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Adding local short description: "Device for providing a locomotive with water", overriding Wikidata description "tower to fill a locomotive"
 
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{{Short description|Device for providing a locomotive with water}}
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A '''water crane''' or '''standpipe''' is a device used for delivering a large volume of [[water]] into the [[Tank locomotive|tank]] or [[Tender locomotive|tender]] of a [[steam locomotive]]<ref>{{cite patent|country=US|number=709376|title=Stand-pipe for railway uses|invent1=John W. Thomas, Jr.|status=patent|gdate=1902-09-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite patent|country=US|number=847494|title=Railway stand-pipe|invent1=James F. Murphy|status=patent|gdate=1907-03-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite patent|country=US|number=958504|title=Stand-pipe for railway water-supply|invent1=Patrick Henry Knight|status=patent|gdate=1910-05-17}}</ref>. The device is sometimes also called as '''water column''' in the [[United States]]<ref>Railway and Locomotive Historical Society, Marietta, GA (2008). [http://rlhs.org/Publications/Quarterly/PDF/nl28-4.pdf "The Railroad Station Water Column."] ''Railway and Locomotive Historical Society Quarterly,'' Vol. 28, No. 4 - Vol. 29, No 1. p.6.</ref> 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 [[railway platform|platform]], so that water could be refilled during a stop at the station.
[[Image:Wasserkran Bf Stützerbach.JPG|thumb|left|Water crane in [[Stützerbach]], [[Germany]]]]
[[File:Wasserkran Bf Stützerbach.JPG|thumb|right|Water crane in [[Stützerbach]], Germany]]
[[File:Signals at Horsted Keynes station - geograph.org.uk - 1395107.jpg|thumb|[[Railway semaphore signal|Signals]] and water cranes at Horsted Keynes station on the [[Bluebell Railway]]]]
[[Image:Water crane Kladno CZ 01.jpg|thumb|right|Water crane in [[Kladno]], [[Czech Republic]]]]
[[File:Water crane Kladno CZ 01.jpg|thumb|right|Water crane in [[Kladno]], Czech Republic]]
⚫
A '''water crane''' is a device used for delivering a large volume of [[water]] into the [[Tank locomotive|tank]] or [[Tender locomotive|tender]] of a [[steam locomotive]].<ref>{{cite patent|country=US|number=709376|title=Stand-pipe for railway uses|invent1=John W. Thomas, Jr.|status=patent|gdate=1902-09-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite patent|country=US|number=847494|title=Railway stand-pipe|invent1=James F. Murphy|status=patent|gdate=1907-03-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite patent|country=US|number=958504|title=Stand-pipe for railway water-supply|invent1=Patrick Henry Knight|status=patent|gdate=1910-05-17}}</ref> The device is also called a '''water column''' in the United States and Australia.<ref>Railway and Locomotive Historical Society, Marietta, GA (2008). [http://rlhs.org/Publications/Quarterly/PDF/nl28-4.pdf "The Railroad Station Water Column."] ''Railway and Locomotive Historical Society Quarterly,'' Vol. 28, No. 4 - Vol. 29, No 1. p.6.</ref> 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 [[railway platform|platform]], so that water could be refilled during a stop at the station.


==Overview==
Generally, water cranes consist of an upright steel [[Water pipe|pipe]] about {{convert|8|to|12|in|m}} in diameter with a horizontal, pivoting pipe connected to its upper end so as to form a swinging arm<ref name=tratman1901/>. The swinging arm is usually designed to rest parallel to the rails when not in use<ref>{{cite book|last=Webb|first=Walter Loring|title=Railroad Construction, Theory and Practice|year=1917|pages=376–377|publisher=John Wiley & Sons, Inc|location=New York, New York|edition=6th}}</ref>. Water cranes may be able to deliver up to {{convert/spell|10|m3|USgal| abbr=none|case=L}} of water per minute.
Generally, water cranes consist of an upright steel [[Water pipe|pipe]] about {{convert|8|to|12|in|m}} in diameter with a horizontal, pivoting pipe connected to its upper end so as to form a swinging arm.<ref name=tratman1901/> The swinging arm is usually designed to rest parallel to the rails when not in use.<ref>{{cite book|last=Webb|first=Walter Loring|title=Railroad Construction, Theory and Practice|url=https://archive.org/details/railroadconstru08webbgoog|year=1917|pages=[https://archive.org/details/railroadconstru08webbgoog/page/n423 376]–377|publisher=John Wiley & Sons, Inc|location=New York, New York|edition=6th}}</ref> Water cranes may be able to deliver up to {{convert|10|m3|USgal| abbr=none|spell=in}} of water per minute.


