So I recorded a show about trains from Cable TV

[Kozmo]

I have been into trains just about all my life.
I was shocked when they showed a pan system that allowed for a moving and even high speed water pickup into a steam locomotive tender. up to 80 mph they said
Basically a big long pan between the tracks two foot wide and up to 2,500 ft long and then a shute/scoop under the loco would suck/shoot water up into the tender.
I NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING BEFORE.
and surprised that I have not seen anyone model it either.

They say this was used so that passenger trains could make better time and not have to stop and use a standard water tower "pipe thingy" (sorry can't think of the word right now - it's late 11:55pm)

[river_eagle]

the fireman would open the valve and lower the scoop into the pan, and when the water spray from the top vents hid the entire rest of the train behind the tender the fireman knew the tender was full, and would close the valve and raise the scoop.

[wcfn100]

Here is a decent article on the subject:

http://jimquest.com/writ/trains/pans/scoop.htm

Jason

[Grey One]

I can remember my father telling me about these. As he had a sense of humor as the day is long I figured it was big joke like a "left handed monkey wrench" or a "sky hook".

I'd love to meet the man who invented the "track pans". I'm willing to bet he was ridiculed at first.

Edit (after reading the link):
Interesting that one of the patten holders was named: Rambottom. Hmmmmmm. I have to wonder if he changed his name.

[Hytec]

The windows of the New York Central coach in which I was riding were coated by spray as we took on water somewhere between Poughkeepsie and Albany. It was an awesome feeling to realize how much water was being moved, and at 60-80 mph....!

I saw a photo of a NYC tender that had burst the sides of its tank because the air vents were plugged when it was being filled at speed. Obviously a tremendous amount of energy that had nowhere to go but out.

[AB&CRRone]

and surprised that I have not seen anyone model it either.

The Con-Cor model of the J-3a Hudson has a water scoop. It may be the only plastic model having one.

Some PRR K4 Pacifics were equipped with water scoops. I don't believe the Minitrix model included one but I could be wrong. If it did it was not as obvious as the one on the J-3a.

Ben

[Triplex]

I believe the NYC, PRR and B&O were the only North American railroads to use track pans - they were found throughout Britain.

[Tony Burzio]

I believe the NYC, PRR and B&O were the only North American railroads to use track pans -

Track pans were common on most north eastern roads, but did not spread west. Here's a great page:

http://jimquest.com/writ/trains/pans/scoop.htm

[Kenneth L. Anthony]

I remember a model with a water scoop under the tender for a water pan. What model was it on? No, not an HO brass model. It was on a Lionel steamer back in the 1950s when I was pre-teen. But I remember that water scoop and what it was for. No, our Lionel was not the famous Hudson. And. no, we did not have a model of a track pan on our Lionel layout. I don't how we would have gotten around the center third rail...

[AB&CRRone]

I remember a model with a water scoop under the tender for a water pan. What model was it on? No, not an HO brass model. It was on a Lionel steamer back in the 1950s when I was pre-teen. But I remember that water scoop and what it was for. No, our Lionel was not the famous Hudson. And. no, we did not have a model of a track pan on our Lionel layout. I don't how we would have gotten around the center third rail...

Some of the tenders for the Lionel 6-8-6 turbine had water scoops, others didn't. Search Lionel on eBay for 6-8-6 and see if that looks familiar. I had a 6-8-6 is what brought it to mind.

Ben