Re: C&S Long Distance Tenders?

Posted by Rick Steele on Feb 06, 2015; 3:47pm
URL: http://c-sng-discussion-forum.254.s1.nabble.com/C-S-Long-Distance-Tenders-tp694p789.html

The 4-4-0 idea has merit, as we have 21 4-4-0's to choose from available at the birth of the C&S. Some of the 4-4-0's dated back to 1867.

The only thing that I would caution is to check the folio sheets. Since the width of the locomotive is not listed, we would have to guesstimate the length of the big tanks on the 3' gauge locomotives.

A quick smattering of tank spec's for C&S Standard Gauge 4-4-0's. If there is no dimension info, then it is not on the May, 1903 Folio Sheet.

 Loco No.   Capacity (gal) Tank Length  Tank Height      Flare Ht
101               3,000                  17' 4"                42"                 12"
102               2,650
105               2,750
107               2,200
110               2,200                  17'4"                48"                  12"
133               3,500                  18'0"                3'8"                 12"
132-138        3,000
143               4,000                  22'1"                4'0"                  12"
144               3,200
146               3,200


On this sheet, the Rhode Island Locomotives (57-62) show a 1,600 gallon Capacity and the largest capacity is 71-73 at 2,200 gal.

Keep in mind that if the tender tanks came from Broad Gauge Locomotives, that the tenders would have to be narrow enough to fit through a close-clearance tunnel between Hancock and Pitkin. Photos were taken of the Rhode Island Locomotives with the large tenders on the Gunnison side of the Tunnel.

If the locomotives were early enough (Like the 1869 Tauntons and the 1867 H&W's) the tanks might work without modification. We know that common standard widths grew in 1865 with the death of Abraham Lincoln. Platforms had to be cut down to accommodate the Pullman Cars in the Lincoln Funeral Train. These locomotives were early enough that the old specs might have been used.

Of course, the tenders may not have come from the 4-4-0's at all but from the 2-6-0' and 4-6-0's, which had tender tanks more in the 18' category.

If we go to Folio 22 We see that the gallonage for the 57-62 is not listed, but the tenders have grown to 17'6", with a 3'6" height with a 12" tender flare, with the same specs being shown for all of the locomotives up to No. 73.

It is my feeling that the big tenders came in somewhere between the two folios that I have. Perhaps they were not kept because the weight of the tender on the rail may have caused the rails to spread. We experienced this on the 844 when we kept it overnight at places like North Platte. I had MOW people tell me that they could expect derailments for a week in the spot that we overnighted near the wash rack because the track couldn't take the weight of the locomotive.

Remember, these are GENERAL numbers and don't reflect any particular locomotive number, use may vary by altitude, Fireman, fuel consumption, and drinking NALCo treated tender water will give you the runs.

Rick