Re: Silverton train question

The pipes in question were originally installed for drinking water in the coaches. All of the drinking water tanks were located at the head end of each car.
All of the 330 series steel coaches have one lavatory at the head end of the car. It is on the opposite side from the old wood coach lavatory.
The vestibule coaches used to have two lavatories at the rear, one on each side. The drinking water tank that was filled by the pipe was at the head end, same as the other cars.
Alamosa, coach #350, used to have two lavatories at the head end of the car.
None of the old drinking water tanks could be used for chemical toilets or sinks. They were wall mounted tanks that dispensed water at the bottom, they were not in the roof. They were low enough that ice was poured into them every morning.
We now live in an age of bottled water. I find it highly amusing that the water dispensed from hoses in front of the depot would not be considered "potable" by todays standards. Hundreds of thousands of gallons of "unpotable" water fueled countless trip to the straight shot toilets for many, many years. And the right of way was green. And it was good.
Today, the right of way is scraggly. And it is dry. And it is not so good.
It should be pointed out in all fairness, however, that today there are fewer unpleasant surprises along the right of way to avoid. One did have to keep an eye peeled in days gone by.