Coal trestle

A coal trestle is a rigid frame trestle supporting train tracks above chutes, used to deliver fuel to boats or trains beneath it. At the top of the trestle, train rolling stock, typically hopper cars, open doors on their undersides or on their sides to discharge cargo. The coal trestles were also used to transfer coal from mining railroads to rail cars on lines traveling further away. Coal trestles were prominent when coal was an important fuel for rail locomotion and steamships and before coal trestles were replaced with mechanical coal loaders in the 20th century.

Former coal trestles

• Buffalo, New York on Lake Erie.
• Oswego, New York on Lake Ontario.

Port of Oswego's Coal Trestle

• Sodus Point, New York on Lake Ontario