XPost: rec.arts.sf.written, rec.arts.sf.science   
   From: gossg@gossg.org   
      
   "J. Clarke"  wrote:   
      
   >> One of BC's major freeways is across the coast range along the   
   >> Coquihalla River.  The freeway was built along the path of a   
   >> now-defunct former steam train line.   
   >>   
   >> There are "station names" announced along the highway, with various   
   >> shakespearean names.  I presume that these were water stops.  As a   
   >> very steep run, I expect that the Kettle Valley Railway over this   
   >> route needed a LOT of water, and I presume that these names reflect   
   >> former watering stops.   
   >   
   >Water makes up losses in the boiler.  If it's a steep run sand stops   
   >would be more likely.   
   >   
   >> But there is no sign of a town or former town.   
   >> Would these stops need ANY staff, or would someone just have to come   
   >> by and check the water feed into the tanks every couple of weeks?   
   >   
   >There would be staff.  Remember that these wouldn't have modern electric   
   >pumps connected to the power grid--if pumps were used they'd be steam-   
   >powered and hand-stoked or driven by windmills that need some tending.   
      
   On a steep hillside, wouldn't the "pump" just be a pipe from a   
   quarter-mile or so up the river?   
   --   
   We are geeks.  Resistance is voltage over current.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
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