Why 2 hoses on the RK#30-11040 sanding tower?

I believe that the tower is supposed to be placed over the track so that a hose hangs down on either side of the track. The locomotive pulls under it and stops, and hoses on each side are used to fill the sand ports on either side of the locomotive.

This one?

That's exactly how it's supposed to be placed

You could also park a PS2 covered hopper on the track near the tower to supply the tower with sand.  I will try to post some pictures (tomorrow) I took of a Union Pacific sanding tower with a covered hopper nearby.

The sand tower we used to have at the Missouri Pacific's Ewing Ave diesel shop in St. Louis, served two tracks and  had three hoses over each track. The two outside hoses were for low sand boxes on either side of switchers, E units, F units and whatever else it could 's it could reach, (like some lose noses using a long funnel.)

The center high sand hose would be used on high nose sandboxes like on the rear of geeps and SD's and GE units.

Most switchers, E's and F's had side sand boxes. Most EMD Geeps and SD's had single sand box in the nose at each end with four sander hoses out the bottom, (all trucks had front and rear sanders to help with adhesion to slipper rails). Older U30C's and some other older GE's had two rear sandboxes although both were filled by one sand hatch. (Two boxes because there was an access door at the rear to enter the air compressor, cooling fan compartment.)

 The main culprit with sand is that it had to be dry. Rain could cause water to be drawn into the sand tower hoses, sometimes two or three feet up into the hose. Had to keep banging the hose until dry sand started running. (Water and clogged sand hoses on the locomotive trucks was always something the mechanical forces at the service track looked for.)

Probably more info than one needs, I fueled and sanded locomotives  at Ewing Ave for about 5 years working as a hostler before my seniority got me on the engineers extra board full time in the early 1980's.

Dan

thanks for that info Dan, to me it was not more than needed at all!

Thanks everyone. Your responses were very helpful. And thank you Dan your contribution to my inquiry was not more info than needed. I always look forward to learning about railroad operations.....especially when it comes from someone with first hand experience. Don your photo was most helpful. Portland Rose I would like to see pictures of the hopper set up that you created at the sanding tower.....when you can get to it.

Here are some photos of the Union Pacific's engine service area in Salina, Kansas, with the sanding tower.  You can see a covered hopper positioned behind the diesels.  I presume the covered hopper is used to transport and store sand for the tower.

Thank you Portland Rose!