XPost: rec.arts.sf.written, rec.arts.sf.science   
   From: proto@panix.com   
      
   In article ,   
    "J. Clarke"  wrote:   
      
   > In article , gossg@gossg.org says...   
   > >   
   > > "J. Clarke"  wrote:   
   > >   
   > > >Lots of towns came into existence because of the railroad.  Steam trains   
   > > >needed watering stops every so many miles and there was a station with a   
   > > >water tower at each of those locations.  The people who worked there   
   > > >brought their families and there had to be services sufficient to   
   > > >provide for their needs so towns grew up.  But few of them became large.   
   > > >The railroads weren't built to service them, they were built to service   
   > > >the railroads.   
   > >   
   > > How much staff does it take to service a watering stop?   
   >   
   > Not sure, wouldn't expect a lot.   
   >   
   > > 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.   
   >   
   > As for "no sign of a town", if you want a spooky experience, visit   
   > Gagnon.  You're riding down this gravel highway for miles and miles and   
   > miles, and then you come to this stretch where it's paved and there are   
   > driveway turnouts every so many yards.  But stop and walk around and you   
   > don't find anything resembling a town.  In the 1970s Gagnon had 4000   
   > residents.   
      
   First plane arrived in 1957 town built up and all gone, town   
   dismantled in 1985. A 28 years existence.   
      
   --   
   Never attribute to stupidity that which can be explained by greed. Me.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)