I am looking for this history of the water tower at the Huckleberry Railroad. I have heard that it is ex C&O, ex Pere Marquette, or even ex Chicago and Western Indiana. I have heard that it was moved from, Northern Indiana, someplace in Ohio, and Michigan. It is said to have been built in the 1940's. I have searched articles in the Flint Journal about the building of the Huckleberry Railroad, I haven't found anything yet.
It did have have a center post which held up the roof, which was badly deteriorated and not replaced. Apparently it was double spouted, the backside bears evidence. It is approximately 28' diameter by 16' high sitting 14' above the ground. I estimate capacity at 50,000 to 60,000 gallons depending where on puts the fill line.
Does it bear resemblance to any particular railroads style of architecture?
Can anyone help establish the history?

More photos

Does Huckelberry have no history on it? Always enjoyed the vollage and the trains there.

That water tank came from the Algers, Winslow and Western Railroad in southern Indiana. It did have 2 spouts when it was on the A W & W Railroad. I did not see it there but was told it sat in a wye.

It was offered in Trains magazine and a group that I was involved in at the time tried to get it, but it had already been given away.

AlcoC420: Thank you for the information. Do you recall the issue of Trains in which the tower was offered? I assume in the early 1970's. I'll start looking through Trains.
"was told it sat in a wye" probably explains why the supports sit at an angle to the mainline. You can see it in the side view photos. The people in charge of moving and re-erecting it, may have just situated it as it sat on the Algers, Winslow and Western Railroad.

Tower behind diesels.
Enos Mine Algers, Indiana 1973
https://www.railpictures.net/photo/346090/

Page 65 in the classifieds section of the August 1975 issue.

The ad reads "Water Tank: Wooden, 25,000 gal, in good condition, includes 2 spouts. Would consider giving it to historical society, AW&W Ry." It's followed by a post office box address and a telephone number.

LeoA,
Thank you!

John -

Quick question. Is the Huckleberry built on the right-of-way on an old Pere Marquette branch line, at least partially? There was a P.M. branch that ran in a northeasterly direction off of the main line just to the north of Flint.

Les

One and the same, it diverged off the PM just North of Carpenter road at McGrew junction. This line went as far as Fostoria, going through Genesee, Rogersville, Otisville, and Otter Lake in a Northeasterly direction. It was a started as The Flint River Railroad And later was picked up by the PM. The Huckleberry mainline is now with the exception of the return loops, built on the former Flint River RR/PM branch line.

John -

Thanks for that info and your prompt response.


Les