Boatnerd Discussion Forum

The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, or its predecessors had multiple coal loaders (unloaders from the railroad perspective) in Lorain. There appears to have been at least two on the west bank near the river's mouth in the early 1900's. The next was upstream of the Nickel Plate RR bridge, which is the one I think you are talking about. The 1936 Greens Marine Directory lists it as a McMyler car dump with 20,000 ton capacity over 10 hours. The next was the car dump at the mouth of the river.

Here is a photo of the one above the Nickel Plate Bridge. Photos (or postcards) of the others can be found via an online search for Lorain coal unloader.

https://greatlakes.bgsu.edu/media/472203

Here is a great photo of the one at the river's mouth: https://www.railpictures.net/photo/531243/

You are correct about the location of the old B&O coal dock. It is opposite the Jonick dock. Currently it is a boat launch site for the state of Ohio. Hanna often laid up there larger vessels. In 1975 the Paul H. Carnahan laid up in mid August due to a slowing economy. The dock was easy to access and board the boats. Don't know when it last operated at a coal loading facility.

Is there any information or photos of the Coal Loading Dock on the bank of the Black River Lorain, Ohio. I believe it went out of business in the 1930's. Interlake laid up the JL Mauthe, and Elton Hoyt in 1982,1983. At that time there was very little left of a dock or anything to secure mooring lines too. I believe the ODR constructed a new boat launch ramp just down river from the coal dock in the 1990's on the west bank.