Railway water towers

[Taunton]

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 at Taunton was slowly built up in various adaptations through the 1800s, not even ending with placing the tank on top as more continued afterwards. It used to have a steam pumping engine, with a fireman supplied by Taunton shed, but was converted to an automatic electric pump some time around 1930 I believe.

It supplied all the water columns around the station and shed, with a very substantial water head (someone once said the flushing toilets in the station, too), and pipework buried well below ground level as frost protection, a right nuisance when defects developed. It pumped water up from the adjacent Bridgwater Canal, which the railway bought in early times, not so much for the transport as for the water. The same canal supplied the water troughs out at Creech St Michael, where the two ran alongside and there was a comparable but smaller pumping station, now a house.

 

[zwk500]

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.

I think you are correct - it was moved. Listed structure IIRC.

Correct, the Water tower from St Pancras was moved in to the grounds of St Pancras Cruising Club, and it now serves as their clubhouse. I've been up on the roof of the tank in it's new position.

Separately, I think Northampton may have clung onto one at the north end of King's Heath Depot (although I expect it's not in serviceable condition!).

 

[WesternLancer]

Correct, the Water tower from St Pancras was moved in to the grounds of St Pancras Cruising Club, and it now serves as their clubhouse. I've been up on the roof of the tank in it's new position.

Separately, I think Northampton may have clung onto one at the north end of King's Heath Depot (although I expect it's not in serviceable condition!).

Thanks for the added info

 

[Merle Haggard]

/snip

Separately, I think Northampton may have clung onto one at the north end of King's Heath Depot (although I expect it's not in serviceable condition!).

Another recent survivor at Northampton was one of LNWR design just North of Spencer Bridge on the Up side - i.e.,just about apposite the Academy. It was a small circular tank on a column presumably originally for locos. on trains waiting to leave the Up Side sidings.
Situated between several wired roads and obviously made of steel it was regarded as too big a challenge to rescue, but this did indeed happen recently - though I'm not sure where it went.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

Anybody here a railway water tower enthusiast, like me?

Not specifically, but...

I am not a water tower enthusiast either, but do appreciate old bits of railway architecture.

Ditto!

My main interest from my old day job revolves around Waterloo, station layout, structures, etc from the earliest days through LSWR/SR etc. until today. But during my commuting days I use to see what appeared to be the brick structure of a water tower (without the steel tank atop) on the Down side, London end of Woking. It seemed strange as it was at a higher ground level than the track/station.

Have over the years been researching same, and it did have a water tank on top, although when this was removed I have no idea. What it served I can only guess, but on the same higher level there were a row of stables in one old building (long gone), which I remember seeing, but never took any pics of, but also in Victorian times there was a single road loco shed (and a turntable in later years) complete with a water column at the country end of the shed (East end of the station), not forgetting the other water columns at the ends of the main line platforms which lasted until 1967 I presume?

A few images attached with dated maps that I have highlighted (in red) the approximate position of the loco shed, and (blue) the position of the water tower on one map. The water tank is clearly marked as such on one map attached.

I believe the loco shed was demolished early 1900s, as I have images which show LSWR liveried carriages stabled on the 'shed road' in the open, with no sign of the shed!

On the 1960's map the location occupied by the railway cottages (which I remember well) is the site of todays ASC.

Any further info appreciated.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

The Water Tower at Cardiff Central Station is a Grade II listed building located next to the western end of Platform 0, overlooking the River Taff.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_Tower,_Cardiff_Central_Station This one hasn't been used for many years and almost certainly won't be used again.

The Water Tower above the Coaling Stage at Didcot Railway Centre has recently been restored and is, I think, able to be used, although in practice it isn't.

 

[Man of Kent]

The (presumably LCDR) water tower at Faversham is listed and was converted to a residence around 40 years ago. By coincidence, it is for sale at the moment - there are photos, including from the tank, on the agent's website

FPS1003009 (MRI) - Foundation

FPS1003009 (MRI). Standing proudly on the corner of Station Road, this remarkable Grade II Listed Victorian Water Tower is one of Faversham’s most distinctive buildings. Originally constructed around 1858 to serve the London, Chatham & Dover Railway, this architectural gem has been transformed...

foundationestateagents.co.uk

 

[SargeNpton]

Picture shows a water tower a few hundred yards north of Northampton station, as seen back in 2021.

It's a bit rusty and I'd assumed that it had long-since fallen out of use, however one of the pipes that leads to it looked quite new at the time.

I can only recall seeing it being used once, back in the late 60s, when it was used to top up the cooling water in the Class 08 shunter.

 

[Merle Haggard]

Picture shows a water tower a few hundred yards north of Northampton station, as seen back in 2021.

