The Saratoga Spring Water Company has been shipping Saratoga water (in a distinctive blue bottle) since 1872. Don't know how it's handled today, but rail distribution was the only option in the 19th century.
I remember seeing Saratoga Water advertised back in the '50s, when I was a New Yorker. Google brought up a current webpage for the company.
Chuck
"White Rock Water" in Wisconsin used to ship water by train car in the steam era, however they also made other products like ginger ale so it wasn't just mineral water being shipped in their cars. I've seen cars lettered for White Rock from time to time, Atlas did one in N not too long ago:
Metro Red LineI model modern era. This sounds like the most likeliest option if I am to model a bottled water industry. I also understand that most modern-day bottled spring water companies are regional and are only marketed and sold to a 200-mile radius at the most, which makes truck transport a much more likely mode of shipping than rail.
I also understand that most modern-day bottled spring water companies are regional and are only marketed and sold to a 200-mile radius at the most, which makes truck transport a much more likely mode of shipping than rail.
Well, there has been some talk about it in the modern era... (from a 2008 thread on Railroad.net)
Poland Spring has actually stated that rail shipping from the Fryeburg source could be an option. Shipping in insulated tankcars to an offload local to the bottling plant would prevent freezing during the short trip.
But I have heard nothing about it going forward, or whether it was just some brainstorming by Nestle (Poland Springs) R&D
AltonFan I thought I saw a lettering diagram for Hinkley and Schmidt bottled water. But other than that I haven't heard about this commodity being shipped by rail. I suppose it's likely, especially before the 1960s.
I thought I saw a lettering diagram for Hinkley and Schmidt bottled water. But other than that I haven't heard about this commodity being shipped by rail. I suppose it's likely, especially before the 1960s.
I model modern era. This sounds like the most likeliest option if I am to model a bottled water industry.
An old MR project layout, the Ma & Pa (not THE MA & PA, this was different) had as part of its premise the transport of passengers to enjoy a mineral spring and the shipment of bottled mineral water out. Granted this was all fantasy.
Then there is the famous Pluto Water. Years ago there used to be a billboard reefer with a Pluto Water ad. The water was, it its time, bottled and shipped all over the country. Given that in the early days, particularly in the first decade or two of the 20th century, there weren't many options for long distance transportation of good other than the train, I would expect that box cars full of cases of bottles of Pluto Water were shipped out all the time.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
The Southern Pacific hauled spring water in the early 1900's
From Wikipedia
"Shasta began as The Mt. Shasta Mineral Springs Company located in Baltimore, Maryland on December 6, 1889. It was also known as The Shasta Water Company. It produced bottled mineral water from Shasta Springs in northern California. The water was poured into glass-lined railroad cars and shipped off for local bottling."
More info and some photos in the book Rails in the Shadow of Mt Shasta by John Signor.
The Pacific Electric also hauled spring water from the mountains above Los Angeles
I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.
I don't have a leg to stand on.
I seriously doubt it; back when that was likely to have happened, bottled water was probably very rare. I have heard of bottling plants receiving plastic pellets by rail.
"No soup for you!" - Yev Kassem (from Seinfeld)
Dan
Probably not what you had in mind, but the B&O was noted for serving Deer Park Spring Water on their dining cars. At one time they owned the spring and the water company in Deer Park MD. I have seen photos of cases of water being loaded on to baggage cars at Deer Park.
I have a natural spring on my layout and am wondering if I should make an industry out of it. Does anyone know if any spring water/bottled water company in the country ships their commodities via rail? Whether via box cars or tank cars? To my knowledge I've never seen any bottled water company use trains, it's trucks only. But I'd like to know examples of such a company out there that uses rail.