Large Scale Central

Daily Freight on the Tuscarora RR

David Russell said:
So that funky water tank is lined with oak?
Just like a whiskey barrel!

The tank would be inside, just like your average railroad water tower–a large cylindrical tank on stilts. It wouldn’t have a roof, since the outer building takes care of that. The advantage of the enclosure is that the coal stove kept the water in the tank from freezing in the winter. This concept worked well in areas where there was a station attendant who could regularly stoke the fire. The alternative to heating the tank in cold weather was often to keep the water flowing through the pipes so that it couldn’t freeze.

Later,

K

Dave -

There is still one standing example of the enclosed square tank on the EBT at Coles. At least two others have been lost - Saltillo and Mt. Union. Coles Tank is a very short hike in from a paved road. If you have a good ground clearance vehicle you can drive about 1/2 way back on the ROW. This tank was recently the subject of a full set of as-built architectural drawings commissioned by the FEBT that are on their way to the Library of Congress to be made part of the Historical Engineering Record. The will eventually be available on-line.

Kev,

we’ll look forward to seeing that soon…still enjoy the Spicer video from the Woodland!
cale

Kevin, Jon and all others,
Thanks!!!
Ya’ see this is why I cannot involve myself in ALL the incredible history we have in PA.
Trying to focus on 1 RR that has awesome history while witnessing daily useage, sitting on my back deck knowing it’s on the original roadbed now owned by NS. Now lets pretend it still exists as the CVRR with a moderate budget!

Kevin,
One must wonder considering how advanced the RR was at that time why they would not store their water underground below the frost line during winter months and figure a way too pump up and feed the tower.
However coal was cheap and labor was??
:wink:

Kevin Strong said:
Interesting thing about wood tanks and plumbing. So long as there's water in them, they last. It's only when they're allowed to dry out that problems emerge.
This is the same principal that has kept water out of wooden boats for years. I would never have thought that the internal water tank inside the building that was heated to keep from freezing would be called a "bladder", but that works when describing the system.

We had an old IC water tower in the area, that held 10,000 gallons and was used for storage in a small community water system, long after it was no longer used for the railroad. As it got older it began leaking more and would create wonderful ice scenes in the winter as icicles were created all the way to the ground. I haven’t been over that way in a number of years. Don’t know if it is still there.

Ken Brunt said:
Comparing the EBT to Strassburg is like comparing the Durango & Silveron to the Cumbres & Toltec. Strassburg and Durango are way to commercialized and sit in the middle of a very touristy area. The EBT and Cumbres are both off the beaten path and have a much more relaxed atmosphere where you can wander around the yard area, get close and personel with the crews and has much more of a "hands on" feel to it.
Just re read this thread and that's a heck of a quote! Thanks guy's for the knowledge we share!