The Lite and Narrow Column - 7
Using both the Connellsville and Sewell measurements, I cut a
piece of foam core board 25’ x 202’ for the tops of the ovens. I
added foam core board partitions between each of the ovens.
To the open door ovens, Evergreen tile sheet was added after
being painted black. In the sealed ovens, holes were drilled for
lighting to be added later.
At the top, measure in 5’2” and mark a line. This will be the
center line for the tunnel heads. Glue them in place and stain
them similar to the oven fronts. For the closed ovens, drill
open the tunnel heads. For the open ovens, paint the center
of the tunnel heads black. These are put back in place after
the oven is charged from the larry car so the coal will ignite.
When the coal ignites, the cover is removed and green smoke
is vented. Haven’t figured out how to do that yet.
The Sewell ovens' larry track was narrow gauge and ran on
girders between piers 2’6” x 4’. The actual track gauge was 42”
but mine will be 3’. The piers are cast in throw away molds.
Placing the top piece in place, I covered both it and the coke
dock with dirt and let dry. Then I applied a liberal coating of
Highball coal dust. To the coke dock I added some scale coke
that I purchased from a company that is long out of business.
7: Note the differences in the oven fronts on Tom Maule’s
Sewell, WV coke ovens from the Stewart’s Gap ovens.
Also, there is a difference in the oven fill holes. Tom
Maule photo.
7
8: Coke ovens at Sewell, WV on Ron Lane’s Mann’s
Creek Railway. Two of the ovens have smoke units
installed. Photo by Ron Lane.
8
MRH-Dec 2013
