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Tender Trucks - CNJ 4-6-0 Class L6s

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Tender Trucks - CNJ 4-6-0 Class L6s
Posted by cnjman721 on Wednesday, March 13, 2019 4:24 PM

Hi All --

I've searched many, many web sites and sources for HO examples of the tender trucks that were used on the L6s CNJ 4-6-0 Camels. I've yet to find them in HO and indeed, I'm not sure of their common name. I'm not sure if they were original or when they were fitted to these locos, but I'm not talking about the ones that resemble Bettendorfs or Andrews. They looked almost like a Commonwealth but I don't think they were. Sorry I don't have a way to insert an image but they're pictured on page 40 of the May 1959 MRR and also in the MRR Steam Locomotive Cyclopedia Volume 1, Pg 116

Does anyone know the name or OEM of these tender trucks or where I might find some?

Thanks,

Ed

 

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Posted by doctorwayne on Wednesday, March 13, 2019 4:51 PM

I'm not sure if the ones to which you're referring are similar to those in the photo below, but they appear to be similar to ones I've seen in photos of various CNJ Camelbacks...

I don't know if Bachmann still offers that locomotive (or perhaps an updated version of it) but if it looks appropriate, you might try contacting them, as they do offer some parts for sale separately.

The photo should enlarge somewhat when clicked upon.

Wayne

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Posted by gmpullman on Wednesday, March 13, 2019 5:27 PM

There's a contributor here that goes by the screen name RDGCasey. Perhaps he will see this and give some input, or you could PM him and ask?

http://cs.trains.com/members/rdg-casey/default.aspx

Here is a link to some of his photos:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/60361449@N02/

He has a good photo of the truck in question here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/60361449@N02/30981136898/in/dateposted/

 

Good Luck, Ed

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Posted by dknelson on Wednesday, March 13, 2019 9:34 PM

Sometimes called the Reading truck.  They somewhat resemble certain commonwealth tender trucks such as the ones Kemtron offered except those have visible springs (coil AND leaf spring) and the Reading trucks do not.

They also resemble certain old fashioned passenger car trucks (including narrow gauge) again except for this matter of the springs.  

A long-gone firm called Lee Town sold these very trucks, assembled part # 2074, kit was part # 2075.  Lee Town had a lot of interesting stuff for the steam fan.  

Back when brass importers would also offer parts associated with what they had brought it, I believe Gem offered Reading trucks in brass.  We are talking many decades ago.

Bachmann appears to have discontinued its Reading 2-8-0 some time ago and I do not see any parts listed on their website.

Dave Nelson

 

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Posted by doctorwayne on Wednesday, March 13, 2019 9:37 PM

gmpullman
....He has a good photo of the truck in question here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/60361449@N02/30981136898/in/dateposted/

Ed, that looks pretty darn close to the Bachmann truck in the picture I offered.

I wouldn't be surprised if those older Bachmann locos can be found at train shows, and at reasonable prices, too.  While the locos had pancake-style motors, they weren't actually too bad as runners.  While mine's no longer in active service, it runs well, despite a head-first 5' dive to the floor many years ago.  One of my newer Bachmann Consolidations also did a 3' dive, pilot-first, to the concrete floor, with the only discernible damage being a broken-off head on the front Kadee coupler.  It ran like a charm for a couple of years, but one day acted as if the gears had been stripped.  Upon disassembly, I discovered one of the bosses for a screw holding the boiler/motor assembly to the chassis had broken-off completely, allowing the drivetrain to disengage.  Some solvent cement and brass tubing rectified the situation, and she's been back in service for several years, with no evidence of the mishap.  I'm almost positive that the break occurred at the end of that 3' flight.
Crews have dubbed her the "Lucky 26"....

Wayne

 

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Posted by gmpullman on Wednesday, March 13, 2019 9:51 PM

 

doctorwayne
Ed, that looks pretty darn close to the Bachmann truck in the picture I offered.

Yes, I agree, Wayne. Sometimes Bachmann does an excellent job on certain products. I wouldn't trade my B&O EM-1s, ever.

Not long ago, Trainworld had a closeout sale on dozens of Bachmann tenders. Maybe they still have some. Fortunately, they are willing to sell them separately for us "loco-bashers".

Cheers, Ed

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Posted by cnjman721 on Thursday, March 14, 2019 8:28 AM

Wayne --

 

You nailed it. Those are the trucks I'm after! I'll see if Bachman might be willing to offer them.

 

Many thanks!

Ed

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Posted by cnjman721 on Thursday, March 14, 2019 3:15 PM

Hi Wayne --

Well, Bachmann's parts dept. weren't willing to part with trucks separately, but following that lead, there's always eBay.

 

Off hunting Smile

 

Ed

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Posted by doctorwayne on Thursday, March 14, 2019 3:35 PM

cnjman721
...Off hunting

I'd suggest that your hunt especially include older Bachmann Reading 2-8-0s, running or not (and of course, with intact tender included). 

Apparently, some of those locos experienced an early operational demise, and anybody who's kept theirs, for whatever reason, might be happy to make a few bucks from someone willing to take their "junk".

You should be aware that the tender trucks, as made, do not have the ability to provide track current, as they're all-plastic.  Changing to metal wheels, with wipers of some sort, will make them more useful in that capacity.

Wayne

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Posted by gregc on Sunday, March 17, 2019 1:42 PM

greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading

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Posted by cnjman721 on Wednesday, March 20, 2019 4:12 PM

Hi Greg --

 

Yes, thanks. I've scanned that databse in the past.

 

Thanks for reminding me!

 

Ed

gregc

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