I need an auxillary water tender for one of my steam locomotives. Can't find any on the market, then the idea hit me. Has any railroad or tourist line used a tank car for the task? It would appear to make sense in a pinch. Does anyone have suggestions on where to find aux water and coast to coast tenders? ------------------ Southern Serves the South!
Steve, What scale are you looking for? Harold and yes, this doesn't answer your original question ------------------ Harold Hodnett Fan of NS, CSX, and their predecessors! Coming soon: The North Carolina Railfan Web Site http://www.trainweb.org/ncrail/
The scale I need is HO. I used to be into N but became discouraged at the lack of options at the time. (1985) ------------------ Southern Serves the South!
Well, Bachmann used to offer a water tender for their N&W J class Northern. Union Pacific currently uses old Turbine tenders( which I think were for their FEF-2s and -3s originally) for their steam runs. Somebody should be able to offer up a picture of this. BN used tankers as tenders for the diesel helper sets (again, I've seen many pictures), but I haven't seen any for steam. ------------------ Corey Lynch Pres - Rensselaer Model RR Society, NEB&W RR http://www.rpi.edu/~lynchc/Railfanning/railfanning.htm - My Site http://www.union.rpi.edu/railroad/ - NEB&W
Although most railroad used old tenders for auxiliary water tenders, many roads did use tank cars as well. I recall seeing IC steam with an IC tank car hooked up behind the tender. The only auxiliary tender made has been the Bachmann N&W one, which was made in both HO and N. They start at $28. on eBay these days.
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by SteveB: The scale I need is HO. I used to be into N but became discouraged at the lack of options at the time. (1985) <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> C'mon Steve, give N scale another chance! It has only been 15 years since your last try and a lot has happened I am an N scale modeler, so I am really not up to date on what HO options are out there currently. You might be able to "free lance" something believable!? Harold ------------------ Harold Hodnett Fan of NS, CSX, and their predecessors! Coming soon: The North Carolina Railfan Web Site http://www.trainweb.org/ncrail/
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Gregg Mahlkov: The only auxiliary tender made has been the Bachmann N&W one, which was made in both HO and N. They start at $28. on eBay these days.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I have seen them, but think it is pretty ridiculous! One of the last GATS shows I went to had a dealer with a bunch of these tenders, and he was selling them for only $5 each! Harold ------------------ Harold Hodnett Fan of NS, CSX, and their predecessors! Coming soon: The North Carolina Railfan Web Site http://www.trainweb.org/ncrail/
Here is a thought. In the February 2001 Model Railroader the cover story is about the Key West Extension Railroad. The Key West Ext. had to ferry their water from the everglades all the way down to Key West. They show a picture in the article about filling up a bunch of tank cars with water just to haul them down to Key West (look at page 67). However, you might want to get ahold of Cal Winter (the layout owner) and ask him if the Key West used any auxiliary water tenders? Bry ------------------ Smile! It makes people wonder what you are up to. Bry's Photopoint.com Album
Certainly, in a pinch, most railroads could have used a tank car, but older tenders were usual. Often one generation older than the power they followed. A modern 4-8-4 would likely have a USRA tender as a water car; and a USRA an even older tender. Just box in the coal hopper up level with the water tank aft, then remove the coal boards above the tank. Add a coupler on the front, and cover over any stoker or drawbar space above the coupler. Add reporting marks and a number, often prefixed with "X". I assume you are free-lancing with no particular prototype in mind. Chuckles
SteveB, in addition to the guys, one also used one of the fire fighting tankers, still red, but only once as I recall. It was during the fires in Yellowstone Park. Mentioned it had to go so slow it ran low, so refilled from the tanker behind. If you are talking about modern use, here is a photo of 3984 with a couple on back. ------------------ Watash #982 "See you in the Pit"
