union pacific excursion tender

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

i would like a union pacific excursion tender that looks like this…

i would like this for my new athearn challenger… It may not be #3985 but i still would like to do excurtions.
Thank you.
Ben

2

Ben–those excursion tenders are actually ex-fuel cars that UP used on their turbines. I don’t think there’s anything even remotely close in plastic, you’d probably have to check E-Bay and see if anyone’s selling a brass one (though I doubt they’d sell it without the turbine loco that goes with it). Only other idea I could offer would be to do some really SERIOUS kit-bashing on a Bowser SP-1 tender that they produce as a companion to their own die-cast Challenger. Or maybe see if someone’s selling the Lionel UP Turbine at a giveaway price, so that you could utilize that tender. Sorry, but that’s all I can think of.
Tom [:(]

3

I have seen the tenders in brass on ebay
but they are as rare as hens teeth.
maybe one in the last 6 months
I would just contact brass suppliers
I think one called Dan’s brass would or could get it but he isnt cheap.

4

By the sounds of it you might be better off kitbashing - Bachmann offer a couple of auxiliary tenders that might be a good source of a frame and trucks, and you could probably make the bodyshell easily enough from brass sheet - bending brass accurately to make the curved sides is easy enough to do, you need a folded towel (or similar soft surface) and a piece of rod or dowel - proceed as if rolling out pastry and you’ll find you can put a consistent, neat curve into the brass. Hope this is of help!

5

Overland sells induvidual UP Excursion Water Tenders for $400.00. Good luck.

6

The Bowser SP-1 route is not too bad. You’ll need two of the bodies, one frame, and the Commonwealth trucks, plus misc details.

For tools, a hack saw, and a big flat file, plus normal drills, small files, etc.

Cut the two bodies so that the overall length is correct, getting rid of the bunker end. Clean up with a file. Use JB Weld or similar metal filled epoxy to attach the two pieces together. The Bowser frame is fine, though you may have to shorten or lengthen it.

Have fun.

7

thanks.