The Decaying McMyler Coal Dumper at Port Reading

 

A derelict ferry boat awaits its fate. A plethora of boats of all sizes usually dock nearby before being towed away for scrap metal. 

Driving along the winding road toward my designated parking spot, the scene ahead was impossible to miss. A black and brown rusting heap of metal, like a fallen giant, jutted out from the shore towards the water. It stood out starkly, an anomaly in the landscape. If you were an eagle, this facility would be unmistakable from the sky. Once a hub of energy and industry, this old railroad terminal, now silent and decaying, could no longer unload its tons of black gold.

Reaching the property was straightforward, though the long walk there was a challenge. But as I arrived and stood at the beginning of the tracks, looking into the heart of this beast, my fatigue vanished. There was a beauty in its decayed grandeur.

The remnants of its working days were still evident. Wooden track beams, now cracked and weathered, and the landing zone for train cars, although the side rail chute had long been reclaimed by nature. Time and the elements had not been kind. Inside the machine room, coal dust and rust flakes covered the floor. Massive winch wheels once used to pull train cars up and empty them, still sat there. The power and strength of the machines needed to lift a train car off the ground were hard to fathom.

Control panels were absent from the machine room, and the stairs leading to the control box had been removed or cut off, likely by the current owner to prevent access. I hope to return one day and explore the control box when I'm passing through this area again. It's sad to see this facility rust away, but perhaps its future holds something new for these shores.

No ladder to venture up top.

The winch loader for the coal carts.

The McMyler car dumper was a revolutionary material handling device in the United States, pivotal in transferring vast amounts of coal from rail to marine transport in the early 20th century. The first McMyler machines, built in 1894, used an end-dumping design requiring special cars. By 1900, the advent of the side-dumping McMyler machine transformed coal handling, rapidly becoming the standard on the Great Lakes. By 1904, fourteen of these side-dumping machines were installed, primarily around the Great Lakes, though the East Coast ports were slower to adopt this innovation. The Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad in Hoboken was the first in New York to do so in 1905.

By 1920, McMyler dumpers were widespread across the New York/New Jersey bulkheads: New York Susquehanna & Western / Erie: 1, Central Railroad of New Jersey: 2, Pennsylvania Railroad: 2, Lehigh Valley Railroad: 1, Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad: 2, Baltimore & Ohio Railroad: 1, Philadelphia & Reading Railroad: 1.

One notable installation was in 1917 at Port Reading, NJ, where a McMyler coal dumping machine, known as Big Mac, was constructed. This single dumper could handle as much coal as three existing gravity unloading piers combined, employing only 12 men instead of 175, and dumping 25 cars per hour—about one car every 2½ minutes. The efficiency of this dumper significantly increased the capacity of the Port Reading terminal, leading to the dismantling of two gravity piers and reducing the third to standby and rush use. By 1928, the facility handled trains with an average of 50-60 cars, about 4400 tons each, with 5-6 loaded trains moved daily and up to 10 or more during peak seasons. This terminal also facilitated coastwise coal transport to New England via schooner barges until 1933, when it sold off its fleet.

In the early 20th century America, a marvel of engineering known as the McMyler Coal Dumper revolutionized the way coal was loaded onto ships. Conceived in 1917 by the McMyler Interstate Company of Bedford, Ohio, this ingenious apparatus epitomized the era's blend of human ingenuity, heavy machinery, and sheer manpower.

The McMyler Coal Dumper functioned as a complex ballet of gravity and mechanized precision. Coal-filled rail cars would approach the massive structure, halting as a "pig block" secured them in place. From there, a sophisticated system of cables and platforms would lift and rotate the car, tipping its coal load into a waiting chute that extended over a barge below. Workers on the barge played a crucial role, evenly distributing the coal to ensure the vessel remained stable and upright. Once emptied, the car was righted and sent on its way, ready to be refilled and repeat the process. When operating seamlessly, this marvel could unload a coal car every two and a half minutes—a testament to its efficiency and the era's industrial prowess.

Today, the McMyler Coal Dumper stands as a rusting sentinel on the Arthur Kill, a waterway that separates Staten Island from New Jersey. This imposing, six-story structure was once the eastern terminus of the Reading Railroad, a vital conduit for coal shipments fueling New York Harbor's voracious appetite for energy. The small community of Port Reading in Middlesex County, New Jersey, owes its name and much of its history to this industrial titan.

Two steam engines stand idle. No longer powering the huge cable drum.

A collapsed portion of the remaining railroad unloading dock.

The machine room has been well preserved over the years since it became out of use.

Port Reading, while technically part of Woodbridge, emerged as a critical node in the vast network of coal transportation. Linked to the main Reading Railroad line by the Port Reading Railroad, which opened in 1892, it served as a gateway through which countless tons of coal flowed into the bustling ports of New York. The McMyler Coal Dumper at Port Reading wasn't unique; similar structures dotted the shores of New York Harbor, including two on Pier 18 in Jersey City. However, the Port Reading dumper holds the distinction of being the last of its kind in the region, a poignant relic of a bygone industrial age.

