For years I've had a set of fueling facilities made from Stewart parts with no specific information on just what was in Winslow. I photographed the sand tower in Corwith and did the 'double' sand tower. I've got just a couple glimses at what was actually there in the 70's-80's from a low-light cab ride videotape. Apparently there was an older set of diesel facilities on the roundhouse track leads - overhead piping, no visible sand tower, lots of dangling hoses. That facility is gone today and there is a smaller, modern, fully-contained site there for probably two locomotives each on two tracks, doesn't look much like the set there before. The second set of facilities was constructed on the main line - on three tracks - with two parallel and overhead sets of piping 'racks'. It looks like there were small sand towers (smaller than the Stewarts) on each end, either 3 or 4 total. Too dark to see what was at track level. These were fairly large, probably held four-unit sets of SD's. The concrete pads are still there today but the fueling racks themselves are removed. They must have been there at least in the early 90's. Anybody have any shots of this? I have yet to see any kind of 'standard' anywhere on ATSF for stuff like this....
Rand I have two photos of the Winslow fueling facility from my mid 80s visit. One's a bit fuzzy and the other doesn't show the complete fueling rig. I do remember sitting in with Al Wheelock over in Flagstaff while he did his operator job. You could hear Winslow Yard because the Flagstaff antenna was up on Elden Mountain. "Middle Main, leave it on." was one I remember hearing, indicating that the engines would be refueled on the mainline without being removed from the train. This should help. Ed in Kentucky
Yeah, that's it! And both of those are way better shots than anything else I've seen. Thanks so much!
Rand: I'm thinking I've seen another tighter photo of the fuel racks. Perhaps in Rail Classics and that has been awhile. Ed in Kentucky
Believe it or not, I was just sent an aerial shot of the original (not main line) fueling area from what looks like about 1976, judging by the paint schemes of the locomotives in the shot. One standard 'Stewart' sand tower with a track each side, and what looks like ONE fueling spot. Baffled and amazed, now I have six different configurations to sort out that I've seen. But knowing that there was a silver sand tower is a good era clue, knowing exactly where it was helps me ID the 'silver thing' in other shots that I haven't been able to identify. I remember in reading the stories about the Super C in that they had to bring tank cars of fuel beside the main line to do rapid refuling - at least at the start - and that was how the main line fueling facility got started there. But I don't have years. I've arrived at this sequence by creative logic (guessing) to this point: 1) Original FT-era fueling facility - overhead piping - by the roundhouse, nothing on main. (shows with FT's near them in one book) 2) Single sand tower with fuel crane(s) on the turntable lead - main unknown (new aerial shot, 1976?) May be more just out of sight.... 3) Main line fueling facility - 3 track - with Snyder fuel cranes (above photos). 4) Main line fueling facility - with fuel cranes on main, overhead piping on original fueling area to roundhouse (now this makes no sense at all) both in service (videotape). About 1988. 5) Main line facility fuel cranes moved to new turntable lead pad, overhead piping remains (cabride videotape) 6) Main line fueling pad overhead piping removed, pads remain, fuel cranes on roundhouse lead pad. (current) Right now it looks like my hybrid spot is just....confused!
Well, thanks to you guys I've pretty much finished redoing my Winslow fuel facilities. The location of mine in the yard is a compromise... it is 'sort of' a main line fuel facility and 'sort of' the yard pad that came along both before and after. I can't completely duplicate it but I was able to adopt most of the look and hardware on at least one of the two racks. I'm wiring it up now with micro LED lighting, which is a bear but worth it. But with all of that overhead piping it is very interesting to look at and most certainly doesn't look like some lookalike plastic kit stuck on the layout. So....THANK YOU. And photos to come... And all the original stuff from the first 'Corwith' tower is now on that auction site... just search for 'randgust'....
OK, well....between Ed's shots and some 1970's aerials that were posted on Train Orders....this is the 'compromise' I came up with. It's not really a main line fueling pad or a shop lead pad, it's sorta both. I only have one set of racks instead of two, and I like the AIM sand tower enough to keep it even though I can't find a shot that says both were there ever at the same time.. I will say the entire thing captures the feel at least a whole lot better than the Stewart sets did. Thanks for the photos, Ed (SSW) in particular. I still can't do night shots the way I want. It's rather stunning in person with the four LED lights on top, comes out as four white dots even with the slowest setting on my camera unless I 'sunset' the light a bit.
It was posted on trainorders, the poster sent me more for my own use but they aren't my photos. http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?11,2525381,2526221#msg-2526221
