May 19th, 2026
Archistories Redbank Coaling Tower
There’s always something exciting about opening a new Archistories kit. We see them online and in different build videos, but as open up that pack and get our tweezers, glue, and magnifier lights going, we know we’re about to build something great for our layouts! This particular model is the “Redbank Coaling Tower” which was built by the Pennsylvania Railroad and still sits along the Allegheny River in Armstrong County today. While there may not be rails and trains running underneath it anymore, this old relic is still visited by many on the rails to trails path for many people to come and enjoy a piece of history.
To the left and right you will see pictures of the old giant that rests in it’s location to this day in Redbank Township of Armstrong County PA.
With a structure like this where trains will be running underneath it, it’s important to keep in mind the height of your trains. To test the height, I used my Open Autorack Car that can be purchased exclusively at AZL Direct. This car is tall enough that it just barely fits underneath. For me, I wasn’t completely sold on leaving at that height. To the right you will see a jar of all the pop-out pieces from Klawndyke T-Trak Z Modules. The rectangular pieces worked perfectly to raise it up! For the shed part in the picture to the left, I actually cut the floor out to raise up higher so cars would be able to fit in there. All in all, it was a challenging project, but so worth it in the end!
