settle
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Anybody here a railway water tower enthusiast, like me?
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Railway water towers
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John Griffiths
Member
I wouldn't call myself an enthusiast, but there is a great one at Newcastle upon Tyne, on the S side of the station, dating from 1894, clearly visible from Orchard Street
1891
Ashley Hill
Established Member
Both Salisbury and Taunton have water towers. Totnes had one until a few years ago.
swt_passenger
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Romsey?
D1537
Established Member
Knaresborough is a great example. Also Grade II listed.
WesternLancer
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It’s always very interesting to see survivors.
My guess is there aren’t many left.
I seem to recall some years ago, maybe ten, noticing what I assumed to be a water tower that fed water troughs on the line between Burton on Trent and Birmingham but I’ve not noticed it more recently so I’m thinking it’s been removed.
Tho it wasn’t easy to see from the carriage window at speed.
Anyone else recall this?
EDIT
It's Haselour Troughs near Tamworth I'm thinking about
as pictured here
90xxx WD Austerity 2-8-0 | 90243 1960s Tamworth
Austerity 2-8-0 No.90243 from Royston shed with a Down mixed Class H freight passing over Haselour water troughs north of Tamworth, heading for Birmingham, probably to Washwood Heath yard. In the background is Syerscote Lane bridge and on the right, the water tank supplying the troughs.
www.rail-online.co.uk
Which I then found on a thread I'd contributed to but completely forgotten about - as per here
British Rail Water Abstraction
Hi all, I've just been reading a 1970 Water Board report, which makes reference to BR's water abstractions - ie: "British Rail have various isolated abstractions but these are of little or no consequence and are slowly being abandoned." Any idea what these would be for?
www.railforums.co.uk
with an amusing contribution from a driver who posted this about the site (explaining that the tank / tower had indeed long gone)
posted by @O L Leigh in 2020
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norbitonflyer
Established Member
Famously, Altnabreac's has survived. probably because the location is so remote the cost of removing it is more than the scrap value of the tank
Buzby
Established Member
I’m sure I saw one on the south side of Glenfinnan station recently (and still used!) large tank filled by a local stream aparrently.
Ashley Hill
Established Member
Do the Altnabreac Duo claim ownership of it?
Mcr Warrior
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Noting the OP's user name and avatar, what's the one-time water tower next to Settle station now being used as? = Converted into a private residence? Believe it was one of eight such water towers on the Settle and Carlisle line, so where were/are the other seven?
vic-rijrode
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There's a great one at Haltwhistle on the Newcastle to Carlisle line...
alf
On Moderation
High level station Savernake & a signal box.
izvor
Member
Huge one at Margate.
It has been converted into a residence. There was a TV programme about it some years ago. At the time the owner was the Chairman of the Friends of the Settle-Carlisle Line. He also had a wooden shed that had been identified as a former navvies hut!
According to "Stations and Structures and of the Settle and Carlisle Railway" (Anderson and Fox, 1986, OPC) there were 'Tank Houses' or 'Water Tanks' at Settle, Blea Moor, Hawes Junction/Garsdale - there were two in this area, one of which fed the adjacent water troughs, Kirkby Stephen, Appleby, Lazonby and Petteril Goods - the latter has a reference to 'static water tanks' so may have been ground level rather than a tower as such.
thesignalman
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It is worth bearing in mind that when a station is a listed building, that includes all ancilliary buildings such as signal boxes and water towers. This may explain the survival of some of those mentoned.
John
John
WesternLancer
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If this is indeed a first post by the former Chair of the Friends of the Settle and Carlisle line - I am sure a warm welcome is extended here!
And if it's someone else, a warm welcome is extended anyway!
I've just received my latest Friends magazine today.
Belperpete
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Wasn't the brick tower at St Pancras moved as part of the HS1 works? I have always thought it surprisingly small for a major terminus.
WesternLancer
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I think you are correct - it was moved. Listed structure IIRC.
Bear in mind it was serving a turn-round point rather than a full engine-shed - the latter was at Kentish Town, as you probably know.
Rivercider
Member
I am not a water tower enthusiast either, but do appreciate old bits of railway architecture.
The water tower at Taunton East Yard is quite well known, and appears in the background of many photos taken at Taunton.
The water tower is Grade II listed as it sits on top of two lime kilns adjacent to Firepool Lock on the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal.
The water tower is seen far right in this view. L103 (55035) is on driver training duty, 45012 is working 7B54 14.00 Bristol East Dept to Meldon Quarry ballast empties. The East Yard pilot is 08955. 9/7/85
Hopefully the image appears OK, this is my first attempt on this forum.
cheers
The water tower at Taunton East Yard is quite well known, and appears in the background of many photos taken at Taunton.
The water tower is Grade II listed as it sits on top of two lime kilns adjacent to Firepool Lock on the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal.
The water tower is seen far right in this view. L103 (55035) is on driver training duty, 45012 is working 7B54 14.00 Bristol East Dept to Meldon Quarry ballast empties. The East Yard pilot is 08955. 9/7/85
Hopefully the image appears OK, this is my first attempt on this forum.
cheers
WesternLancer
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Image looks great. A lot to note in the picture
Rivercider
Member
The water tank at Taunton looks quite different from the other side.
It is beside Firepool Lock on the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal,
The remains of the lime kilns can be seen at the base of the water tank. The faded advertising on the tank is for Van Heusen, for Taunton was advertised as the Home of Van Heusen shirts. 8/1/2020
cheers
It is beside Firepool Lock on the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal,
The remains of the lime kilns can be seen at the base of the water tank. The faded advertising on the tank is for Van Heusen, for Taunton was advertised as the Home of Van Heusen shirts. 8/1/2020cheers
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WesternLancer
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Sad to see cluster building in such poor condition.
But helpful to see that elevation so clearly
Rivercider
Member
One interesting water tank that survived until the early 1980s included part of Brunel's Atmospheric Railway hiding in plain sight.
I had not realised that the water tank at the west end of Exeter St Davids was on top of the first of the atmospheric pumping stations
of the South Devon Railway. In later years I believe the building was used to produce the gas for the GWR restaurant cars.
Here is a not very good photo from 1980 with the building and water tank in the right background,
The Exeter City Basin to Ripple Lane tanks pass behind 31138 and 31123, 24/7/80
cheers
cheers
I had not realised that the water tank at the west end of Exeter St Davids was on top of the first of the atmospheric pumping stations
of the South Devon Railway. In later years I believe the building was used to produce the gas for the GWR restaurant cars.
Here is a not very good photo from 1980 with the building and water tank in the right background,
The Exeter City Basin to Ripple Lane tanks pass behind 31138 and 31123, 24/7/80
cheers
cheers
WesternLancer
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That very interesting to see. Shame to have lost that water tower given what you say
Ashley Hill
Established Member
The excuse for knocking it down was that this was where the panel box was going to go. In reality, it didn’t. Some believe (with no obvious proof) that it was just used as an excuse to demolish it.
Another view, from the 'Geograph' website - click on picture to go to the original on that site:
May 1976:
Between Duties at St David's
© Copyright Martin Addison and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
EDIT: Entering the search term Railways+Water+Tank on the Geograph website resulted in some 800+ pictures!!
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