I just got a Porter 0-4-0 for a psalm. I now need a tender to nourish it. Any ideas where to get one? I guess I should tell, It’s a Bachman Spectra. Any help would greatly appreciated.
John
Hi John, not for sure on this, but I thought Porter engines were mostly tank engines. I take it it’s not the case here. What scale is this 0-4-0, and maybe we can help…Jamie
Jamie, I’m not sure what you mean by tank engine (I’m not well versed on that subject), but it is HO scale. I got the engine because I liked it and it was the right price, $5 at an estate sale. It was still in the box!! There was a lot of other stuff as well. It has Pensylvainia on the side if that matters. Thanks for the help. John
John, a tank engine is a steam engine that did not need a tender. They carried there own fuel and water supplies on them. Fuel ps normal carried in a box attached to the back of the cab and water was carried in tanks that were on either side (both sides) of the boiler or across and over the top of the boiler. They were used mianly in yard, industrial areas likes power plants, and in logging RR. If the rear cab of your engine is closed in and if you have something other that the pasic boiler up front, its a tank engine. If not, Small used tenders are usually easily found at swap meets and train shows. Take care…Jamie
Jamie, Thanks for your enlightening words of wisdom. As far as I can tell from your discription I don’t have a tank engine. Again thanks for the info. Have a good one (or more), John
I think Grandt line makes a tender for their O scale narrow gauge porter.
If you’re sure it’s a Bachmann Spectrum, check the Bachmann Web site and see if they list a tender for it. I don’t recall Bachmann EVER making an HO scale Porter. I think you have confused On30 scale with HO. Bachmann makes an On30 scale narrow gauge Porter that runs on HO scale track, and it IS a tank engine that uses no tender. If you look at the pictures on Bachmann’s Web site, you can see if it is the one you have.
Indeed, most likely if this is a Bachmann Spectrum and an 0-4-0 Porter, it is actually an On30 Porter. The On30 Bachmann Porter is, in fact, a tank engine.
Does it look anything like this?
That’s an On30 Porter. If this is what you have, it is both On30 (not HO) and a tank engine. The water tank is a round jacket over the boiler, and fuel is typically some wood thrown into the corner of the cab–it needs no tender, because the water is stored over the boiler and it isn’t intended for traveling more than a few miles at a trip.
Folks sometimes think that On30 is the same as HO because it runs on HO-scale standard gauge track, but it is actually an O scale model made for 30" gauge–which, in O scale, is just about the same as HO scale standard gauge.
Check the Model Trains Index. NG&SLG or Model Craftsman, one of them, ran a series of articles on modifying this loco. A tender was one of the additions. Personaly, I wouldn’t change it. Bachman Spectrum 0-4-0 for $5.00 - They should get you for robery!!
[:D]