I have seen or read about modelers modifying surplus Tenders (removing electric components) and use them with locomotive’s tenders for a certain look or operation.
Has anyone else tried at or at least, like me, thinking about doing that?
Just curious–are you thinking of swapping out tenders between locomotives, or adding an extra tender as seen on some contemporary steam excursion locomotives?
I know that Bachmann Spectrum makes (or at least used to) a tender modified for hauling extra water that is based upon a N&W design. As far as I know, there are no electronic components in the model to worry about, it just couples behind the regular tender ‘for show’.
If you’re thinking about swapping out tenders behind your steamers, though, unless its a DC brass model with a wire drawbar between loco and tender, it could get a little complex with plugs and truck polarity, especially if you’re using DCC and mixing between manufacturers. DC swaps on steamers are generally pretty simple–very often the locomotive picks up power from one side and the tender from the opposite, so there’s no problem substituting another tender. With some current DC and DCC models, however, it gets much more complex, as I stated.
But ‘swapping out’ tenders was definitely a practice during the steam era–in fact, Southern Pacific was pretty notorious for doing so, especially if the locomotives came in for major shopping.
Tom
No I’m thinking of buying an undecorated medium to large bachmann tender, remove all electric parts making it a dumby tender , and use it with my 4-8-4 to make it steam my locomotive is bigger than it seems or to give the appearance that my needs two tenders in case one is empty.
Okay then, I’d check out the Bachmann model. I know it’s very similar to the extra water tender I’ve seen on excursion photos and videos of both the SP and SP&S 4-8-4-hauled excursion trains.
Tom
Well, I’m not a steam guy, but unless your loco burns oil in its boiler I don’t think it would be prototypical to have a second tender.
My n scale layout is freelance tho.
Actually, the second tender that was often used on the N&W during the late steam era was filled only with water to elminate frequent water stops. That’s what the second tenders on the excursion trains are used for, also.
Tom
Well, freelance really has nothing to do with it. If the engine is an oil burner, then there is piping to get the oil/water from the second tender to the engine. If the loco burns coal, as far as I know there is no way to get the coal from the second tender to the engine.
What does my layout have to do wit this post? I was asking about in general if someone have seen or have a modify tender. I dont personally.
I am asking if anyone, other than myself, have seen another modeler layout in person or in a video having a modify tender connected to a functioning tender of a steam locomotive. I know I read someone that a modeler remove all the electric components of a tender and have it on the layout as an extra. However, I am being critize or put on the spot because I am asking this question.
I, myself, would explain to anyone who view my layout and ask me why my Rock Island 4-8-4 has an extra tender. I would tell them, my Rock Island has two tenders because it was overhaul to have both oil and coal as it fuel source for it long journeys. My layout is freelance and I do not care if the viewer likes the backstory or not, as long I am happy that’s all that matters.
mmmmm…Mr LMD wrote: I, myself, would explain to anyone who view my layout and ask me why my Rock Island 4-8-4 has an extra tender. I would tell them, my Rock Island has two tenders because it was overhaul to have both oil and coal as it fuel source for it long journeys. My layout is freelance and I do not care if the viewer likes the backstory or not, as long I am happy that’s all that matters.
I’m thinking that you actually should be able to modify a second tender to the first tender in that sense…
The order that I have seen…trying to find a video of it now was that the first tender had the coal and the second one was oil…or having one that had both oil and coal combined…
Mr. cylinder I was hoping to get a tender and just make it a dummbie tender like how we have dummy locos in model railroading. I do understand what you mean but i do not want to modify my rock island long tender already.
I was just thinking making buying a single Vandy tender and modify it to be a oil/fuel source tank just like how the 844 has two tenders.
N&W and UP (maybe SP) have used water tenders on steam engines to prolong stopping periods. The UP also modified some of these water tenders to be fuel tenders for the gas turbine engines in the early days of diesel power. These tenders can still be seen in use today behind excursion trains since water towers are all but non existant and what are still there are usually empty.
Duel fuel engines… never heard of that. Coal and oil have much different burning properties and the boilers would have to be designed for one or the other. So even with a freelance railroad I would not attempt to justify that idea. As for using a tender from an old retired engine I have seen this in place before. Out there on the net I have found pics of a 0-6-0T with a small tender to give it a longer run time between water fill ups. The tender looked like it was from another smaller engine and the coal bin was barely full. The coal will last 3 to 4 times longer than the water will, hence the reason for small coal bins and large water tanks.
Massey
Well I rephase the two fuel idea and thinking of getting a vandy tender, remove all the electric parts, make it a dummy, and if i need to modify the top to make it a water tender to go along with the coal because I’m not really possible but the 844 does have two tenders, one for oil and the other for water which i want to do with my 4-8-4 and if possible, a small tender for my 4-6-0.
OK I get it now it was not dual fuel you were talking about but simply 2 tenders. Yes this would be an easy thing to do and I believe some of the UP auxillary tenders started life as vanderbuilt tenders. If not the guys in the UP shops got the ideas for the auxillary tenders from the vanderbuilt design.
Massey
Yeah, it might look funny with my Rock Island and its long tender, but I will make it work and fit. I’m thinking of getting another 4-8-4 to do the same
I did this. I bought an ancient Mantua 4-6-2 a while ago & decided that it was going to run on the layout.
Found an identical tender on eBay cheap, won it, got it & all I did was remove the part of the tender where the bar that connects the tender to the loco off & mounted a KD#5 in a KD coupler box using the existing screw.
Voila! auxilary tender
Gord
cool
When a second tender was used in the manner that Mr. LMD intends to use it, no fuel was carried on the second tender: the fuel bunker was made part of the water tank. (Or perhaps an additional water tank was slipped into the fuel bunker.)
IIRC from Mr. LMD’s previous posts, this is the engine to which he wants to add a second tender:
The prototype for this engine was a Santa Fe 2900, and its tender is 52’ long. (Santa Fe traveled through dry country and bad water districts, hence the monster tender.) Adding a second tender would make it look mighty huge indeed!
Yes sir i have that exact same locomotive. I was thinking of getting a vandy tender so i wouldnt have to build a water tower all over my layout to make my freelance look realistic. the second tender would for water only.