Water and coaling stations

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Were the water/coaling stations set up on separate sidings or were they ever along the mainline proper ?

2

There are multiple examples of either way. At a terminal, the engine servicing facilities would be set off on the side so that the “throat” to the terminal tracks would not be clogged while a locomotive was being fueled or watered. At locations out on the main where there was not a town of size but where coal or water was needed, they might be built to serve directly onto a main track. Some of these were large concrete coaling towers built adjacent or atop the main - N&W near Radford VA and on the IC come to mind. Remember to put in a siding to accomodate the unloading of coal for the coaling tower - one can’t tie up the main for the time that would take.

Bill

3

Here are some coaling towers still straddling active main lines in MI:

ex-Michigan Central in Augusta

ex-GTW in Lansing

ex-Pere Marquette in New Buffalo

4

Thanks for the info

5

Our local depot had a water tower, but no coaling facility. Passenger engines would disconnect, go for a drink, then return, even though it was a relatively short stop. It was on a side track, so as not to block the main or yard access. I think most rr’s had more water stops than water and coal. Steamers used a lot of water.

Have fun,

6

Locomotive tenders were usually designed so that the expected range of the fuel was several times the range obtained from the water, therefore, a railroad would have several times as many watering stations as fueling stations. Fueling was usually done at engine terminals where locomotives were changed/serviced, while watering stations were scattered strategically, usually immediately along the main track (as well as placed in engine terminals.)

Concord had a water tank (pictured below) along the main track, but the closest fueling point was about a dozen miles distant at the small engine-serving facility at Port Costa… If the train originated in Oakland, about three times farther away, the locomotive would have been fueled and watered at the engine-service facility there.

(Picture seems to have been taken long after the end of passenger service on this line. Presumably, that’s a pump house just beyond the water tank. Notice the ubiquitous ladder [for the SP] hanging on depot’s end wall.)

Mark