BNSF fuel tenders.

[KBCpresident]

While railfanning a few years back, I noticed a Black former BN tank car right behind the Locomotives. It had the BN logo very large on one end. I could not see the reporting marks. I saw it near Maupin OR. Could this have been a fuel tender? thanks.

[Railfan1]

           I think all BN's fuel tenders were green and black. I could be wrong though.....

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

The BN fuel tenders were indeed painted green and black, and were basically company service tank cars fitted with transfer hoses and other items to serve as fuel tenders.  They were part of an attempt to reduce the number of fueling points for locomotives, especially those in intermodal and coal service.

[KBCpresident]

DANG! I thought I waas on to something here. Oh well. I guess you are right. It was kind of mean of BNSF to put a tank car right behind the locos. All in favor  click the reply button!

[Railfan1]

It was still probably used to haul diesel for BNSF's fleet, just used in a different manner.

[Mookie]

We have seen coal trains going west that had several tankers just behind the locomotives.  Had to do with hauling fuel to a fuel station in the area. 

[CANADIANPACIFIC2816]

I for one, have never actually seen a fuel tender on the BNSF or it's predecessor, the Burlington Northern. Didn't the BN or the BNSF phase them out entirely some years ago?

CANADIANPACIFIC2816

[trainfan1221]

Burlington Northern did a lot of experimenting with locos, particularly with other fuels. I remember a really fancy painted SD40-2 with a tender containing some kind of product that wasn't diesel fuel being pictured in a magazine.

[usersatch]

So how far can a unit coal train travel one tank of gas (assuming 2 AC4400s, ~110 cars, heading south out of the PRB)?

[Anonymous]

The BN did infact use the Fuel Tender on the Crawford Hill area alot. The last time my friend went out to Crawford he said the BNSF doesn't use them anymore. But the BN did infact use them. Allan.

[KBCpresident]

The tank car I saw looked like THIS on a mixed freight near Maupin OR. sometimes when Dad and I go railfanning there They will hook a helper up to uphill runs, (although they never come back,alone at least)maybe they were hauling fuel to where ever the  helpers were stationed. HERE is a site that tells more about tenders on the BN.

[Railfan1]

This type of car was not equipped to be used as a fuel tender.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Burlington Northern did a lot of experimenting with locos, particularly with other fuels. I remember a really fancy painted SD40-2 with a tender containing some kind of product that wasn't diesel fuel being pictured in a magazine.

I believe that there were two SD40-2's with fancy paint jobs that were testing compressed natural gas and Refrigerated Liquid Methane as fuels.  The engines were fitted with spark plugs and other modifications for these fuels.

[Anonymous]

Here is a cool website with technical and operational details of the BN fuel tenders.

http://www.mtnwestrail.com/wyoming/bnft.htm

[KBCpresident]

This type of car was not equipped to be used as a fuel tender.

I  meant that it wore the same paint sceme, not that it was that kind of car!

[Railfan1]

ok...

[KBCpresident]

Not to confuse you or anything, but I think it was that kind of car. Thats my final answer

[coborn35]

Not to confuse you or anything, but I think it was that kind of car. Thats my final answer

NO

THIS is a FUEL TENDER.

This is the TANK CAR you saw.

Its possible the tank car you saw USED to be a fuel tender, but has not been for years, therefore you saw a tank car, not a fuel tender.

[KBCpresident]

That website I showed you said that they were still using them in '02 Does anyone know If BNSF is still using them?

[Anonymous]

That website I showed you said that they were still using them in '02 Does anyone know If BNSF is still using them?

NO! BNSF doesn't use fuel tenders anymore.

[KBCpresident]

That's a shame! I wonder why not, anyone know? It would be awesom to see a fuel tender. Say BNSFrailfan, how do you know BNSF doesn't use them any more?

[trainfan1221]

Burlington Northern did a lot of experimenting with locos, particularly with other fuels. I remember a really fancy painted SD40-2 with a tender containing some kind of product that wasn't diesel fuel being pictured in a magazine.

I believe that there were two SD40-2's with fancy paint jobs that were testing compressed natural gas and Refrigerated Liquid Methane as fuels.  The engines were fitted with spark plugs and other modifications for these fuels.

Yup..that would be it.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

That's a shame! I wonder why not, anyone know? It would be awesom to see a fuel tender. Say BNSFrailfan, how do you know BNSF doesn't use them any more?

One of the reasons that use of fuel tenders was discontinued was that it put limitations on motive power usage. Not all locomotives were equipped with the gear for fuel tenders and those that were equipped to work with tenders would be virtually in captive service, which could put a crimp in utilization.

[Anonymous]

That's a shame! I wonder why not, anyone know? It would be awesom to see a fuel tender. Say BNSFrailfan, how do you know BNSF doesn't use them any more?

Because my friend goes out there every year Video tapeing on the Crawford Hill. And his latest video showed that the BNSF is "NOT" useing Fuel tenders on thier pushers. I have seen proof. Course that could change tomorrow,you never know.

[KBCpresident]

I don't mean to be difficult, but How do you know that they are not using them elsewhere on the line. What happened to equipted engines?

[Anonymous]

I don't mean to be difficult, but How do you know that they are not using them elsewhere on the line. What happened to equipted engines?

There all  gone. They might be storeing the fuel tenders in Crawford to fuel the pushers. But when I saw his video from 2006 I saw no FT's on the pushers at all.

[KBCpresident]

Thanks. wHat about SP's fuel tenders as shown HERE

[Railfan1]

Neat, I didn't know anything like that existed.

[Railfan1]

Did any other Railroads have these tenders?

[mikevandenberg]

Just as an FYI, I've seen several of the old green and black fuel tenders on the regular freight train out of Northtown yard in Minneapolis.  The H-NTWLAU heading for Laurel, MT has had 2 or three of the old green and blacks in the regular freight (not up by the consist) and they are still marked as "Diesel Fuel Only".  Probably just now used to haul fuel like the other tank cars.