Everyone,

Here is some interesting questions. How wide and think are the boards used under the water tank of a steam locomotive tender.

Was there a standard and were the boards all tounge in groove construction.

The reason I ask these questions is that I am building a model of a long gone locomotive and need some size to go by for scaling purposes.

One more question. What are the dimensions of the huge timber used between the buffer and the frame of a tender?

I am building a 1904 Rogers 2-6-0.

Thanks for any help on this matter.

JD Johnson, Morehead and North Fork Railroad Historian

JD,

Since no one else is answering your question I can help with this thought.

The guys at the Durange Railroad Historical Society who have just finished the D&RGW 315 have also done over her tender. They are one source.

And the Colorado Railroad Museum is working on the tender for their D&RGW 318 project.

The tender for CRRM's 346 is at the Strasburg, PA shops; but I think that one is only there for work on the steel tank.

Idoubt that there was any difference between narrow gauge like those in 1904 and standard gauge at that time.

ted miles

Ted,

I had already thought of Strasburg Pa. I know that Linn and company may have an answer.

IF you are interested is in seeing a photo of my engine, pm me with your email address and I will send you some pics.

I suppose that I could probably get some similar dimensions from a certain 0-6-0 in Clearfield as a comparison as well.

Take care,

JD Johnson, Morehead and North Fork Railroad Historian

We still have the deck timbers (or whats left of them) from under the cistern of Georgia Northern 107's tender (Alco, 1911). I believe they are 2" thick and about 12 inches wide, but I will be there tomorrow and will try to get measurements on the width and thickness. I'll get a measurement for the wood beam at the end of the tender also.

Stephen,

Thanks that info would be most helpful

JD Johnson Morehead and North Fork Railroad Historian

A late thought just for clarification:

The tender was actually built in 1914 for FEC 126. The engine (FEC 88) was built in 1911, but the tenders of the 2 were identical.

Standard varied, which made it a nonstandard standard.

Generally, 2" thick by random width, and laid all the way across the tender from side to side. Might find bolt hole patterns to give you ideas in the tender frame.

Buffer beams were made to suit the application. I've seen 3 different sizes on the same locomotive. Best idea would be to interpret dimensions from remaining clues such as corrosion and length of bolts, etc.

Good luck.

dave

On Red River and Gulf #106 at Longleaf, LA, the boards are 2" thick, and range from 12" to 18" wide. Probably what ever happened to be available from the sawmill at the time that the original boards needed to be replaced.

The tender deck on the DRGW 315 were and are 2X8 ship lap. The boards are spaced about 2" apart from the rear under the water tank to the coal bin. Then overlaped from the tank to the front of the tender. Take a look at our web pg. (www.drhs315.org) for some photos of the deck being set in place.

I measured the deck boards for Georgia Northern 107's tender and found them to be a nominal 8" wide by 2" thick. Some were 7" or so wide, but seems most were about 8". No tongue in groove or special joinery. The boards at the rear of the deck had cutouts to allow overflow/rain water on the top deck of the cistern to drain through 2 tubes to drop to the ballast.

Sorry, I didn't measure the buffer beam.

Everyone,

Thank you for your suggestions and measurments. I believe I will go with the 2" thick by 12 " wide dimension. I appreciate all of your help.

This is one of the best sites on the internet for answers to railroad related topics.

Take care,

JD Johnosn, Morehead and North Fork Railroad Historian