Can anyone tell me what the standard tender truck used on the C&O switchers?
Thanks
Larry
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The C&O 0-8-0 tenders used a leaf spring Andrews type truck riding on soild bearings.
This was true of the early USRA 0-8-0s as well as the later 0-8-0 switchers with front end throttles built by Lima for C&O during WW II.
Thanks Ed!
I have several photos of 0-8-0's that the tender trucks look almost like Bettendorf
In this topic I also should have mentioned why the Andews type truck, with its separately mounted journal boxes in a cast steel side frame seem to be preferred for tenders over the "Bettendorf" type.
The so-called "Bettedorf" (which was only one of several companies that made them) has the jounal boxes cast integral with the side fame, making it all of one piece.
If a wheel set needs to be replaced, it's much simpler to do on an Andrews type truck than it is on the Bettendorf type. Tenders carry a good deal of weight and especially with swtchers, wheels are subjected to a fair amount of wheel and flange wear from
working through tight curves and switches in yards.
To change wheels with an Andrews type truck once it is taken out from under the car or tender, the journal retaining straps are unbolted and the truck frame is lifted off its wheels with their journals intact. The truck frame could then be placed on a new set of wheels with journals on them, re-attach the retaining straps and install the truck under the car or tender.
With a Bettendorf type truck, the entire truck must be disassembled in order to remove the wheelsets. (Just like cast metal O scale sprung freight car trucks!)
To do this, the truck's springs are removed on both sides. This is done by jacking the transom (bolster) up slightly to relieve pressure on the springs. Then the transom or bolster is lowered. Meanwhile the bearings in the axle journals must be removed.
For that, the side frame needs to be jacked up slightly to release the bearings inside the journal boxes. Once that is done, the side frame on each side is taken off the wheelsets by moving it sideways. Reassembly of the truck with a set of new wheels is the reverse process. It all takes a good deal longer to do.
The main weakness of Andrews type trucks is from the retainers holding the journals and wheelsets to the side frame. Bolts can loosed and retaining straps can break. This is why that type truck was eventually banned from interchange service.
