The Delaware and Lackawanna had an "over the main" coaling tower at Groveland, NY, if you Google it you will find photos. I see an older wooden one posted on Flickr, it was later replaced by a concrete tower which I have photos of at home. Of course, they did not tie up the 2 track main to coal a loco, it covered additional tracks and also serviced pusher engines which worked Danville Hill to the east. John
I think your assumptions are mainly correct Paul, Groveland is certainly in a remote area on the DL&W for example, but there was a small engine house nearby and there would certainly have been coal cars in and empties out, and a water spout. I don't know the coal consumption figures for their locos, but my hunch is that the location was chosen for being a midpoint resupply location between major terminals, in this case Buffalo, NY and Scranton, PA for through freights, and as a by-product a location for the small helper fleet to re-fuel. Others probably know more. Good question though and an element not frequently modeled! John
Eurospoor 2016 ben je klaar Paul?