the industry it served—transporting the very resource it consumed.
However, the tower was ultimately retired from service in 1960 as the steam era came to a close. Though weathered by time and exposure, the coaling tower remains structurally sound.
Similar coaling towers still stand along the old C&O line—now operated by CSX—in towns like Raleigh, Hinton, Handley, and Ronceverte.
Another example, located in Bluefield Yard, now part of Norfolk Southern, once served the Norfolk & Western Railway.
The coaling tower is currently owned by CSX Transportation but is located within the boundaries of New River Gorge National Park & Preserve.
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