Re: Uintah articulateds

The rectangular steel water tanks were used to haul water to all the water stations on the line other than Atchee, Shale, Columbine, and Wendella. Those locations were fed from natural springs on or near Baxter Pass. Depending on where the photo was taken it could show water hauling on the south end of the line from Atchee to Carbonera, or Mack. Most likely though , you are looking at a photo on the north end of the line, where water was hauled from Wendella, to Dragon, Watson, and Rainbow, Utah. These three mining towns ( and several small camps) all relied on the railroad for water. Every drop of liquid was used up by the miners and their families, for the stationary boilers that ran electric lights at Dragon, and for any use in the mines, not to mention the thirsty articulated engines and the Shays, 2-8-2 #30, and the two passenger engines #20 & #21. The daily frieght trains, in and out of the Dragon / Rainbow area always had either empty or full cars attached to the train, usually right behind the engine for ease in switching them in and out of the train as it made its way through the area. Sometimes extras were ran just for the sole purpose of getting more water at Wendella, and extra frieght cars were added to fill out the train !!!
BTW - took the kids to Dragon today to get dirty and eat a hot dog - did a little digging and found a shard of Uintah Railway dinner china with UINTA / RAILW still visable !!! made for a great day off.