A couple of years ago I posted this photo of my B&M Pacific tender and asked if anyone could explain the function of the vertical plate behind the coal bunker. I got several responses, the best one being “a flat screen TV for the brakeman”, but no one came up with it’s actual use.
l did some research on the net with no luck, so I’m posting this again, hoping one of you Forum members can solve this mystery. I think about this every time I run the engine.
John
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Realistically, I suspect it's a splash guard for the water fill up so your legs don't get splashed and water doesn't get all over the deck (and then freeze in the winter). It sure is extra heavy duty for a splash guard though.
For fun, it's probably a spoiler to get that extra downforce when you're makin' time 
I can't tell from your picture but if the tender is a model of one that could take water on the fly (from a track pan) then a barrier like that would guard against overfill blasting out across the tender deck and into any following cars.
There's a very vivid account of this situation in one of my first person accounts of railroad work and travel - the engineer didn't retract the scoop in time and the water blasted out of the hatch and flooded the passenger car directly behind the tender - passengers were soaked and there were a few minor injuries.
Of course, if the tender isn't equipped with a scoop then I have no idea.
Bill, i believe you have correctly identified the plate as a splash guard, but it appears it wasn't intended to protect the crew. You can't see it in the photo, but the tender is equipped with a water scoop, so Robert's theory sounds correct to me. It makes sense because the plate is located behind the water hatch.
Thanks guys, for helping to solve this mystery!
John
Look at this! Teamwork! Makin' the dream work!! 
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