4501's current tender is not from a Central of Georgia J-1 Class #701 - 709. The evidence is found in the frame. An extension cast by the Glover Machine Works was added to the frame at some point.

As I pointed out in my May, 2014, Trains Story about 4501, the current tender came from a Central of Georgia Class J-3 2-10-2 built for the Illinois Central. The CofG lengthened these tenders to increase coal and water capacity (from 15 tons and 9,000 gallons to 18 tons and 12,500 gallons).

The J-3 2-10-2's were numbered 771-777. I have found pictures of a few of them and only one, the 772, had the rounded coal bunker as found on 4501's current tender. I've attached a picture of the 772 showing the extended tender and rounded coal bunker. Also, attached is a picture of the 777 to show the straight coal bunker found on the remainder of the J-3's. Finally, a picture of the 771 with it's original short tender is attached.

Mr.Ray, Many thanks for the greater understanding. Sadly I read the Trains article then passed that issue over to my brother (4501 is his favorite from the Southern Steam days) recalling only the C of Ga tender source. Then when visiting last week with my father I snapped a pic of the drawings for the J-1 and J-2 but not the J-3. Anyhow, thanks for posting the photos of each J-3 tender type. Right shape, right capacities, right all vertical rivet pattern (based on older pics of 4501 from the 70's).

I'd be remiss to not thank TVRM and the fine folks for bringing such an iconic loco back to steam.

Reagrds, Tim

Interesting number "plate" on the 772 as well.

o484 -

The CofG eventually went to this type of number plate identification. I don't know of any other railroad where TWO number plates (as on 772) were on the same locomotive at the same time. Does anyone know of any others railroads where this might have occurred?

Les

Strasburg had two number plates on 4 and 31 (one on the locomotive and one on the tender) for a while. But the closest to the CofG's arrangement were the way how some Canadian National locomotives had high headlights with the number wedge bellow.

http://donsdepot.donrossgroup.net/dr0105/dl857.jpg

o484 -

Well the difference is that the canted number plates below the headlight on CN 0-6-0 #7024 is that these were illuminated numbers, and not actually number plates. This was fairly standard I believe, on Canadian National (and Grand Trunk Western) steam locomotives. The canted numbers below the headlight on the Central of Georgia steamers were actually number plates and not illuminated.

Les

I visited my dad again and snapped a pic of the J-3 Diagram. I'm guessing coal capacity indicated here did not reflect the increase in tonage from the modifications. Regarding the J-3's pictured in this post, the 771 was retired in May of 1952 after suffering a boiler explosion, and the 772 and 777 were retired in August of 1952 per Richard Prince's book on the Central of GA.