Water tower question

[PBenham]

For most of the time it was in Bellows Falls VT, Steamtown USA had a fully operational water tower near the access road crossing, south of the Riverside depot. The H2O (water to those of you in Rio Linda) was pumped into the tower by an electric pump, and fed the steamers from the early '60s until the end in 1982. It fell into disrepair and has been torn down since then.[sigh]

[wjstix]

If you ever come across it, there's a video (probably not ever put out on DVD) of a training film that was put out by Great Northern in 1946 called "Safe Switching" that shows how to water a steam engine - how to pull the funnel over, how to turn the water on, etc. Interesting film overall, lots of details a model railroader would love !!

[jimrice4449]

What you think is the spout isn't. It's basically a funnel. The actual spout and valve is generally located at the trackside edge of the tank and shoots water into the funnel after it's been spotted to run the water into the tender. The water is turned on via a system of levers or cables that shut off when they're released (usually). The spout/funnel is hung so that when released it swings parrallel to the track and out of the way. It's pulled into position to fill the tender by a long hook that's carried on the tender deck and when in position the fireman opens the valve (after first firmly planting is foot on the funnel to keep it in position after the water starts to flow.)

[jimrice4449]

What you think is the spout isn't. It's basically a funnel. The actual spout and valve is generally located at the trackside edge of the tank and shoots water into the funnel after it's been spotted to run the water into the tender. The water is turned on via a system of levers or cables that shut off when they're released (usually). The spout/funnel is hung so that when released it swings parrallel to the track and out of the way. It's pulled into position to fill the tender by a long hook that's carried on the tender deck and when in position the fireman opens the valve (after first firmly planting is foot on the funnel to keep it in position after the water starts to flow.)

[Ray Dunakin]

I'm trying to build a scale model of a water tower for my garden railroad, and have some questions. How did the old steam-era water towers work? Specifically, when they pull down the spout, how was the valve opened to release the water? In all the films I've seen, the water comes out as soon as the spout is pulled down, yet the spout doesn't appear to be attached to a valve.

The prototype I'm modeling no longer has a spout or any of the rigging, so I'm having a little trouble figuring out how to replicate that stuff. Haven't been able to find any decent pics online either.