GL5 Forum

Hi guys,

Recently I did buy some books about The Great Western Railway. Many pictures show a large vertical cylinder in the back of the tender behind the engine.

Can anyone tell me for what purpose this is used. I suppose it has to do with water, but why is it shaped like this?

I hope some answer to read here.

Frits

Hi Frits

I guess you are refering to the water scoop in the tender that allows water to be collected from troughs in the four foot. The fireman wound a handle that lowered a scoop. Water was forced up the scoop as the engine would have been travelling at speed. This was then forced up a large open ended pipe into the rear of the water space in the tender. The dome at the back of the tender deflected the water downwards.

Peter

Hello Peter,

Now it fully clear to me. Thank you.
Lucky for me there is no room for a trough in my layout so I can skip the skoop.
I stick to the old watertower.

Frits