Gents...
While working on my layout this morning, I determined there was a
suitable location on the mainline for a famous NYC track pan. "What da
heck is a track pan?" you ask. Well, unlike the dirty brown neighbor to
the south, the NYC was quite innovative and always trying out new ideas
to improve efficiency. Going longer distances between fueling stops was
one idea that worked once tenders were built with larger coal areas and
smaller water areas. Smaller water capacity was fine since the tenders
had bottom-mounted water scoops that could be lowered down and scoop up
water from containers located between the rails. All this could be done
at high speeds and so schedules were not adversely impacted. These
containers were called "track pans" and held water and frequently had a
water tower nearby as well as a crew shed for the winter.
"Huh?" you say, "whatza connection between winter and a crew shed?"
Well, in the winter the track pans got rather cold. And water has a
tendency to get quite hard at freezing temperatures. And when the water
scoop on the tender collides with the hard frozen water, it is not a
happy scene. The solution was to have crews of men nearby in order to
attack the ice with iron picks just before the train arrived. With the
broken ice in small chunks, the scooping technique worked and the train
sped on it's way without delay -- and the passengers never knew the
difference. But then, the men got cold. What to do? Small crew sheds
were built to provide a wind-free place in which to huddle. Body heat
or a small stove kept the men from getting hard like the water. At
least until the next train came along when vigorous activity with hand
tools kept them warm. Since these water pans were used for passenger
service only, the trains were scheduled and folks knew pretty much when
they had to go picking.
After doing a bit of research, I found a book that stated these pans
were 1800 feet long. At least one particular pan was that length. So
how long is that in S scale? Using my cheapo calculator, it figures out
to be 28 feet long. Whoa....hold on there.....I don't have THAT much
room. So mine are going to be about three feet long. Talk about
selective compression. My pans will be 89% compressed. Good thing I am
not a rivet counter. But it will look better than way. Water pans on
curves are just not correct -- I don't think.
Anyway, hoped you enjoyed this little bit of modeling trivia. Got any
of yours to share?
Cheers...Ed L.
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