Pumping water for the railroad

[Wayne]

I think this may be the beat old photo of a windmill pumping for the railroad. I'm thinking Railroad Eclipse.

Chicago Rock Island & Pacific Ry passenger train in Lake Park, IA 1910..jpg

[PaulV]

That's a great photo Wayne!

[CTull]

Cool picture Wayne, thanks for sharing. Several years ago, I heard that after the railroad came through, towns popped up every 7 miles or so due to the old steam engines need for water. That makes me think there would have been many locations across the country where ground water was not available, the railroad would have drilled wells and set up these windmills for their water needs.

[Wayne]

A steam train could go 25-30 miles between water stops. A lot of the windmills weren't in towns, they were just water stops. While riding a rails to trails close to Caprock Canyon State Park close to Quitague Texas I came across where an old windmill had stood beside the railroad tracks. No signs that anything else was ever there. Your probably right that if there was water, people would come. Especially with the train stopping.

[CTull]

A steam train could go 25-30 miles between water stops.

That makes more sense. When I was told a steam engine needed to fill their water tank every 7 miles or so, I thought that sounded short, but who was I to argue. Thanks Wayne

[Wayne]

I love the old steam engines and have done a lot of reading about them. Thanks for the kind words. After reading about the windmills along the railroad it was pretty exciting when I found that spot where one had set. Nothing left but the concret where the legs were anchored and the six inch drop pipe. The spot is probably 20-25 miles from the nearest town.

[sandhillmills]

Here in Northeast Colorado, when the railroad came through in 1887. the townsites were layed out every 9-10 miles. That was as far as the locos could safely go without a water stop. At least one railroad Eclipse off this rail line is now at Pioneer Village. There is an interesting story of a water stop about 10 miles east of Sterling,Colo. water was deeper there and a windmill could not pump enough. A large hit and miss engine and pump was set up as a replacement. The well pumped a lot of sand with the water. the site only had the well and small building for operators. One morning the operator came to work and all that remained was a large hole, with nothing showing. this happened around 1900 and they had to move to an adjacent site and start over. Railroading across the sandhills was not easy.

[mtblah]

Ron , thanks for sharing !

[Wayne]

WOW!

[Ron Stauffer]

A little more info on this part of the story.

At least one railroad Eclipse off this rail line is now at Pioneer Village

T Lindsay Baker in the gazette notes this. Right side mid page. The Pioneer Village RR Eclipse was sourced out of Agate CO.

The current condition of the Eclipse at Pioneer Village.

I do enough work in this part of the state to have contacts. Here is the info I could glean: the current rail lines are on the original steam lines paralleling I70 , the well at Agate is still there and constructed like the one at Greensburg KS (large diameter and spiral staircase) and the water tank at Pioneer Village is not from Agate

IMG_20241206_204923.jpg

.

IMG_20241206_204923.jpg

Rockhounders dont be fooled by the name of Agate for the town. It was not named for it's non exustent agates. It got its town name for "a gate" at the railroad siding to load cattle.

Ron Stauffer
Montrose CO