400E Tender coupler concern

Hello MMarauder03

 I don’t have an Original 400 Vanderbilt tender handy to look at but if memory serves cant you just unscrew the Vanderbilt tank from the frame and switch ends? I have an MTH 400 tender handy and this proceedure looks doable on it.

Before you try to switch them, investigate that you may have a one-of-a-kind factory error there that might well significantly increase the value of yourt 400E and tender.  

Running it as is may cause observers to ask questions, but if the the answer is "That's the way it came from the Lionel factory in 1932", it might be more than worth it!

Switch the couplers back. i looked at a MTH tender and both are held on by screws. It should not take more than 2 minutes to change.

Someone probably had the tender apart and put the body on backwards. The original Lionel prewar tenders had the coupler and drawbar attached by a special pressed in rivet with a shoulder, they did not use screws there. It doesn't look as if your tender ever had the coupler and drawbar off of the frame, so I'd guess it was taken apart and put together backwards.

The rivets, drawbar, and couplers are readily available from Jeff Kane, George Tebolt, and Olsen's if you really want to knock the rivet out, but I'd just take the body off and turn it around. Seriously doubt it was a factor error.