==Water supply==
==Water supply==
In hilly country, natural streams can be dammed and water fed by gravity to the water crane<ref>{{cite book|last=Cleemann|first=Thomas M.|title=The Railroad Engineer's Practice|year=1880|publisher=George H. Frost, Publisher|location=New York, New York|pages=71–73|oclc=70728043}}</ref>. In flatter country this arrangement is not always possible, so water may be supplied by a tank next to the crane. Water tanks may vary in volume from {{convert|190|kL|USgal}} to greater than {{convert|757|kL|USgal}}<ref name=tratman1901/>. In some cases a well may be used to supply the water to the tank<ref>{{cite journal|last=Guppy|first=B. W.|title=A Technical Description of the British Light Railways in France|journal=Professional Memoirs of the Corps of Engineers, United States Army, and the Engineer Department at Large|date=January–December 1919|year=1919|volume=11|pages=185–216}}</ref>.
In hilly country, natural streams can be dammed and water fed by gravity to the water crane.<ref>{{cite book|last=Cleemann|first=Thomas M.|title=The Railroad Engineer's Practice|url=https://archive.org/details/railroadenginee02cleegoog|year=1880|publisher=George H. Frost, Publisher|location=New York, New York|pages=[https://archive.org/details/railroadenginee02cleegoog/page/n80 71]–73|oclc=70728043}}</ref> In flatter country this arrangement is not always possible, so water may be supplied by a tank next to the crane. Water tanks may vary in volume from {{convert|190|m3|USgal}} to greater than {{convert|757|m3|USgal}}.<ref name=tratman1901/> In some cases a well may be used to supply the water to the tank.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Guppy|first=B. W.|title=A Technical Description of the British Light Railways in France|journal=Professional Memoirs of the Corps of Engineers, United States Army, and the Engineer Department at Large|date=January–December 1919|volume=11|pages=185–216}}</ref>


Depending on the quality of the water under supply, it may need to be treated chemically to eliminate [[water hardness|hardness]] which induces scale buildup on the inside of the locomotive boiler<ref name=tratman1901>{{cite book|last=Tratman|first=Edward Ernest Russell|title=Railway Track and Track Work|year=1901|publisher=Engineering News Publishing Company|location=New York, New York|edition=2nd|chapter=Chapter 11. Water and Coaling Stations and Other Track Accessories|oclc=2030207}}</ref>. The scale builds up on heat transfer surfaces that insulate metal from the boiler water<ref>{{cite journal|last=Wrinn|first=Jim|authorlink=Jim Wrinn|title=What's in the water?|journal=Trains|date=January 2012|year=2012|month=January|page=64|publisher=Kalmbach Publishing Company|location=Waukesha, Wisconsin|issn=0041-0934|oclc=1642109}}</ref>. This causes metal to overheat or corrode and eventually fail.
Depending on the quality of the water under supply, it may need to be treated chemically to eliminate [[water hardness|hardness]] which induces scale buildup on the inside of the [[locomotive boiler]].<ref name=tratman1901>{{cite book|last=Tratman|first=Edward Ernest Russell|title=Railway Track and Track Work|url=https://archive.org/details/railwaytrackand02tratgoog|year=1901|publisher=Engineering News Publishing Company|location=New York, New York|edition=2nd|chapter=Chapter 11. Water and Coaling Stations and Other Track Accessories|oclc=2030207}}</ref> The scale which builds up on heat transfer surfaces forms a layer of insulation between the metal of the [[Firebox (steam engine)|firebox]] and the boiler water.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Wrinn|first=Jim|authorlink=Jim Wrinn|title=What's in the water?|journal=Trains|date=January 2012|page=64|publisher=Kalmbach Publishing Company|location=Waukesha, Wisconsin|issn=0041-0934|oclc=1642109}}</ref> This causes metal to overheat or corrode and eventually fail.
{{clear}}
{{clear}}

