Railroad Forums
Moderator: Otto Vondrak
SST wrote:I would say that this tower was not a water tower. There is one doorway and two window frames in the structure. The wood framing is still intact. Could it have been a conversion?My posse of fellow LV fans and I explored an LV water tower base in Richford, NY last year. It had doors and windows, too. With that being said, I am open to any input to determine the history of the water tower base at Tifft.
pumpers wrote:Looking on http://www.historicaerials.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;, it goes back before their first picture (1958).Yes, the pdf comes thru just fine. Interesting to note the draftsman didn't bother to populate the yards - the wide gaps are just noted as "full of tracks" - ha! So it's a water tower. ...sigh... I was hoping for 'castle'
I think I found it on an old Sanborn map (attached) from the 1940-50 time frame. It is just north (left in the map) of the old Tifft Rd, about 400-500 ft north of the new Tifft Rd, matching the current location. (attached) Also seems to southwest of an LV "main" track and northeast of some LV yard tracks. Labelled "100,000 gal RR W Tk, Wood Tk Elevd 30' on Conc. Tower" So it sounds like a railroad water tank allright. Doesn't say LV but given it is between LV tracks, I would assume LV.
Let me know if the pdf comes thru OK. Also, note the "L" of the old Tifft St in the map - you can make it out in the color photo CP Smith posted, with the tank in the location shown on the map.
Maybe the "windows" were just there for "dressing up the pig", so to speak. Back when the RR had money to spend. (or a later conversion as also noted).
pumpers wrote:The map also has a "W P" on the RoW of the old Tifft St, 16' on one side and 6' on the other. I'm guessing it is a "Water Pipe" (the maps were made for fire insurance purposes). That could be how the tank was fed.Actually a 16" diameter main with a 6" spur.