Water station for locos installed

A locomotive water filling station has been installed in Feilding as a joint venture project between the Manawatu District Council and the Feilding and District Steam Rail Society.

The $13,600 installation on road reserve land in Haybittle Street ensures protection of the town’s water supply from any potential backflow contamination that may occur when trains are being filled.

Water Manager, Wayne Spencer, said a line pipe runs directly from the main to the water filling station, which is fitted with a backflow protection device and flow meter. The installation is protected by a wire cage.

The society previously obtained its water from a fire hydrant near the corner of Gladstone and Haybittle Streets.

“Council also decided to approve the joint venture and provide 50 percent of the funding because the steam rail society provides a unique regional tourist attraction that draws many visitors to Manawatu,” said Mr Spencer.

He said the council wanted the connection in place and working before centenary celebrations of the North Island Main Truck line in Feilding in October placed heavy demand on the filling station.

Society General Manager, Russell Wiseman, said the installation was an absolute asset – “it not only guarantees protection of the town supply but saves members from having to run hoses across Haybittle Street to fill the trains”.

He said up to 10 trains would be using the water filling station twice a day during the four-day rail festival over Labour Weekend, with some of the locomotives requiring up to 40,000 litres of water for a one-way trip to Ohakune.

The society is also hoping to erect an old fashioned type water tank near the installation to assist the water fills.