In the process of transferring coke from a coke oven chamber in a battery of coke ovens to a quenching car, the coke is quenched by a water spray from above. The resulting steam is collected in a hood located above and movable with the quenching car and is either exhausted from the hood and conveyed to a condenser or is condensed in the hood with the condensate being collected, cooled and recirculated to provide the water for the quenching and condensing sprays. The apparatus and method of this invention provides for transferring and quenching the coke without emitting harmful gases and dust to the atmosphere.