Water Troughs

Has any preserved railway ever thought about setting up dummy (or working) water troughs ?

we have mail by rail, steam crane demo's, freight trains, auto trains..

This surely could be something of interest for the public ? How long do a set of troughs need to be to be worthy of a demo ?.. are there any loco's with working scoops ?

 

There was an April Fool joke a few years ago on the G/WR on this one.

'... are there any loco's with working scoops ?' Doubt it

... 'This surely could be something of interest for the public ? ' Absolutely

... 'How long do a set of troughs need to be to be worthy of a demo ?' Probably about a quarter mile of flat track.

It would cost a lot of money to put up a set of water troughs, they would have to be manufactured from scratch and the cost of the water to run them wouldn't be a small sum. Don't think this is something I'm going to see in my lifetime; nice idea though.

Regards

 

I doubt such a thing would be used outside of gala's and other such events, can water be picked up reasonably at 25MPH though ?.

Biggest headache would be finding half a mile on the flat n level id have thought.

 

Plus there is the small matter of - assuming the reason for building was so the public could see them in action - of, er, how would the public see them in action? They'd have to be on plain line well outside station limits, so unless there was a convenient footpath, and a public devoted to missing their train so they could walk a mile or two to see the train go past, no-one would see when water was picked up!

Tom

 

Spectators could also expect a soaking as well if they're too close to the action.

 

lol people pay good money for that at some theme parks!

 

Thats so true lol.

 

I think you will find that generally the water supply for the locos is chemically treated.
Would this be allowed in areas of water catchment? Pollution worries etc.
As for construction and drainage, what length of site required and assuming you want people to see it in action is there access available?
Sorry, but this one is a total non starter, unless a multi millionaire will fund it.
Even then, I expect we would try & persuade them to donate to something we actually need.

 

Are you not aware of the plan to put a trough on the NYMR on the level stretch on Fen Bog? This will enable the Super D, still fitted with a scoop, to pick up water when the driver forgets to take it at each end of the line and save having to drop the fire!
A ready made water supply at trackside and a place well away from the public. It has everything going for it! Just waiting for the timber to be delivered.

 

3822 has a working scoop, just currently the catch is bolted to stop anyone turning the handle, I would guess that there are several other engines around like this.

 

Water treatment is generally put into the tanks straight from a container, so doubt this would be an issue. The bigger issues are the size required of level track and the fact you'd need them somewhere viewable for the public as already discussed.

 

I know of a suitable site - between Glyndyfrdwy & Carrog there's a nice level straight with a river full of good quality water right next to it. The viewing gallery is the A5 road above the adjacent fields. Anybody like to donate the cash ?

Bob.

 

If that's the straight im thinking of there's a crossing not long into the straight, can't lay a trough across that.

 

Well, if it's just wishful thinking, then how about reinstating Garsdale troughs? That would make steam pathing on the S & C so much easier for scoop-fitted locos, wouldn't it?

 

From what I have seen, the majority of the GWR tenders in service still have the scoops attached and are in working order.

Don't quote me on this, but I believe the minimum speed for a scoop to work is close 45mph, so that rules out the effectiveness on the majority of preserved lines.

The water-treatment is not added every time you fill up and it is not pre-mixed with the water supply. It is added very un-ceremoniously out of a plastic bottle or in days gone by it came in tablet form (it still might). Some troughs were fed from streams I seem to recall.

I can assure everyone that there is no way Network Rail would allow a water-trough to be installed anywhere on the mainline, although one just south of Crewe would be really handy!

 

Some engines have still got the scoop but the internal pipe removed to gain a few gallons extra water space, and the scoop may be fixed in the up position.

 

Is that true about the plan for the 'Moors? Sounds interesting.

 

The water supply tank for the Standedge Tunnel troughs is still there!

Lordy

 

IIRC some tank designs were fitted with scoops, some were even bi-directional.

 

If 45 mph was the miniimum speed for effective pick up there couldn't have much point in attaching tenders with scoops to locos such as GWR 2-8-0s, Stanier 8Fs and WDs,; their duties didn't involve much running at that sort of speed.

Chemicals which are added in the form of tablets or as measured doses from bottles are used for a different purpose to that needed to treat water in areas where the supply is chemically 'hard', i.e. contains large amounts of dissolved substances which would precipitate out as scale within a locomotive's boiler when the water is boiled.