By Leland Crouse

Catching water on the fly! The Pennsylvania Railroad Co. was a leading railroad that provided water for its high-speed passenger trains on the fly using water troughs (a.k.a. track pans).

Dola, Ohio, had a coal tipple and water tower to replenish the freight trains that came through. But for passenger trains, the aim was to keep them on schedule without having to stop for water. Tremendous amounts of water were used by steam engines.

The railroad had its own water wells to fill trackside troughs daily. The troughs were just west of Dola and were 1/2 to 3/4 mile long. Firemen had markers to watch out for, so they knew when to lower the scoop and when to raise it again.

If the fireman failed, the trough could be damaged. This method was used from about 1910 to the early 1940s. This picture is from a postcard dated 1912.

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