Watertank on former RDG ?

Looking at the ESPN line from Telford to Quakertown, fromer Reading, I noticed this old watertank just south of Quakertown:

http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=qr0rhm ... orm=LMLTCC

Does anyone remember what it was used for? Its so close to the tracks my imagination is getting the best of me!

Surely the RDG removed all their water tanks 60 years ago when they phased steam out, so why would this tank be so close to the line, and in such good shape?

You're limiting yourself by thinking that the railroads were always quick about clearing out obsolete facilities.

It's a steam-engine water tank.

-Micah

Tom_E_Reynolds wrote:Looking at the ESPN line from Telford to Quakertown, fromer Reading, I noticed this old watertank just south of Quakertown:

http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=qr0rhm ... orm=LMLTCC

Does anyone remember what it was used for? Its so close to the tracks my imagination is getting the best of me!

Surely the RDG removed all their water tanks 60 years ago when they phased steam out, so why would this tank be so close to the line, and in such good shape?

IIRC, the water tank in question was used by a nearby business.

The water tower is located by a quarry, but as far as I know was not re-purposed since being used for Reading steam locomotives.

Attached is a picture of it that I took back in 2002 when I scored a cab ride.

Here's a link to the whole page:
http://jrevans.fbody.com/cab_ride/

Wow. That is amazing. I guess the real question is, how old is it?

I know the railroads had to pay taxes and insurance on all their buildings and ROW. So it was always in their best financial interest to eliminate the buildings and structures they didn't need.

What's amazing to me is it looks remarkably like the Atlas kit... which I've always assumed was pretty much a standard NJ/PA design because of Atlas' NJ location... still... amazing to see the frame, tank and top so close in appearance.

No railroad pays or has paid property tax on Class 1 railroad property in Pennsylvania, ever, or, if they did, it was in the 1800's..

Class 1 rr property is that which is directly in the use of transportation, such as track, right of way support structures, and the actual rights of way.

They have always paid property tax on Class 2 property, such as Headquarters buildings and associated property.

-Micah

56-57 wrote:No railroad pays or has paid property tax on Class 1 railroad property in Pennsylvania, ever, or, if they did, it was in the 1800's..

Class 1 rr property is that which is directly in the use of transportation, such as track, right of way support structures, and the actual rights of way.

They have always paid property tax on Class 2 property, such as Headquarters buildings and associated property.

-Micah

Thanks for the clarification Micah. I know that some states charged property tax of railroad property, but I thought Pennsylvania wasn't one of them.

As for water towers, want to see a new one being constructed? Check out the Age of Steam Roundhouse:

http://www.ageofsteamroundhouse.com/Album_24.html
http://www.ageofsteamroundhouse.com/Album_38.html
http://www.ageofsteamroundhouse.com/Album_39.html

The whole facility is awesome and it's incredible seeing the progress as it's built.

56-57 wrote:No railroad pays or has paid property tax on Class 1 railroad property in Pennsylvania, ever, or, if they did, it was in the 1800's..

Class 1 rr property is that which is directly in the use of transportation, such as track, right of way support structures, and the actual rights of way.

They have always paid property tax on Class 2 property, such as Headquarters buildings and associated property.

-Micah

There's a large concrete coaling tower over the main in Susquehanna, PA. This could be why that wasn’t knocked down by now. I would like to see this up close before it’s gone.

-gary

At the risk of seeming as though I am beating my own drum,here's one I built in 1999 in my shop for the Rough & Tumble Shay Railroad in Kinzers, PA. Reading Company MOW plans from 1912 were used as a guide and some parts resized a bit to fit the particulars of the job. It's 2000 gallons capacity and stands 19 ft ground to finial. There was a lot of sawdust left in the shop from this project.

Steam man wrote:At the risk of seeming as though I am beating my own drum,here's one I built in 1999 in my shop for the Rough & Tumble Shay Railroad in Kinzers, PA. Reading Company MOW plans from 1912 were used as a guide and some parts resized a bit to fit the particulars of the job. It's 2000 gallons capacity and stands 19 ft ground to finial. There was a lot of sawdust left in the shop from this project.

Heck Steam Man, go ahead and beat your own drum, as that tank is awesome! What a neat project and it's at a place where it gets used.

I was toying with the idea of making a miniature water tower to cover the well head in my front yard. I've seen a lot of people who use miniature wishing-style wells to decorate their well head, but I thought a railroad water tower would look really cool.