Too big too fall?

The steam-era concrete coaling tower in Bluefield, West Viriginia is a reminder of the past which is luckily too big to be easily destroyed.

The railroads have been notorious for leveling structures along their right-of-ways when they become obsolete. This is partially done for taxation purposes (there is less assessed value), protection (unused builidings tend to burn or become used by vagrants), or for other reasons.

However, the large concrete coaling towers remain along the Pocahontas Division of the Norfolk Southern (EX-N&W) in West Viriginia. They are so substantial that it would require a lot of money to knock them down, plus they are almost indestructible. Luckily this gives them a reprieve.

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