This Redwood Water Tank was built by the Wyoming Central Railway in 1886. It was first filled by a windmill, then by other types of pumps. It stored water for the steam engines that pulled the trains. It is one of only six remaining in the nation.
The Sioux City & Pacific R.R. surveyed the route from Chadron NE to Fort Fetterman Wyoming Territory in 1883. They organized the Wyoming Central Railway a Wyo. Corp. as required by law to build or own a railroad in the territory in 1886. As the railroad and facilities were constructed they were leased to the Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley R.R. Co. a subsidiary of the S C & P R. R.
Frank Lusk was a director and the local agent for the Wyoming Central Railway headquartered in Lusk, the only post office on the route. Mr. Lusk was also an agent for the Pioneer Townsite Company that established the locations of depots and platted the townsites of Van Tassell, Node, Lusk, Manville, Keeline, Lost Springs, Shawnee, Orin, Douglas, Glenrock, and Casper.
Livestock shipments, mining supplies and a source of coal enticed the R.R.s to build west. They were big business and very competitive. The rails were instrumental in the settlement of the west helped unite the continent into one nation.
All of these R.R.s were consolidated into the Chicago & North Western R.R. by 1903. In 1971 it halted service through Wyoming. In the 1980s the Union Pacific R.R., a competitor for over a century obtained this portion of the C & N W as a route for coal trains from the Powder River Basin.
The Niobrara County Historical Society obtained the tank in 1971 and has repaired and restored it with lots of community and individual support.
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