Extra tender

[Anonymous]

This is probably a very silly question, but...

When steam locomotives pulled an extra tender, how did they access the coal / water from the second tender? I would assume that they stopped at a siding and rotated the empty tender with the full tender, but am not positive. Was there some sort of mechanical device that moved the coal from the 2nd tender to the 1st? I'm guessing not...

Thanks,

Mike

[Morpar]

To the best of my knowledge, auxiliary tenders were only used for extra water on a steamer, not fuel. The auxiliary tender was connected to the main tender with regular couplers and water lines just like the lines that went between the main tender and the loco. I suppose that oil burners could have transfered oil just like water, and I know it has been done with diesels to save on fuel costs, but I don't think any steam power needed to use auxiliary tenders for extra fuel. Water was the biggest consumable.

[Anonymous]

In terms of volume, a steam locomotive consumes far more water than it does fuel, so auxilliary tenders are used solely to carry water.

Flexible water connections are made between the tenders, and the water in the 2 tanks flows between them, as the water seeks its own level.

[nedthomas]

Changing a tender was not a field job. They had water lines, electrical lines (markers and backup light), steam lines if in passengers service. Some locos carried the signal equipment in the tender also. If a stoker was used that made it a shop job. Oil could be carried by pipe from the tender as in the cab forwards.

[ragnar]

Yep,water not fuel was the problem,a UP Big Boy would need to stop for water every 25 miles operating on Sherman Hill with maximum tonnage.

[West Coast S]

I suppose, the Southern coal gondola that was equipped with a conveyer belt for use in coaling Sou 2-8-2 4501 during her early excursion days would qualify.