== See also ==
== See also ==
{{commonscat|Water cranes}}
{{commons category|Water cranes}}
*[[Water stop]]
*[[Water stop]]
*[[Track pan]] (US) (water trough (UK))
*[[Track pan]] (US) (water trough (UK))
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Water Crane}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Water Crane}}
[[Category:Rail infrastructure]]
[[Category:Railway buildings and structures]]
[[Category:Steam locomotive technologies]]
[[Category:Steam locomotive technologies]]

[[cs:Vodní jeřáb]]
[[de:Wasserkran (Eisenbahn)]]
[[pl:Żuraw wodny]]
[[fi:Vesiviskuri]]
[[sv:Vattenhäst]]
[[zh:水鹤]]

Latest revision as of 05:14, 26 April 2023

Water crane in Stützerbach, Germany
Signals and water cranes at Horsted Keynes station on the Bluebell Railway
Water crane in Kladno, Czech Republic

A water crane is a device used for delivering a large volume of water into the tank or tender of a steam locomotive.[1][2][3] The device is also called a water column in the United States and Australia.[4] 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.

Overview[edit]

Generally, water cranes consist of an upright steel pipe about 8 to 12 inches (0.20 to 0.30 m) in diameter with a horizontal, pivoting pipe connected to its upper end so as to form a swinging arm.[5] The swinging arm is usually designed to rest parallel to the rails when not in use.[6] Water cranes may be able to deliver up to ten cubic metres (2,600 US gallons) of water per minute.

Water supply[edit]

In hilly country, natural streams can be dammed and water fed by gravity to the water crane.[7] In flatter country this arrangement is not always possible, so water may be supplied by a tank next to the crane. Water tanks may vary in volume from 190 cubic metres (50,000 US gal) to greater than 757 cubic metres (200,000 US gal).[5] In some cases a well may be used to supply the water to the tank.[8]

Depending on the quality of the water under supply, it may need to be treated chemically to eliminate hardness which induces scale buildup on the inside of the locomotive boiler.[5] The scale which builds up on heat transfer surfaces forms a layer of insulation between the metal of the firebox and the boiler water.[9] This causes metal to overheat or corrode and eventually fail.

See also[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Water cranes.

References[edit]

  1. ^ US patent 709376, John W. Thomas, Jr., "Stand-pipe for railway uses", issued 1902-09-16 
  2. ^ US patent 847494, James F. Murphy, "Railway stand-pipe", issued 1907-03-19 
  3. ^ US patent 958504, Patrick Henry Knight, "Stand-pipe for railway water-supply", issued 1910-05-17 
  4. ^ Railway and Locomotive Historical Society, Marietta, GA (2008). "The Railroad Station Water Column." Railway and Locomotive Historical Society Quarterly, Vol. 28, No. 4 - Vol. 29, No 1. p.6.
  5. ^ a b c Tratman, Edward Ernest Russell (1901). "Chapter 11. Water and Coaling Stations and Other Track Accessories". Railway Track and Track Work (2nd ed.). New York, New York: Engineering News Publishing Company. OCLC 2030207.
  6. ^ Webb, Walter Loring (1917). Railroad Construction, Theory and Practice (6th ed.). New York, New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. pp. 376–377.
  7. ^ Cleemann, Thomas M. (1880). The Railroad Engineer's Practice. New York, New York: George H. Frost, Publisher. pp. 71–73. OCLC 70728043.
  8. ^ Guppy, B. W. (January–December 1919). "A Technical Description of the British Light Railways in France". Professional Memoirs of the Corps of Engineers, United States Army, and the Engineer Department at Large. 11: 185–216.
  9. ^ Wrinn, Jim (January 2012). "What's in the water?". Trains. Waukesha, Wisconsin: Kalmbach Publishing Company: 64. ISSN 0041-0934. OCLC 1642109.
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