Flat top water tanks

[Mike McKenzie]

I'm building the PBL water tank and because I can't leave well enough alone I plan to give it a flat C&S style roof. I model a freelance D&RGW/C&S line so it will be a bit of a hybrid tank.

Have found a lot of resources here on the blog. The standard 16 x 24 water tank plans in the files section has a cut list for the roof lumber. I saved and printed the Gazette article on the Jefferson tank and found some specs for the roof on the French Gulch tank. All this stuff will be helpful.

What I'm looking for are photos from above of the flat roof. Understandably, prototype photos from a higher vantage are going to be rare if they exist at all. I have most of the C&S books if someone could point me to a good image. Model photos of a flat roof tank would be most helpful as well.

Not a-feared to make it up as I go but would like to come somewhat close to actuality. Was thinking of painting the tank as heavily weathered mineral red/brown but would entertain options. Have not yet made up a freelance color scheme for depots, tanks, etc.

Thanks,
Mike

[Jim Courtney]

You're asking a hard question, Mike.

The only birds-eye view of a flat roofed C&S tank that I recall is this one at Dome Rock, from the 'teens or early twenties:




Not much help, I'm afraid. Looks like the roof is simply covered by heavy planks. Photo's of the tanks at Dickey and Jefferson, suggest that the seams of the heavy planks were covered by smaller battens:

[Mike McKenzie]

So, that second photo is Dickey? The planks and battens appear to be aligned front to back with the ends trimmed to match the tank, overhanging about a foot. Dimensions for the lumber are found in the plans in he files section. There would have been an access hatch and I imagine that could go anywhere.

I like the skinny gallows but will probably us the one supplied with the PBL kit, I got the animated spout accessory and not yet sure how customizable that is. The line for the valve seems to go in through the roof on this and other photos so that's something to figure out.



Top tank is the PBL plastic, bottom is an On3 Crystal River tank I'm building for a friend. Thought it would be interesting to build them concurrently.

Thanks,
Mike

[Ken Martin]

Here is tank I built some years ago for the Sacramento club. It is a HO Atlas tank on an under frame I built from measurements of Baker tank. The roof is imagineered. Also an Alpine coal dock and Boreas Section house from Wild West.

Ken Martin

[Todd Hackett]

This is the only overhead view of a flat top tank I can find in my collection, and it's not very clear. It's Morrison in the '20s.

[Jim Courtney]

The standard 50,000 gal water tank plans in the "Files" section includes a "bill of materials". The roof shows lots of 3x10 planks of 16' to 26' in length, likely the major roof materials. Lots of 1x6 boards are also listed -- were these the battens?  

Also note the use of 16' lengths of quarter round stock. The plans show the quarter round at the top circumference of the tank, covering the seam where the flat roof attaches to the tank, creating a circular eave.

Perhaps Jeff can show us his interpretation of the Jefferson tank's roof, from the point of view of an HO scale pigeon, flying overhead . . .

[Chris Walker]

There was a colour slide taken at Forks Creek from above that shows the Tank top but my copy was scarfed from here or the blog and is resolution-ed out for detail.  Someone may have a better copy of that slide.

[Todd A Ferguson]

Mike, I have a a ta Baker tank kit here if it would help I can post the plans and any part photos that might help from that kit.

Todd

[Mike McKenzie]

Plans would be great Todd, though there aren't too many ways to go wrong. Would be a big help anyway!

Thanks,
Mike

[Todd A Ferguson]

Mike, I’ll try to get them out today.  Doug Heitkamp posted his plans for the Forks Creek tank that were published in Outdoor Railroader or Finescale Railroader I believe.  Look for the thread on Forks Creek or Forks Creek Tank.  Those plans may help too...

Todd 

Sent from my iPhone

On Feb 13, 2021, at 2:09 AM, Mike McKenzie [via C&Sng Discussion Forum] <[hidden email]> wrote:

 Plans would be great Todd, though there aren't too many ways to go wrong. Would be a big help anyway!

Thanks,
Mike

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[Todd A Ferguson]

Baker Tank full

[Todd A Ferguson]

Baker Tank full 2

[Todd A Ferguson]

Baker Tank roof with valve pivot.
Don’t appear to be any battens that cover any board joints or gaps.  The boards could be tongue and groove or the gaps just left.  If water leaks in it is a water tank after all, right.

[Todd A Ferguson]

Baker Tank roof 2

[Todd A Ferguson]

[Todd A Ferguson]

[Todd A Ferguson]

Only mention of roof hatch in the instructions.  

There is no drawing of the tank only the outline of the laser cut parts.  I can recommend Doug’s Forks Creek tank drawing as it is very well done.

If anyone is interested in this kit I will sell it for what I paid plus $5 postage to the continental US.

[Todd A Ferguson]

http://c-sng-discussion-forum.41377.n7.nabble.com/Forks-Creek-water-tank-td3311.html#a3322

Doug’s drawing...

[Mike McKenzie]

Thanks Todd, these drawings/photos along with Doug's Forks Creek drawing will be very helpful and provide much needed guidance and clues as to common practice. I'll post photos of my interpretation.

Thanks again,
Mike

[Keith Hayes]

Mike, here are my two models.

Scratch built on the left and Banta model on the right. I would love to rid myself of the glue spots, but not today.

I have always been surprised that the C&S had so many flat roof tanks given the propensity fir deep snow in the area the line traverses. But then this was a trend that gained momentum as the line edged towards abandonment. I am guessing that there are two layers of planks at 90 degrees.

Next up will be a Crystal River tank modified to become the Solitude tank. The one on the left started out as Idaho Springs and ended up being Two Mile/ Birdseye. The Banta model is Baker's Tank and will be installed at Kokomo. I have the cast columns available on the Shapeways site if you want to make a UP prototype base.