It's a bit rusty and I'd assumed that it had long-since fallen out of use, however one of the pipes that leads to it looked quite new at the time.

I can only recall seeing it being used once, back in the late 60s, when it was used to top up the cooling water in the Class 08 shunter.

That'a the one I mentioned in my post (no 34). Traffic cone was there for years.

I don't know where it is now, but it's definitely gone for preservation. Removed probably a year or so ago when there was a blockade and isolation. Qite an achievement.

Someone I know slightly through the Manchester Loco Society was very proud of making it happen so possibly now in that area.

 

[zwk500]

Whereas I can confirm that as of this morning, the tower at the north end of King's Heath Depot (near Mill Lane Jn): https://maps.app.goo.gl/FozmGHJfY9k1icFb6 is still very much there. Although I doubt it holds much more than the odd puddle any more!

 

[Merle Haggard]

Checking through this thread the water-tower and softening plant at Castlethorpe hasn't been mentioned. It served the troughs and is said to be listed.

Tommy Tomalin, a very adventurous Northampton Railway photographer, took photos from the top of the tower and the results were available through Colour-raii. Like some of his other photos, taken for instance from the top of signals or coaling-towers, they give me vertigo just looking at them ...

There's a public footpath that runs from the site of Castlethorpe station down past the tower, and I recently used it to have a closer look. Sadly it's in a very rusted state and vandalised with graffiti

 

[Meole]

Kirkby Stephen East has a NER style rebuild using parts from demolished structures.

 

[Belperpete]

Not specifically, but...

Ditto!

My main interest from my old day job revolves around Waterloo, station layout, structures, etc from the earliest days through LSWR/SR etc. until today. But during my commuting days I use to see what appeared to be the brick structure of a water tower (without the steel tank atop) on the Down side, London end of Woking. It seemed strange as it was at a higher ground level than the track/station.

Have over the years been researching same, and it did have a water tank on top, although when this was removed I have no idea. What it served I can only guess, but on the same higher level there were a row of stables in one old building (long gone), which I remember seeing, but never took any pics of, but also in Victorian times there was a single road loco shed (and a turntable in later years) complete with a water column at the country end of the shed (East end of the station), not forgetting the other water columns at the ends of the main line platforms which lasted until 1967 I presume?

A few images attached with dated maps that I have highlighted (in red) the approximate position of the loco shed, and (blue) the position of the water tower on one map. The water tank is clearly marked as such on one map attached.

I believe the loco shed was demolished early 1900s, as I have images which show LSWR liveried carriages stabled on the 'shed road' in the open, with no sign of the shed!

On the 1960's map the location occupied by the railway cottages (which I remember well) is the site of todays ASC.

Any further info appreciated.

In the days before mains water was readily available, I suspect that a water tower may have been needed for other than just watering locos. A stables would have needed water for the horses to drink, washing and grooming, for example.

The tower base may have been kept after the tank was removed if it contained something that needed to be kept. A water pump being the first thought. But it might just be that it acted as the distribution point for various water feeds around the station.

 

[Merle Haggard]

In the days before mains water was readily available, I suspect that a water tower may have been needed for other than just watering locos. A stables would have needed water for the horses to drink, washing and grooming, for example

(snipped)

Possibly fire hydrants as well.

On the ex LNWR there were large numbers of cast-iron signs of standard outline showing the locations of 'FH' (fire hydrant) and 'SV' presumably 'stop valve'. One at Crewe station near the Hotel was worded STOP VALVE HYDRAULIC LIFT IN BASEMENT. Hydraulic operation of wagon turntables, capstans as well as lifts seemed to be common at ex LNWR stations and 'hydraulic' in those days meant 'water pressure'. I wonder if the water pressure was simply from the water tower itself. There may have been water tanks on the top of roofs, though, to provide greater pressure.

 

[Rescars]

(snipped)

Possibly fire hydrants as well.

On the ex LNWR there were large numbers of cast-iron signs of standard outline showing the locations of 'FH' (fire hydrant) and 'SV' presumably 'stop valve'. One at Crewe station near the Hotel was worded STOP VALVE HYDRAULIC LIFT IN BASEMENT. Hydraulic operation of wagon turntables, capstans as well as lifts seemed to be common at ex LNWR stations and 'hydraulic' in those days meant 'water pressure'. I wonder if the water pressure was simply from the water tower itself. There may have been water tanks on the top of roofs, though, to provide greater pressure.

There were hydraulic power companies in a number of UK cities with a network of high pressure mains, providing a central source of power for cranes, lifts, capstans and all sorts of machinery. As an example, the London Hydraulic Power Co survived until 1977. Others may know if the railway companies availed themselves of these companies' services, or if they made separate internal arrangements. The London mains pressure was 800 psi, which I guess was rather more than that which could be delivered from a water tower.