Coolant question

I came across this unusual vehicle at Exeter yesterday.

What is the story behind that? It feels a bit like 1950s service stations, with a watering can for leaky radiator top ups....

Oh yes, and the superfluous warning not to drink the water. How would anyone manage do that, and why on earth?

 

You're spot on. They were prone to coolant loss and this was the solution.

 

Not just a British problem!
Allegedly, the Red Army officers treated their squaddies so badly that they had to try to get drinking water from locos. Water treatment and human digestion did not work well together, I imagine!
Pat

 

I can see how you might get water to drink out of a loco tender (or tank), but imagine trying to get it out of that cart! You'd have to be very determined.

In fact steam loco water was often used to wash your hands, and I have a picture of train crew washing their hair with water from tender (bar of soap on the tender steps, where else?)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/73536293@N02/22457700057/in/album-72157660959544482/

 

Maybe it is to stop a determined person filling up the buffet car tanks with it? People try all sorts of stupid things when they're under pressure, or being lazy.