Constructed in 1917, this surviving McMyler Coal Dumper has witnessed over a century of history, standing as a monument to the transformative power of coal and the men and machines that moved it. Its decaying frame serves as a stark reminder of an era when coal was king, fueling the industrial might of a burgeoning nation.

For those intrigued by this mechanical giant, a dedicated rail fan has captured its intricate workings in a detailed video below, showcasing a model of the McMyler in action. This visual documentation offers a glimpse into the past, where the relentless rhythm of coal cars and the coordinated efforts of men and machines drove the engines of industry, shaping the modern world in their wake.

The towering apparatus played a pivotal role in the bustling network of coal mines, railroads, and manufacturing hubs that fueled New York's industrial age, efficiently transferring vast amounts of coal from Pennsylvania and the Alleghenies to ships entering the harbor.

The McMyler Dumper's operation was a marvel of industrial engineering. Capable of unloading a 72-ton car of coal every two and a half minutes, it worked in a continuous loop, maximizing efficiency. As railroad hoppers filled with coal entered the pier, they were pushed up a ramp by a mechanism known as a barney. Once in position at the base of the towering structure, the entire car was lifted and tilted at a steep 120-degree angle. This action spilled the coal into a massive pan, which funneled the material through an unloader chute and into the holds of outgoing barges. The empty car was then lowered and, propelled by gravity, rolled off the pier along a track system resembling a roller coaster. It was a finely tuned operation that required the coordinated efforts of twelve men, with each shift fraught with danger due to the sheer power of the machinery.

The Port Reading McMyler, a six-story behemoth standing sentinel on the Arthur Kill, was one of many such structures but remains unique as the last of its kind in the region. This towering machine linked the Reading Railroad to New York Harbor, playing a crucial role in the flow of coal that powered the industrial era. Built in 1917, it operated until a devastating fire in 1951 threatened its existence. Undeterred, the McMyler was rebuilt using parts salvaged from a similar dumper owned by the New York Susquehanna & Western Railroad, and it continued to serve until 1983. By then, advancements in power generation and growing environmental concerns had rendered coal obsolete, leading to the decline of these massive coal dumpers.

Since ceasing operations, the Port Reading McMyler has steadily deteriorated, its monolithic structure succumbing to the ravages of time and neglect. In 2004, it was listed as one of the Ten Most Endangered Historic Sites in New Jersey by Preservation NJ. Further damage came in 2011 when Hurricane Irene caused the collapse of the coal chute's supporting cables, sending the entire arm crashing into the water. Today, the site is bisected by a shipping container storage yard, severing its connection to the Port Reading line, which has been owned by Conrail since 1976.

For a visual journey into the history of the McMyler Coal Dumper, some of the earliest known photographs can be found on Jeffs4653’s Flickr page. These images offer a rare glimpse into the early days of this industrial marvel. Additionally, you can explore my collection of photographs in a 2016 post titled "Abandoned Railroad Unloading Facility." Both collections capture the decline of the McMyler Coal Dumper, providing a tangible connection to its storied past.

Chemical Lane natural gas tanks in the background on Staten Island at the end of the cart tracks.

Sources:

1. Kennedy, E. (1951, November). (Big Mac McMyler Dumper on the CNJ at Jersey City New Jersey). Railroad Magazine, BrokenBrushandRoundTop.

2. Bell, D. (2012, March 12). (An Iconic Port Reading Historic Site Hangs on by a Thread). Patch.

3. Ellis, W. (2016, February 11). (Port Reading’s McMyler Coal Dumper). Abandoned NYC.

4. Mohowski, R. E. (2003). The New York, Susquehanna & Western Railroad. United Kingdom: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp.52.

5. Saward's Annual: A Standard Statistical Review of the Coal Trade. (1927). United States: Frederick W. Saward. pp.110. 

6. Saward's Journal: A Progressive Coal Trade Weekly. (1924). United States: Frederick W. Saward. pp.741.

7. Owens, D. B., Historical Society, C. A. (2010). Conneaut. United States: Arcadia Pub. pp.30. 

8. EsseXploreR. (2020, February 11). (The Port Reading McMyler Coal Dumper). tfpnj.

9. Williamson, B. (2022, June 6) (McMyler Coal Dumper History). The Reading Company Fan Page.

10. valmontcsz. (2014, September 10). (The McMyler Coal Unloader). vjrurbex.

11. Goldstein, P. (2010, October 22). (ex-Reading RR McMyler Coal Dumper (o.o.s.) - Port Reading, NJ). Great Rails. 

12. DeBruler, D. (2022, June 9). (Port Reading, NJ: 1917 Conrail/Philadelphia Reading Coal Dock and McMyler Loaders). Towns and Nature. 

12. (2008, February 7). (Revisit Port Reading McMyler Dumper). Garden State Central Model Railroad. Club