NSW Riverina District Map

Drawn by R. K. Booth - published in Byways of Steam 2

Possum Power Tank (see below) is the original name that was given to a steam locomotive watering location on the railway extension between Stockinbingal and Temora in the Riverina District of south-west NSW. This line was opened on September 1, 1893 and initially the only water facilties were the ones provided at Possum Power Tank.

The location was later re-named Springdale, presumably fairly soon after the line between the two junctions stations was opened.

Some time after the line was opened, Springdale became a crossing loop dividing the Stockinbingal-Temora section. It could be opened or closed as a safeworking station to meet seasonal fluctuations in traffic. When closed, the distant signals could be operated by levers seperate from the signal box so that trains stopped for water would be protected under ordinary train staff and ticket safeworking.

NOTE from above: Possum Power Tank BBS was a dial-up bulletin board system operated by Craig Dewick during the very early 1990's before full-time Internet connections were affordable in Australia. Eventually PPT BBS morphed into RailZone Australia (still part of Craig's personal railway website until 2004) as a completely-free public-domain railway enthusist and railway modeller supporting website.

The Tank

Photograph of Water Tank at Springdale

Photo by R. K. Booth - published in Byways of Steam 2

The water tank at Springdale was one of three different types of circular wrought-iron-with-brick-stand watering facility installed by the NSWR (note that this classification does not include the column-mounted 'parachute' tanks).

In particular it had the following features:

- lipped wrought-iron tank,

- brick stand embelished with pilasters, semi-circular arched windows and a doorway,

- 20,000 gallon water capacity.

Tanks of this type were also located at:

- Lismore and Byron Bay on the Lismore extension,

- Meranburn, Parkes and Forbes on the Molong to Forbes extension,

- Boppy Mountain and Cobar on the Nyngan to Cobar extension,

- Brocklesby and Corowa on the Culcairn to Corowa extension,

- Milsons Point (original) on the St Leonards to Milsons Point extension.

Credit must go to R. K. Booth who authored the excellent article on NSWR circular water tanks that appeared in 'Byways of Steam 2', which was published by Eveleigh Press.

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