Steam & Excursion > C&TSRR = Lava Tank

I got this video after the train went by. It was to windy when the train was there so after lunch I got this look.

Roger Hogan
Chama, NM
Train Stuff

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Roger very interesting drone filming of the Lave Tank.  You gave us a real eduction on this one.


Chris

Lava Tank burned around 1971-2.  It was about 2/3 full of water at the time and burned down to the water line.  The D&RGW tank inAntonito was still standing, so it was dismantled, hauled to Lava and re-assembled. A small steel tank was placed inside the wooden tank.  In the video you can see the roof, which was hauled to Lava in one piece, was installed incorrectly.  The hatch that allows access to the interior of the tank lines up with the ladder to the ground.  In Roger's video  you can see the hatch.  If the ladder was installed, its base would be squarely across the track.

The pumphouse for Lava is a good half a mile away, off the edge of the mesa and down along the Rio de Los Pinos River, several hundres feet below.  It had a Fairbanks-Morse gas engine to lift the water up to the tank.  This pump was still operational in 1970 when the C&TS came into existance.  Unfortunately, after the new tank was installed, the pump was allowed to freeze and was broken.  The F-M engine was saved and restored to operation by an antique farm equipment group in the San Luis Valley.

Mudrock Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Roger very interesting drone filming of the Lave
> Tank.  You gave us a real eduction on this one.
>
>
> Chris


Glad we could help your learning curve.

 

Roger Hogan
Chama, NM
Train Stuff

Earlk Wrote:
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> Lava Tank burned around 1971-2.  It was about 2/3
> full of water at the time and burned down to the
> water line.  The D&RGW tank inAntonito was still
> standing, so it was dismantled, hauled to Lava and
> re-assembled. A small steel tank was placed inside
> the wooden tank.  In the video you can see the
> roof, which was hauled to Lava in one piece, was
> installed incorrectly.  The hatch that allows
> access to the interior of the tank lines up with
> the ladder to the ground.  In Roger's video  you
> can see the hatch.  If the ladder was installed,
> its base would be squarely across the track.
>
> The pumphouse for Lava is a good half a mile away,
> off the edge of the mesa and down along the Rio de
> Los Pinos River, several hundres feet below.  It
> had a Fairbanks-Morse gas engine to lift the water
> up to the tank.  This pump was still operational
> in 1970 when the C&TS came into existance. 
> Unfortunately, after the new tank was installed,
> the pump was allowed to freeze and was broken. 
> The F-M engine was saved and restored to operation
> by an antique farm equipment group in the San Luis
> Valley.

Earl to the rescue again. Thank you Mr. Earl.

Roger Hogan
Chama, NM
Train Stuff

The tank needs some major attention. The bands should have nail support since there is no pressure from the missing inside water. The space between the internal metal tank and walls of the wooden tub should be filled with redwood sawdust,  This would supply internal pressure to the wood tub and give it weight so the winter winds do not keep shaking the empty tub.  All the movement from wind can do continuous damage.  With internal weight the tub will last much longer.  I believe next year project of the Friends is to get the water supply line in service and pump water up to the tank again for use by #315, #168 and other small engines with small tenders.

That sounds like a good idea IMHO.

Roger Hogan
Chama, NM
Train Stuff