Railroad Trestle with Barrel

Train trestle leading to bridge over the Coosa River, (east side), Gadsden, Alabama. I was quite curious about the purpose for the barrel on the trestle, so finally searched through Google and found out it is most likely a water barrel. Such barrels were placed on wooden trestles at about 50 to 100 foot intervals to provide water to put out smoldering fires that might be caused by ash, sparks, and hot boxes. Not surprising, they were often vandalized by shooters and by thieves who stole the dippping buckets, so they may be lined with concrete and the buckets sometimes were cone shaped, lacking a flat bottom on which to set them, making them less desirable to thieves. I don't think they are being maintained anymore. (IMG_5282)