Water Tower Repairs...

Work has been underway to replace three of the four main support timbers on the former Oregon Lumber Company water tower at McEwen. The Kinsman Foundation awarded a grant to the Sumpter Valley Railroad to complete these structural repairs, as well as building a protective frost box for the feed pipes and upgrading the pump system to allow for winter operations. The new support timbers were cut on the steam powered sawmill at Antique Powerland in Brooks, Oregon.

The first of the three cross supports has been replaced. This beam was the most heavily rotted, and also the easiest to remove. The water tower house was lifted by the forklift and then blocked up so the beam could be slid out and the new beam slid in, then the house was set back on the supports. After some minor adjustments the house was bolted to the beam.

The second beam has been pulled out with the forklift. To remove this beam, not only the house, but the water tank itself had to be lifted slightly for removal and replacement.

With the second beam out of the way you get a good view not only of the McEwen depot, but also the bottom of the steel tank. Originally the water tank would have been made of redwood staves banded together. Unfortunately when the water tower was relocated to McEwen from Bates, the original tank was found to be completely unusable, though the steel tank bands have been preserved for posterity. 

As the forklift can only access the tower from the side, the new beam had to be strapped to a fork and cantelivered into place.  

Lining the beam up.

 Checking the clearances and making sure there are no obstructions.

Sliding it into place and making the final adjustments with a sledge hammer. 

All the beams are in place as well as the new support brackets. Next up on the repair list for the tower is painting the base, some minor structural repair to the tank house, and then a lot of siding repair.