Coal tender drawbar

[tatans]

Can anyone describe an actual drawbar on a steam loco. to the tender? does it attach to the engine or tender or is it independent. A photo would be great, I’m sure they all vary in design but must look sort of similar, model trains are of no help. thanks

[tatans]

Excellent description, thank you, so the drawbar on a brass model locomotive is correct. I just assumed it was an intricate, complicated joining device, now I know what those rounded buffers are for on the loco and tender. thanks again. I guess I never paid enough attention when we played on all those stored C.P.R. locos in the 50’s on their way to steam heaven before scrapping.

[tatans]

Finally I found the reply on drawbars:Tatans, this should settle the question.

QUOTE: Originally posted by SDR_North

Usually the drawbar (s) between a steam locomotive and it’s tender was made of steel and shaped like a wooden Popsicle stick with a hole at each end for a pin.

Depending on the size of the locomotive the drawbar could measure 12 or so inches wide by 6 or so inches thick by 6 or 7 feet long. The pin holes 6 inches.

Somewhat like the drawbar between couplerless flats or coal cars, but not as square.

All measurements are general just to visualze shape.

A large locomotive could have two drawbars, one above the other.

On both the engine and the tender there were sockets to accept the rounded ends of the drawbar and these sockets had holes to accept the drawbar pins which passed vertically thru the upper edge/drawbar/lower edge of socket.

The vertical pins were a close fit and were oiled or greased so they would not rust in.

The vertical drawbar pins were secured in place by horizontal rods or other keepers.

There were usually two heavy safety chains with hooks on each side of the drawbar incase it broke. Years ago passenger cars had safety chains, too.

When backing up, there were rounded buffers on the engine and tender that met and the push force was thru the buffers rather than trying to skew the length of the drawbar and shove the tender sideways.

Getting a seized drawbar pin out is a terrible job in a very dirty place.

This is just a general idea how it worked.

[tatans]

QUOTE: Originally posted by SDR_North

Usually the drawbar (s) between a steam locomotive and it’s tender was made of steel and shaped like a wooden Popsicle stick with a hole at each end for a pin.

Depending on the size of the locomotive the drawbar could measure 12 or so inches wide by 6 or so inches thick by 6 or 7 feet long. The pin holes 6 inches.

Somewhat like the drawbar between couplerless flats or coal cars, but not as square.

All measurements are general just to visualze shape.

A large locomotive could have two drawbars, one above the other.

On both the engine and the tender there were sockets to accept the rounded ends of the drawbar and these sockets had holes to accept the drawbar pins which passed vertically thru the upper edge/drawbar/lower edge of socket.

The vertical pins were a close fit and were oiled or greased so they would not rust in.

The vertical drawbar pins were secured in place by horizontal rods or other keepers.

There were usually two heavy safety chains with hooks on each side of the drawbar incase it broke. Years ago passenger cars had safety chains, too.

When backing up, there were rounded buffers on the engine and tender that met and the push force was thru the buffers rather than trying to skew the length of the drawbar and shove the tender sideways.

Getting a seized drawbar pin out is a terrible job in a very dirty place.

This is just a general idea how it worked.