Water crane

Water crane in Kladno, Czech Republic

Water crane in Stützerbach, Germany

A water crane or standpipe is a device used for delivering a large volume of water into the tank or tender of a steam locomotive. As a steam locomotive consumes large quantities of water, water cranes were a vital part of railway station equipment, often situated at the end of a platform, so that water could be refilled during a stop at the station.

The water crane consists in general of an upright steel pipe of large diameter with another flexible pipe connected to its upper end so as it forms a rotating arm, sometimes with a funnel. Such a device, usually supplied from a special water tower or reservoir owned by the railway company, was able to deliver from one up to ten cubic metres of water per minute.

See also

• Water stop
• Track pan (US) (water trough (UK))