Steam & Excursion > Sharing The Water Spout Was Common In This Canyon Setting!

There were plenty of steam powered trains going both east and west through the Feather River Canyon in September 1939 when Guy Dunscomb captured this fine image. Western Pacific's age of steam was in full swing.

The water spout at one end of the Keddie, California yard was a busy place on this fine sunny day as WP 2-8-8-2 #259 waits with her freight train for her turn at the spout. A passenger train has also stopped and is taking advantage of the fresh water from the spout before proceeding on her way.

Soon they would both have their fill of the water from this spout and would be on their way. The Canyon would again fall quiet, that is, until the next trains arrived and eased up to the spout for a drink of water.

Martin



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/21/17 03:47 by LoggerHogger.

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A beautiful image of a once common sight.
Bob

Question: Wasn't it common where there was water to have two water spouts? And, that they would be separated quite a bit? Of course that is based on my experience on the T&P. So, maybe other roads were different.

Cool shot! Considering the two head end cars, single coach and the Tourist Sleeper, I wonder if the passenger train is a Feather River Express.

Z

tomstp Wrote:
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> Question: Wasn't it common where there was water
> to have two water spouts? And, that they would be
> separated quite a bit? Of course that is based on
> my experience on the T&P. So, maybe other roads
> were different.


On the East end of Keddie is where the roundhouse and turntable are located. It also has a water tank and water spout. Normally east bout freights would use the east end water spout, but what you don't see in the photo is the depot. The engine is taking advantage of getting water while stopped at the depot to exchange passengers.

WP has always been known for getting the most use possible out of a piece of equipment.
So one water crane to serve two tracks is nothing unusual.