A disused water gantry can be identified by its A-frame-style
supports. This is one of just two such gantries that survive along
the 60 miles of line covered by this tour; the other survivor is
just south of Halethorpe Station. Both survivors stand near streams,
and thus reveal they had supplied water to thirsty steam engines.
This gantry does not appear in a 1927 aerial but does by 1938 (left)
so, ironically, it dates to around the time the catenary was added.
Prior to the 1930s electrification of the line, similar gantries
also held semaphore-style signals. After steam engines were retired,
this gantry was repurposed to hold signals.
The standard PRR steam locomotive water station included a wooden
water tank standing high on four concrete pads similar to those
supporting the A frame. In this fuzzy 1938 aerial, the object at
bottom right might be the tank. Since learning this, I have not
been to the site to look for its concrete support pads. Such pads
survive along the Pope's Creek line.
Link:
this gantry ~1950
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