Re: C&S "One Bent / Two Pier" Tank?

Posted by Jim Courtney on
URL: http://c-sng-discussion-forum.254.s1.nabble.com/C-S-Water-Tank-at-Blackhawk-and-the-Three-Bent-Water-Tanks-tp11993p12089.html

Okay, Chris, I see where you're going now.

When I looked at the Google street view, I saw only two concrete piers on rock. Since the one closest to the asphalt pavement seems wider than the one behind, I took that to be the center pier. If so, it would seem a bent would be necessary in front of the near pier () to support the front of the tank (I assumed the modern road to be wider than the RR right-of-way).

I see now that you read the nearest pier to be supporting the front of the tank. A third pier (or timber mud sill) may be behind the two visible piers, covered with earth that has eroded down the hill side.

Riverview tank would make a great diorama. Once the rock work and supporting piers are in place and level, two different tanks for two different eras could be interchangeable. (ie 1902 and 1910-1920).

I'm trying to figure out how the tank sat on the piers. I enlarged Derrell's posted photo of 1902 and it helps a bit:






Maybe I'm cross-eyed, but I see another layer of structure above the concrete pier. I'm trying to reconcile it with typical C&S tank construction. The closeup of Tunnel Gulch that Ken Martin posted (as linked up thread) helps a bit:






With those details in mind, this is my read on the Riverview tank:





I'd appreciate any and all feedback from the railroaders, engineers, architects and contractors out there -- baby doctors can copy and build what they see, but don't always understand what they are seeing.

Copy and save the enlargement of Derrell's photo, upload into "Paint", then label what you think all the things are in the blurry enlargement.