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Dan H. prepares to disconnect some of the plumbing protruding from the tank's bottom.
Numerous items needed to be removed or disconnected from the inside of the water tower. While we were waiting for the manlift to get to the worksite, an ordinary extension ladder was used to access the water tower.
With the tank metal tank liner ready for removal, the next task was getting the non-metallic liner ready for installation. The non-metallic liner was 5 feet too tall to fit into the tower.
After Dave O. and Elliot H. marked the cut lines, Dan H. uses an ordinary circular saw to slice through the 3/4" thick walls.
The material wasn't as strong as anticipated; once sufficient slices were made the lid separated from the rest of the tank.
Two slices were taken from the liner. An 18" slice was cut so the lid could be fastened to the lower tank. A 42" slice was cut as the remainder of the 5 feet to be removed.
The sandy looking material in the tank was from its original use -- the tank was a part of a gigantic water softener.
A little nudging from the backhoe and skid-steer righted the lower portion of the tank.
The lid was taken to the shop where sections of the 18" slice were bolted in place.
Walt O. washes the sandy looking material from the lid.
Back at the worksite, the lid is placed on top of the tank's lower portion and fastened in place.
The next morning, Steve P. arrives with his large crane.
The chopped tank is slid close to the water tower.
Our thanks to the crane operator!
The crane has huge outriggers. To keep the outriggers from sinking in the ground, Kendall O. places large flanges under the hydraulic rams.
Outriggers in place, the crane is swung into position for removing the metal tank.
Standing on the semaphore platform, the new tank liner and water tower are in plain sight, The crane is getting ready to remove the water tower's roof.
Crane operator.
On to plan "B." The water tower's roof was in such bad shape that instead of lifting away, it started to collapse.
Plan "B": Remove the roof and metal tank at the same time.
Attaching the crane to the new tank liner.
The new tank liner can be seen peeking out of the water tower. The new tank is a few thousand gallons smaller than the metal tank. While this may worry some people, with the auto-filling capability, we always have a near full tank at the end of any operating event which often gets dumped. The smaller tank means less waste.
On Saturday, the main job was to remove the roof, measure what can be measured for its replacement, and to disassemble the metal tank liner.
The first thought was to slide some metal channel irons under the roof, lift it free of the tank, and push the tank out from under the roof. That plan didn't last long. The roof was is such poor shape, it could not be lifted from the tank without falling apart.
Plan "C" was to lighten the structure by removing the roofing materials (which had to done anyway) and then lift the roof free of the tank.
With just the skeleton remaining, an attempt was made to lift the roof clear. That didn't work too well.
The portions of the roof that made it clear of the tank were hauled to their final resting place. There still was a load of material inside the tank, plus the tank itself needed to be removed.
Matt W. and Ryan F. get the cutting torch ready.
A doorway is sliced into the tank.
Using the access port, the portions of the roof that did not make it clear of the tank are removed.
Separate from the water tower project, the past few weeks saw a flurry of track maintenance activity and a delivery of an open-air car!
The modified gondola arrived Friday morning.
As John W. wrote in his facebook pages, he was in "training" with the new gon.
Another car with a brake retainer for trips down the long grade north of the horse barn.
A modern hand brake assembly!
The load of old ties ready for pickup.
A walk along the east side to the North Station.
A few days of rain followed by extremely warm weather proved ideal for grasses to grow in and around the tracks.
A coach-wheel's view of the system to the south and north along the west side.
-steam.airman
