Author Topic: Coopers Mills tank  (Read 11475 times)

Jeff Schumaker

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Coopers Mills tank
« on: February 08, 2012, 08:19:27 PM »
Anyone know where Coopers Mills tank was located?

Jeff S.
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Allan Fisher

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Re: Coopers Mills tank
« Reply #1 on: February 09, 2012, 12:16:11 AM »
The bottom floor of the tank enclosure is still there. It is about 200 feet north of the road crossing on the west side of the right of way.
Allan Fisher

Stewart "Start" Rhine

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Re: Coopers Mills tank
« Reply #2 on: February 09, 2012, 07:58:22 AM »
Hi Jeff,

     The tank was located between North Whitefield and Coopers Mills in the area where the WW&F followed the Sheepscot River.  As Allan noted the concrete foundation is still there.  The tank sat at the southeast corner of the bridge that took the railroad over a curve in the river.  The location is just north of the delta of the Sheepscot River and West Branch of the Sheepscot.  The water source was the river.  I've hiked in from where Clary's Mill sits and it's over a mile.  The tank was closer to Coopers Mills so that walk would be shorter.  The DeLorme map book has the area in block D3 of page 7.  Look for the curve in the river right below the EE in Sheepscot River.  That's where the bridge is, it's a smaller version for the snowmobile club.

Stewart   

Jeff Schumaker

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Re: Coopers Mills tank
« Reply #3 on: February 09, 2012, 09:25:11 PM »
Thanks Alan and Stewart. I recall one time driving through the countryside, somewhere between Headtide and Albion. I came across some stone abutments with a snowmobile bridge. Is that the bridge you're talking about, Stewart, or another bridge.

Jeff
« Last Edit: September 13, 2017, 01:05:49 PM by Ed Lecuyer »
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Eric Larsen

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Re: Coopers Mills tank
« Reply #4 on: February 09, 2012, 11:34:31 PM »
The only place I can think of that has abutments that you can see from the road while driving around would be just north of Windsor Station???  I think ther could be a small bridge on that as well.

Stewart "Start" Rhine

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Re: Coopers Mills tank
« Reply #5 on: February 10, 2012, 07:50:42 AM »
Jeff,

     The Sheepscot River bridge has concrete abutments and a center pier but you can't see it from 218.  The bridge is way down in the valley and is only visible by hiking in on the grade.  There is a camp road called Trestle Lane that goes down to the grade but you still have to hike for a half mile or so to find the bridge.  As Eric noted, you probably saw the short bridge just north of the road crossing where the Windsor store sits (now a residence).  That bridge's abutments are stacked stone with a covering of concrete that may have been installed during the Carson Peck years.   

     The Coopers Mills tank was a difficult stop for northbound trains.  The tank is at the bottom of the grade that climbs to Coopers Mills.  Train crews had a hard pull working north after a water stop.  Going south was easier as the grade is level for over half a mile going towards Clary's Mills.  The grade gets steeper as the railroad diverges from the river.  The last half mile to the 218 crossing is all up grade but the crews could get a good run at it by picking up speed along the river.

Stewart

Jeff Schumaker

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Re: Coopers Mills tank
« Reply #6 on: February 11, 2012, 02:01:46 PM »
Thanks for the clarification guys.

Stewart - did you happen to take any photos when you hiked in?

Jeff
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Jeff Schumaker

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Re: Coopers Mills tank
« Reply #7 on: February 11, 2012, 02:08:18 PM »
I forgot to mention that the abutments I saw were not along 218 (I think). It's been a few years since I encountered them.

Jeff
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Stewart "Start" Rhine

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Re: Coopers Mills tank
« Reply #8 on: February 11, 2012, 03:21:00 PM »
Jeff,

     I took a bunch of photos.  Some of them are in the WW&F right-of-way tour booklet that was done a few years ago by Bill R. and Dave B.  The booklet is available from the gift shop, it should be listed on the gift shop web page.

Stewart

Jeff Schumaker

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Re: Coopers Mills tank
« Reply #9 on: February 12, 2012, 10:05:21 AM »
I have that book. I'll have to dig it out.

Can I hire your guide services and go look for the site the next time I'm up?

Jeff
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Stewart "Start" Rhine

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Re: Coopers Mills tank
« Reply #10 on: February 12, 2012, 11:02:01 AM »
Sure Jeff,

     If I can get away from Sheepscot for a while  ;D

Stewart

Jeff Schumaker

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Re: Coopers Mills tank
« Reply #11 on: February 12, 2012, 08:25:08 PM »
Sounds good. Stewart.

Maybe you can get Fred to stand in for you at Sheepscot.

Jeff
Hey Rocky, watch me pull a moose trout out of my hat.