The Beaumont St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad Retention Pond is a retention pond originally constructed by the St. Louis, Wichita, and Western Railway Company as a supply pond for the Beaumont St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad Water Tank.[2] It served the St. Louis, Wichita & Western Railway, and supplied the water tank, which was used to refill the boilers of steam locomotives on that line. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2011.[2] From the year of construction until about 1955, when the railroad switched to diesel locomotives, this watering station was essential to railroad transportation.[3]
Beaumont St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad Retention Pond | |
   | |
| Location | SE 116 Street and SE Beaumont Road, Beaumont, Kansas |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 37°39′18.17″N 96°32′5.584″W / 37.6550472°N 96.53488444°W |
| Built | 1886 |
| Architect | St. Louis, Wichita, and Western Railway Company |
| NRHP reference No. | 11000724[1] |
| Added to NRHP | October 6, 2011 |
The pond is constructed of concrete and metal, and contains a pumphouse with a pump. As the tower was made redundant by the switch to diesel locomotives, the pond and water tank remained vital to the Beaumont community. The pump station was kept active and pipe was laid throughout the town for potable water supply. The tower continued to hold water and was in limited use until 1988.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. October 6, 2011.
- ^ a b "National Register of Historic Places Registration: Beaumont St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad Retention Pond" (PDF). NRHA. 2010. Retrieved August 5, 2014. PDF includes sketch map but not eight photos from 1990 which were part of registration submission.
- ^ "Kansas Historical Society Announces Newest National Register Listings". WIBW-TV. October 17, 2011. Retrieved August 4, 2014.