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From interpretive sign at the coke oven site:
These beehive coke ovens were constructed in the late 1890's to carbonize or coke coal mined coal basin for the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company. A narrow-gauge railroad, approximately 12 miles long (removed in 1941), brought the coal down grades exceeding 4 percent from the mine to Redstone. The total coal production was 1.1 million tones. The coke made at these ovens was then shipped to Pueblo by way of the standard gauge Crystal River Railroad. CF and I discontinued coking operations in 1908.
Coke is made when special coals are heated to drive off volatile matter and moisture in the absence of oxygen. Coal was charged into these ovens from the top and after charging the ovens were sealed for 48 hours except for a small amount of air which was admitted to support enough combustion to maintain a coking temperature. As the finished coke was withdrawn from the ovens it was quenched with water to prevent further combustion.
About this gallery:
Redstone, Colorado is in the Crystal River valley and is near Carbondale, Glenwood Springs, and Aspen.
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