Hey guys, I have a couple of questions on the CSX fuel tenders. I believe they were for the AC4400's? And also the C44-9's? On these 2 loco's, which was the one they periodically used the fuel tenders for??? I know this but I can't find the information on them and to what type loco they invested in them for. If my thoughts are correct these were used from 1994 to 1996? Or somewhere relatively close to that time frame! And for the second question. What was the exact gallon capacity of these tank cars? I want to model one or 2 of these. To go with my newer G.E. loco's. I'm looking into investing in a set of CSX AC4400's both powered. So... I can run either the C44-9's or the AC4400's with the fuel tenders. I have decals to do up one fuel tender at the present time so.... I can't think of a better project thats not so long in the process and will be a nice addtion to my small but adequate CSX fleet. And for the third question. On the gallon capacity, what company makes the HO scale version of the tank car I need???? And what comaony would offer the closest tank for the money and detail? As all my question for the answers..... Thanks in advanced
John, I don't remember anything about these off the top of my head, but I'll check my back issues of Diesel Era; if CSX did have them, I'm sure they have covered them! I know BN had an extensive fleet of fuel tenders, but can't recall the CSX units right now. Harold
Harold, CSX had a few, not as big a fleet as BN did. But they had them... I have pictures of a few of the fuel tenders. I also got a magazine that also shows the CSX "fuel tenders" it was in "trains" magazine! Sadly it doesn't say what the gallon capacity is or was or any information on the tanks.... CSX used them to top off the loco's "mother units" tanks to be full at all times or as much as possible. I believe that now in the present time, CSX has a few still on their roster for MOW service, and the rest were scraped or sold or whatever CSX does with out-of-service cars....
The fuel tenders were tested specially equipped AC4400CW`s 28, 29, and 30 I believe. They had 3 tenders made each having different capacities. I saw some pictures of them along with some info, the other day on another site. I`ll pass it along if I can find it again. Later Michael Ridenhour WSSB/HP&D Engineer
Michael, I sure would apprecite it! I knew they had some, I wasn't sure exactly how many, or what loco exactly they used them on.... If its possible, I wouldn't mind having as much detail on them as very possible. Such as what fuel tender went with what loco, or loco's. And what its specifics are in gallon capacity, car number, etc... I sure do appreciate the concern and all for this! Thanks again!
Try this link out. Its to a messge thread on Trainorders.com. http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?f=2&i=54307&t=54307 Later Michael Ridenhour WSSB/HPT&D Engineer
You can also rack this one up as a technical blunder, CSX didnt install Baffels in any of the cars, so when the fuel level droped the fuel could slosh around, causeing these cars to be unstable. (the reason why now they only move FULL loads of diesel)
THANKS guys! However, two questions is still unanswered! Anyone know what the gallon capacity is on the larger tender????? The larger tank car? And also what HO scale manufacturer makes that capacity? So far thanks for the information stated Its all very usefull in my next project [ 29 December 2001: Message edited by: 7600EM_1 ]
Pat, The one i'm looking to model is the very top picture! The longest tank... The shorter ones seems to be for fuel transport to refill the underground tanks for the fueling facilities! I hope I can post this picture, being in another forum I can't post pictures so.. I'll give it a try anyway Ok I did and it won't let me post a picture. So.. i'll post a link for the picture.... CSX Fuel Tenders [ 29 December 2001: Message edited by: 7600EM_1 ]
Yes, I agree that the cars can become unstable with a partial fuel load .... BUT, more to the point, sloshing causes a much more significant problem which I'm sure caused the CSX experiment to fail completely. When diesel fuel sloshes in a partially filled tank, it mixes with the air above it and forms many, many, many tiny(!) bubbles in the liquid!!! When this air/fuel mixture gets to the high pressure pump and then to the injectors, the engine will FLAT QUIT BIG TIME!!!!!! A 50/50 mix(+/-) of fuel and air in tiny bubbles will not provide the cylinder with enough fuel to burn on the next power stroke, and will cause the high pressure fuel pump to cavitate which causes it quit pumping immediately! Take this from a Shnook Skipper who was motoring his sailboat with a 15HP diesel through very rough water, seriously sloshing his partially filled 22 gallon fuel tank. When the high pressure fuel pump sucked more frothy fuel than it could handle, the engine died right in the middle of the heavily used Intercoastal Waterway channel with a quarter mile of heavily loaded coal barges heading straight towards him OK, I survived by forcing the rudder hard over and driving the boat to the side of the channel ... ! But then I had to drop anchor for an hour to let the bubbles rise to the surface, then I had to bleed the high pressure fuel lines before I had an engine again ... NOT FUN No Baffles .... No Useable Fuel!!!!!! [ 30 December 2001: Message edited by: Hank Coolidge ]
I'd have to say it's a good 50' long maybe a litle more, You might be able to kit bash it with 2 Life-like (P-2000) 5,000 tankcars with roller bearings.
