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Ahhh nice replies! <br /> <br />Firstly the smaller locos with slope backs had the sloped back just for visibility. it was a great idea! also locos of that size were usually close to water facilities and could be refueled rather easily.so trade capacity for vision. it must be remembered that tender size generally befitted loco size ( you wouldnt see a N&W Class A with a tender that belonged to an 0-4-0 ) which intern denotes job type. and we mustnt forget tenders evolved just as locos did. usually the loco first then the tender. <br /> <br />The tank car statement was a gag to see who was reading this stuff at 5 in the AM est. and what you say is true tank cars need not inside bracing because they are half the time, full. outside bracing yes. some dont have what we call a "conventional frame". really lends creedence to the strength of the hull when you think of todays high horsepower drawbar pulls. a vandy on the other hand gets empty and lighter every mile it rolls along, then slows down (slosh) then gets a green light again ( more sloshing) ya see what i mean? <br />so again is it bracing or splash plating? both really are the same its a two for one deal. the vandy just cant claim more gallons for equal size. they bracing required and installed by factory just didnt take that much surface area away from the water. the only true way to overcome this was as tree68 stated.... <br />the NYC used track pans. not a bad idea. refuel plus do it on the go! true ya had to slow down to 45mph i think but thats better than 0! and it saves a boat load of fuel as we all know its easier to keep mass in motion than it is to stop it, start it again. this must not have been a real bad idea as more than NYC did this. <br />Now for this next part i would first like to site that i am a PM Fan which means I have more of a portfolio of PM and C&O stuff and east coast railroads in general. that said i dont have as many technical references for UP tenders although i have seen many times what you mention about an evolved vandy. in my opinion i believe it is a combination of the two types in an attemp to gain the benefits of both. Again, just my thought on it. Didnt the Yellowstone have this too? As for the centepede wheel arrangement, your right, thats an obvious one.... like we all know water is heavy. the U.S. Dept of Weight and Measure says water is 8 lbs to a gallon. which means right now your figuring how much wieght WAS on the rear truck of your favorite tender. Yeah, the figures are astounding! and as an added feature the centepede type spreads that massive load over a greater distance of railhead than say a commonwealth or buckeye truck. <br /> <br />Extra tenders are on excursions because there aint to many water towers left since diesels took over. And the ones that were left when diesels took ever werent used because, well, used for what? Again more money saved. MOW trains used retired and/or scrapped tenders for water bottles. it was a natural move to use one for these purposes. <br /> <br />As for the coal bunker end well, ya always try to cram in as much as ya can. we humans always want more bang for the buck so if ya can add a few boards to the side, ( which they did ) and you can still see around it ( which they could, barely) then you can work a lil bit longer before a refueling. sure beats buying a new tender. OR, if ya know ya have a heavier train today it will take a lil bit more fuel to ride over the same rails as oposed to yesterdays train of 1000 less tons. but you have the same tender. Ya pile more on top. I think most of us can say we have seen a few pictures where the coal was piled over the top of the cab. <br /> <br />Idealy folks like there is a car for each type of load there was a tender for each type of loco that had a specific job to do inherent to its design. we know the major roads and many of the smaller liked to experiment. Bigger Better Faster! and when some of them fine machines reached many years in age, how many times did their job description change? thus replacement tenders. ONE thing is certain.... ya never left home without it! <br /> <br />Sincerely, <br /> <br />Power at Speed
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