Track Pans

[GreatLakesRailfan]

The good Doktor made reference to track pans on another post. I guess I'm young enough that even though I've seen numerous references to the track pans in various locations, I have very little idea what a track pan is or what the purpose of the track pans was. Anyone care to elaborate? Or better yet, share a photo or a diagram of how water moved from a track pan to a steam locomotive's water storage area?

Thanks in advance...

[SD80MAC]

I saw a really nice diagram of the operation once, I'll see if I can find it.....

Track pans were just that, long pans in between the track full of water. Steam locomotives that were equppied for it had a scoop on the bottom of the tender. When the train was over a pan, the scoop was lowered and the speed of the moving train forced the water up into the tender. Topped off the water supply without wasting time stopping to fill up at a water plug. NYC and the Pennsy were big users of track pans IIRC.

[Mark Rummel]

They've always fascinated me, too. I believe Michigan had NO track pans, but the closest were Indiana ? or Illinois. There's a GREAT picture floating around showing a steam (obviously) engine scooping water.

Supposedly a LOT of water went right past and over the tender, meaning some passengers could quickly get VERY wet...

[RailCanon]

Auctually, the NYC had several track pans on their Detroit-Chicago main, now the NS Michigan Line. The most noteable one was around Chelsea, near the present day CP Lake on the Michigan Line. The RRHX portion of Michiganrailroads.com has a writeup on track pans somewhere. I'll see if I can find it.

[RailCanon]

http://www.michiganrailroads.com/RRHX/W ... onMenu.htm
The above link has lists of all water stations in Michigan, including track pans. The text below is borrowed from the link.

In Michigan and adjacent states, track pans were only used on the Michigan Central and the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern. Placed about every forty miles, track pans were narrow pans filled with water which were mounted on ties, between the rails. The pans were almost a mile long, and were filled with softened water. Often times, track pans were located near lakes or rivers (such as the original Dexter pans, and the pans near Chelsea at Four Mile Lake [now CP-Lake on the NS Michigan line]). Track pans also required steam heating in the winter to prevent freezing. Locomotives reduced speed to about 40 mph and the fireman dropped a scoop into the pan to scoop up water. When the tender was filled, it often overflowed with vigor, and the fireman pulled up the scoop. This process allowed rapid refilling of water without stopping.

Interesting Stories about Track Pans:

Two stories about track pans picked up along the way . . .

First, since they were often the only open water in the winter wildlife would be attracted to the pans. Extricating "pan kill" from the tank and scoop was one of the unpleasant jobs involved in turning a steam locomotive. If the "pan kill" was large enough or in the right spot it could prevent the scoop from being able to raise. This would usually tear off part of the scoop and damage the end of the pan. A careless fireman could cause the same result.

Secondly, hoboes liked to ride at the rear of the tender. It was one of the more comfortable spots. Many times the tender would overflow when filling from pans, and the water would rush over the back of the tender deck, drenching the 'bo. Not all that bad when it was 95 degrees, but usually lethal when it was below 40.

For these and other reasons, track pans were not an entirely effective solution. Frequent stops for fuel and water were one of the economic pressures that allowed diesel-electrics to replace steam.

[rrboomer]

There were track pans on both mains at the top of White Oak Hill, located about half way between Lawton and Decatur.

Went there on a kindergarten field trip from Paw Paw.

[SW]

There is still a track pan next to the former train station in Dexter, with a historical sign.

[Bluewaterfan]

Here is the sign

[PAT.C]

there is a site a few miles east of edgerton,oh[mina,oh] that had track pans .there are still two water tanks there and the remaims of an interban bridge next to the main line.
i'll take you there next butler trip.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Track_pan

[PAT.C]

THERE ARE SOME PICS OF THE WATERTANKS AT MINA ON PAGE 5 OF MY PICS AT ZACK'S ALBUMS.---http://www.railroadfan.com/gallery/thum ... 332&page=5

[esprrfan]

Use to be pans at Stryker too

[GP30M4216]

Lydick, IN, was one place on the NYC Water Level main that had them, west of South Bend. There are some good photos at the NNYCRR Museum in Elkhart showing these Track Pans in use. I also have a book somewhere of a PRR T-1 in "overflow" mode, having just filled up on the track pans in Ohio. It must have been really impressive!

[SW]

There is still a track pan next to the former train station in Dexter, with a historical sign.

Bad news: I biked past the Dexter station recently (last couple of weeks) and the track pan has been removed. Looks like it happened not too long ago - there is a 25' section of it laying in a pile about 50' south of the station.

I don't know if the section by 4 Mile Lake (between Chelsea & Dexter) is still in place (I have never seen it).

[Scooterb]

Use to be pans at Stryker too

Is that what the old pump station by the Tiffin river was for?

[Todd Cline]

There is still a track pan next to the former train station in Dexter, with a historical sign.

Bad news: I biked past the Dexter station recently (last couple of weeks) and the track pan has been removed. Looks like it happened not too long ago - there is a 25' section of it laying in a pile about 50' south of the station.

I don't know if the section by 4 Mile Lake (between Chelsea & Dexter) is still in place (I have never seen it).

Was this pan really still there this recently? I've never been there but I can't imagine that with all the trackwork over the years it would have lasted that long. Anyone have photos??

[Beal99]

there is a site a few miles east of edgerton,oh[mina,oh] that had track pans .there are still two water tanks there and the remaims of an interban bridge next to the main line.
i'll take you there next butler trip.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Track_pan

can you google map this location for me?

[Scooterb]

Caps linking something HAHA He cant even turn off the caps on his keyboard

Here you go

http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&F ... &encType=1

[SW]

Was this pan really still there this recently? I've never been there but I can't imagine that with all the trackwork over the years it would have lasted that long. Anyone have photos??

Yep, believe it or not it was still there last year, and maybe even into this year. I usually bike into Dexter at least once or twice a year and always go by the train station.