It looks a little like the MDC (Roundhouse) 50' tank car, but a bit longer; looks like it's almost 60' feet long. I'd probably start with the MDC tank, cutting and splicing a pair to get the right length. The car ends look close to what's included with the MDC kit, so I'd leave those alone. Aside from that, I'd add details, paint and lettering, then put it to work.
Thanks guys! I was wondering about the MDC cars! I have a few of the MDC tankers now so. Unfinished so I'll begin looking into what its going to take to build on long car from 2 of them and the left over pieces from the one tank car I'll built it into a shorty tank car for something else, so their won't be any waist materials. Also I'll see if I can get an actual length on the tank car and leave everyone know exactly what length it is....
I have one of Overland's brass models of the large tender - I picked it up at a train show - up until then I had thought it was only available in the set with two CW44ACs. I'm away from home for the next couple days, but I'll try to remember to scan the model and post the image when I get back. I've been thinking about kitbashing a plastic model of this car using the brass one as a guide, because I don't think the paint will look right if I match it up with two custom-painted Athearn CW44s. Plus it looks like it would be a fun kitbash... I'll also try to measure some of the major dimensions and post them with the photo. Have a great weekend folks (I'm working all weekend, unfortunately).
Dave, THANKS! I believe the length and gallon capacity is almost impossible to find! I've looked everywhere, and come up short everytime! I've been looking through books, online, talking to local CSX employees that I know and all and nothing comes up on them (or it in this case) I'll be looking forwards in hearing and seeing what you may have to help me and if anyone else id doing the kitbash.... THANKS again...
John - I haven't forgotten about scanning my brass fuel tender, but I've been trying to find it - been pretty busy the last couple weeks. I believe it's still packed from my last move, so hopefully I can track it down this weekend. I'll post the scans as soon as I find it...
[SIZE=+2]CSXT Equips Locomotives for Fuel Tender Operation[/SIZE] Some CSXT CW44AC locomotives are equipped with fuel transfer systems by which they can be fueled automatically from a fuel tender when the locomotive fuel tank reaches a predetermined level. Fuel tender 993368 has been designed and built to operate with these locomotives. The tender is 77 feet long, equipped with bottom shelf "F" couplers, and has a capacity of 26,600 gallons. It is an auxiliary tank on conventional freight car trucks with walkway platforms only on the ends. This arrangement will not allow access between locomotives coupled to both ends of the fuel tender. The combination of locomotives and fuel tender will decrease delays by reducing the need for stops to refuel. REF: http://www.bullsheet.com/news/199503.html
The Fuel Tender operation was used on the dedicated Bostwick, FL coal train that operated between the Apalachicola Northern connection at Chattahoochee, FL and the Florida Power power plant at Bostwick, FL on a daily round trip basis. Power on this operation were fueled at Jacksonville on every 3rd trip prior to using the Fuel Tender, with the Fuel Tender it was fueled weekly.
