Kurt,

Here is a link to the photo of the builder plate on the tender.
https://prrt1steamlocomotivetrust.org/g ... 15945-jpg/

Wesley

The more important consideration when swapping PRR tenders is the deck height, which is so important that it's listed in the tender designations. There are published lists as to which tender classes 'match' particular locomotive classes.

The purchase of the tender several years ago was one of the best moves we made. It saved nearly 3 million dollars in constructing a new one. With an all-weather cab and by going to oil fuel, the deck height no longer matters. We will streamline the coal space but not over the water space. This will match the post 1947 modifications the PRR did. The lower skirting is already in place on the tender. The interior is in great shape due to the fact is spent several decades hauling diesel fuel inside for the MOW department.

The tender will get an equivalent of an Amtrak 40 year inspection including new wheels and bearings along with complete truck rebuild and frame inspection. We also have plenty of locker space for PTC and other electrical equipment needed.

We will have roughly $300,000 in the tender when complete versus the $3,000,000 to build a new one. ** anyone questioning that price tag, you need to really look at the size of this tender and the 4 axle commonwealth trucks under it. Figure in engineering and 3 million will look like a steal.

WHEN? It is safe in storage now, we will focus on it after the frame of the locomotive is complete and we can start moving everything to the locomotive erection location.

Except now a historic artifact is losing its historic fabric to turn it into a very large toy train.

It's like sticking turbo props on a B-17.

How is what you're doing good for actual historic preservation?

Seeing as how the WNYRHS wasn't preserving the artifact or "historic fabric" to begin with, I would think that there would be no complaints as to the second life of this tender. Then I remembered this was RYPN, thanks for coming in today!

Plenty. Inspiring people to learn about the history and technology. Being part of a top-of-the-line demonstration of steam technology. It will be a wonderful ambassador for historic preservation. If you think along the lines of education, it will be doing a lot more than sitting tucked away in a siding somewhere. And who's to say it can't be reverted back to it's historic configuration?

There were a few B-17's converted with turbo-props for various reasons :-) More recently Calfire has converted former US Navy C-1a Trader COD (cargo) piston powered planes into modern fire fighting machines with turbo props and glass cockpits. Having flown in COD's off a carrier, it is wonderful and amazing to see these machines still flying, even if they have new engines.

Of course, there isn't a "right" answer to this...

Do you feel the same way about the dozen or so (probably more) tenders that survived scrapping only to be modified into auxiliary water tenders for excursion locomotives? I don't see anyone stepping up to restore a tender without the locomotive to go with it. In that case it would just continue to exist in obscurity until mother nature finally reclaims it. Conversion back into a working steam locomotive tender is probably the best case scenario for this survivor.

WOW !!! Another real life example of the two old sayings......no good deed goes unpunished......and you can't please everyone.

Reminds me of the foamer who got in my face on the platform in Buffalo NY on May 3,1969 just after we arrived with the NKP 759 powered Golden Spike Centennial Limited. There was a huge crowd there to greet us ( we had to stay open that night until 1am to get all those who wished to tour the locomotive cab & display cars through the exhibit) and he was VERY upset that we had the nerve to paint the locomotive & tender Robin's Egg Blue & Gold.

He screamed at me " the NKP NEVER painted their engines blue!! ".

I ignored him and went about my business but what an example of misplaced priorities.

Much like the poster above worried about modifications that will ruin its historic purity vs. celebrating it becoming a useful part of an exciting and meaningful project vs. rusting away in obscurity in the wilderness.

Takes all kinds !!

Ross Rowland

I, for one, am glad to know that PRR tender # 6659 will once more be able to travel the rails behind the 5550. The only thing I would hope for, is that one day we might find out what locomotive (or locomotives) this monster once ran behind when in regular service.

Les

So can we guess that you are in a lather about FiFi's new engines?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMMvIT8brQc

Kurt,

Please hurry with the roster data and get us back on topic!

Wesley

On the B-29 "FIFI" they replaced 4 Wright R-3350 engines with 4 Wright 3350 engines.

Think of replacing your F7's 567B with a 567C.

Phil Mulligan

I wouldn't say "in a lather", but I think it underlines why we shouldn't be treating irreplaceable artifacts like toys.

Just stuffed and mounted, left outside? That approach certainly served Enola Gay and the Swoose well. So no running steamers?

It really is hard to fix stupid!!!

Ross Rowland