18009 NY Central 4-8-2 Mohawk L-3 - why are there sparks at engine/tender coupler?

If I can remember correctly the only thing in the tender is a sound car. The pick ups are on the engine only? If the tender is the slave (for power) to the engine than thats the starting point. Check the cable for a broken wire or something shorted.

It’s scrounging for ground, ….the draw bars just happen to be the next convenient thing in line…..it sparks because the tender and the engine aren’t permanently coupled together…..do open up the tender and make sure nothing is flying around in there, ….remember, electricity always seeks the path of least resistance…

Pat

Thanks fellows, you are correct!

The engine is functioning properly now.

There was a short in the tender at the plug-in. The small IC board that acts as the connector for the external plug and the four internal wires has a loose fit, allowing it to slip down in its slot and contact the stamped steel tender frame. The insulation on the yellow wire in the picture had shrunk a tiny bit, and the wire was making contact with the frame.

A light touch of liquid tape now holds the IC board at the top of its slot, and a small amount across the 4 soldered wire joints acts as insulation should there ever be opportunity for contact with the steel frame again.

Thanks again for your responses.