As part of the work I'm doing to model an accurate steam derrick with tender, I am reserching how the water and (in this case) diesel oil connections were made between the tender, through the idler flat, to the steam derrick. Were usual diesel fuel hoses, rigid pipe and connections used for fuel? Was a similar system for water used? I have not been able to locate anything.
Any help from the trainmen here is appreciated, thank you.
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I don't think there were any. It would be impossible to have fuel/water connections and be still able to rotate 180 degrees, let alone 360 degrees. The tender would only be there to resupply.
I once fired a steam derrick during a demonstration at IRM. The derrick carried its own supply of water and coal.
Rusty
As part of the work I'm doing to model an accurate steam derrick with tender, I am reserching how the water and (in this case) diesel oil connections were made between the tender, through the idler flat, to the steam derrick. Were usual diesel fuel hoses, rigid pipe and connections used for fuel? Was a similar system for water used? I have not been able to locate anything.
Any help from the trainmen here is appreciated, thank you.
First, on a steam powered wrecker, there would have been ONLY water hose connections from the rear of the wrecker to the front of the fuel tender. Steam powered wreckers actually had their own internal water tank and coal bunker, each of which would have been replenished from the tender as required. Those wreckers that were oil fired, did NOT use diesel fuel, but regular heavy Bunker C, just as the steam locomotives used.
Many times during work, the wrecker's own tender was un-coupled and pulled back out of the way, in order to give the wrecker full 360 degree movement. The tender would then be pushed back up to the wrecker to resupply it.
Non-steam wreckers, converted to diesel power, also had their own internal diesel fuel tank for the diesel engine inside.
Thank you. As a follow up, how was the bunker C and water put into the steam derrick from the tender when refilling... hose connections?
Thank you. As a follow up, how was the bunker C and water put into the steam derrick from the tender when refilling... hose connections?
Yes, hose connections (buckets turned out to be way too messy), and the water and or hot Bunker C was pumped into the wrecker's own "day tanks". The Bunker C fuel had to be kept steam heated, in order for it to flow.
This is getting interesting. Was the tender's bunker C kept hot with steam piped back from the derrick, or it's own source?
In many photos I see an idler flat or gondola between the derrick and tender, hence my query.
I can remember a SOO Line pile driver that had a tender and it was fired by coal ( by the distinctive smell) and this topic brought to mind the reuse of tenders for other ( re-purposed) uses. I have a work consist ( crane, gondola, camp car, crane tender and work caboose ) and was mulling over the same question as I have spare tenders.
This is getting interesting. Was the tender's bunker C kept hot with steam piped back from the derrick, or it's own source?
In many photos I see an idler flat or gondola between the derrick and tender, hence my query.
I must admit, the only photos I have seen have the tender coupled right next to the wrecker. Now, during movement to a work site, the wrecker consist might have been made up any old way.
Concerning the steam heat for the tender's Bunker C, that would have been piped through a standard passenger type Barco flexible connection, used for steam heating passenger cars, and the steam supply would have come off the wrecker. The tenders did NOT have their own steam boiler.
Thank you Jack, for all the information. It's very helpful.
Have you ever known of an arrangement where if the tender was at the far end of an idler flat car (or gondola) from the derrick, a long hose (50+ ft.) would be hauled over for refilling, versus moving the tender closer?
Some steam locomotive tenders were rebuilt as snowplows.
Having seen the CB&Q, then BN, Aurora (IL) steam derrick a number of occaisions, and one time participating in cleaning up the 1977 Amtrak wreck in LaGrange, IL, the locomotive tender (ex C&S) was always seperated by the idler/tool car. It certainly does beg the issue of how the oil and water was conveyed to the derrick. I saw no direct connection. Coal I can see being shoveled or perhaps hauled in hods or even bags. (perhaps you are thinking "in bags - is this guy mad?". amazingly, in the earlly 20th/late 19th century, locomotive coal was shipped in boxcars, in bags! And, in fact, through WW I, battle ships in Norfolk were coaled using bags, and the whole crew, including officers, participated!!)
As a side point of interest, the Aurora Derrick was kept hot continuously, employing house steam from the old limestone roundhouse, so it was ready to go immediately. Another point of interest, perhaps, the Canadians referred to their wreck trains/derricks as "auxiliaries". How British!
Well, IRM's steam derrick didn't come with a tender. If I recall correctly, there's a fitting on the rear of the cab used to repenlish the water supply. I imagine something similar for an oil fired derrick. Add hoses and pumps and fill 'er up.
A steam derrick's appetite for fuel and water isn't as voracious as a locomotive's. Even in use, it will spend more time "idling" than anything else.
Rusty
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