Coal Piers and Pier Cars

[Bassham]

I am interested in the operations of coal piers and the pier cars (a.k .a. transfer cars) that transferred coal from train to ship during the steam era. I am particularly interested in the Norfolk & Western Railway Lambert's Point operations prior to 1954. I have researched the Norfolk and Western Historical Society (NWHS) website and found relevant photos and material but no details of operations and limited information concerning the pier cars. I know that Virginia had a large coal pier operation at Sewell's Point, but the NWHS has consumed that collection of information, and there are limited references.
I would be glad to hear from anyone with information about the coal pier's operations and the equipment used to transfer the coal from the trains' coal hoppers to the ships' cargo holds.
The attached photo is of an electric pier car, #10, at Lambert's Point from the NWHS database (retrieved 11/16/2000).
Thanks

 

[Bassham]

Any coal pier worker family members railfans? Would love to connect and hear stories told at the home.