Water at Palestine. With the springtime sun sinking low into the afternoon sky, Tremont & Gulf #30 eases up to the Palestine Water Tank for a welcome drink, after her 25 mile westbound run. Palestine is the western terminus of the present-day Texas State Railroad. This station and yard area features a depot with gift shop, cafe and museum. There is also a large wye and maintenance facility. The popular Texas & Pacific 2-10-4 Locomotive #610 resides in that complex, and is sometimes on display outdoors for folks to photograph and enjoy. Oddly, the ornate water tank you see in this image is not a historic structure, but something built in the tourist era. It definitely has character. I was surprised to learn that it doesn't actually work right now and that some relatively extensive work would be required to get it working. The tank appears to be in beautiful shape. Alas, locomotives are watered elsewhere on the site. It does make an awesome prop for photos however, and is definitely one of the more unique water tanks I have seen as I travel the US photographing preserved steam railroads.
