Rolie got it right. It is a tie and track sprinkler. SP experimented and then patented a track sprinkler system to keep down dust from passenger trains operated in desert locations. Note steam line for passenger service in photo. It sprayed water from the tender onto the roadbed for a distance of three and a half feet to either side. Signal flags placed along the right-of-way alerted engine crews to places needing spraying. Later this tie and track sprinkler was applied to tenders operated in wooded districts for prevention of fire.
Above info can be found on pg. 159 of "Southern Pacific Steam Pictorial, Vol. 2" by Guy Dunscomb, Donald K. Dunscomb & Robert A Pecotich, and the tender information in the book is provided by Arnold Menke. Lee Johnson On Jul 10, 2012, at 10:46 AM, Rollain Mercier wrote: > and he notes - > > I believe it's a delivery pipe for spraying water on the roadbed to keep the > desert dust down. Notice the pipe connection and the spray nozzles pointing > at the rails. A poling pole would be made of wood and would be hanging on the > tender side. This gizmo is attached by brackets to the tender frame. If I > recall correctly Santa Fe outfitted some of their locos with similar fittings. > > Raleigh in Sunneigh Maineigh... > > > > At 01:27 PM 7/10/2012, [email protected] wrote: >> Probably was a "pole" for switching. Very dangerous to use, was eventually >> outlawed. Note that "older" cars and tenders also had round indented >> sockets on their corners, for the pole. Probably on loco fronts as well. >> >> Jim Lyle >> >> In a message dated 7/10/2012 1:23:08 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, >> [email protected] writes: > >> Hi: >> >> I think that was a pole for tight switching moves. >> >> >> >> William E. Laffan | Senior Associate Attorney >> >> >> Rusty, >> >> Noticed that behind the lead trucks is a tube with slots on each side. Do >> you have any idea what it was used for, or is this a subect for the SP >> Convention? >> >> Bill >> >> --- On Sun, 7/8/12, j.rustermier <[email protected] > wrote: >> >> >> From: j.rustermier <[email protected] > >> Subject: {S-Scale List} SP tender photo link >> To: [email protected] >> Date: Sunday, July 8, 2012, 4:35 PM >> >> >> >> the correct link to a photo, I think is: >> >> http://espee.railfan.net/sp_steam_mk-02.html >> >> I'll never figure out this internet thing. >> Rusty >> >> > >
