LSWR Water Tower - Open Tank

Forgive me - I'm getting obsessed with this water tank. But I wanted to share this development.

Have you ever wanted to make something authentic and spent hours researching on the Internet and in books to find some small detail. Every photo you come across either does not show it or the view is not close enough. That's the case I had trying to see inside an open top railway water tower tank. Yes, I know there is water but would you have considered the ballcock valve, water level gauge and bracing of the tank walls let alone foot boards and what style of ladder? I still don't have all the answers for this specific style of tank but I found enough for a reasonable stab at what the details may have looked like

What you see here is the MK2 tank. My original model had the top enclosed in 'metal', since I guessed from a distant view in a photo that was the case. But, asking around and studying a few more photos it seems where a roof was not installed on an LSWR tank then it would have been open to the elements.

Now that poses a more challenging thing to model than a metal lid.

Water

A nice water graphic reflecting a blue sky with a transparent film slapped over to give sparkle.

Bracing

I had not considered this until seeing photos of the Settle water tank. Most models you'll see don't bother with it but it is an essential feature to stop the weight of water bowing the tank sides. Here it finishes the model off to a treat. There may have been more panel bracing under water.

Water Level Gauge

Known as a 'pulley and chain' type. What a fascinating piece of archaic engineering. So simple and yet so effective. A chain is attached to a float in the water, passed over a pulley wheel to drop down over the side of the tank with a level indicator board behind. On the end is a pointer. The float with chain move up and down as the water level changes. So, a full tank is when the pointer is at the bottom and empty tank when it is at the top. Interesting thought - the float has to be heavier than the chain yet light enough not to sink.

This close up photo is in fact not close enough to show the chain, made from two lengths of 0.2mm wire tightly twisted together. The end has been formed into a pointer, which is just visible at the 6 foot mark. Can't see the float either, which is hidden behind the tank wall.

I shall make a ballcock valve. Not sure whether to do foot boards and the ladder is conventional without any guard rails. A plastic signal ladder is ideal for this.

To Part 1