We are in the process of remodeling the restrooms in our cars. We have two problems. The first we can fix. Every car is a little bit different in how it operates. The second we can only deal with. We operate in freezing conditions for a few months. My question is what types of toilets and holding tank systems have others used and what were the pros and cons? What works best in freezing conditions?
Thanks in advance,
Eric

A recent toilet job for a museum that I heard of they used PVC and hub-less rubber couplers, that that way if things got plugged up, all it took was a screwdriver to take the system apart.

Also heard that they used cheap canned dog food as the test media.

At one time they used caboose toilets (bad idea), and in cold weather they would use window washer fluid as part of the pre-fill.

Also remember if you are converting a dumper to a holding tank, remember that you need a J trap. (Don't ask how I know this)

-Hudson

OK, why are caboose toilets a bad idea?

Howard P.

Greetings:
Valley Railroad has 9 toilets in service (and another on the way).
Currently, we use Model ME200 toilets made by Motive Equipment Inc. at New Berlin, Wisconsin (262-780-0169) priced at about $625. each.
This is the type of toilet you see in diesel locomotives. They are stainless steel,free standing with a self contained holding tank. We have added provision for dumping them into a holding tank via a long, 3" hose.
We have been using these exclusively for over 10 years and are satisfied with them.
We add "Inca Gold" deoderant each time these are serviced as the flushing is a recirculating system.
In cold weather, we add Panol, non-toxic anti-freeze.
Good luck!
J.David

Caboose toilets are designed for 2-3 people all day in a caboose, 2 of them in a 54 seat coach on a fantrip is a major disaster.

-Hudson

Now that is the stuff of nightmares. Wait, I have a t-shirt somewhere...

I should add that the 3 systems we have in place all work well, but we have issues in freezing conditions. The cold weather procedure for each system is different, and can be involved. This tends to confuse crews and result in freezing, and sometimes damage. We are hoping to find the most simple and reliable system that is proven to work for this application. All of our cars have external waste tanks, some are recirculating type toilets. I hope to hear from as many people as possible on what works for them.
Eric

The duration of the trips is a diceding factor. A hour there and back / two trains a day you can get away with a RV toylet system.