Not exactly aerodynamic, Big Pic!

B

bl4882

New member
Here's an example of form following function. Not what you would call sleek, but impressive nontheless. As my forum handle implies I'm an Espee fan, so imagine my surprise when, long ago, I learned The Friendly bought a dozen or so from the B&M during the Big Show for use on the Rio Grande division, which burned coal. Later converted to burn bunker C.

 
I was surprised on what tender SP chose to put on the locomotive though, Its called a "whaleback" tender, which also does not look aerodynamic
 
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strangely, i always thought these looked cute for some reason...they've got a face only a mother could love. I recently found a good site for SP steam loco pics (http://espee.railfan.net/sp_steam-index.html) and one of the pics showed them with a whaleback on them...very interesting. gotta love the SP...Cotton Belt 2-8-0s (another of my favorites) ex-logging railroad 2-8-2s (Mk-11 and Mk-12 class if i'm not mistaken) 4-8-0s, and the el gobernador, the strangest roster i've ever come across.
 
I think you're right bob, a coffin feedwater heater. the Milwaukee Road's 2-6-6-2s had a similar feedwater heater on them; i kinda think they look good too.

(little side story, the but Milwaukee's 2-6-6-2s were often used as rear-end pushers on the mountain grades out west, even the elecctrified divisions. it wasn't uncommon to see a four-set boxcab on the front of the train with a mallet shoving on the rear. Paging tume anybody?)

^
PS, the above story came from an overland brass models advertisement in an old MR mag...I don't know how trustworthy it is.
Now that that sidetrack has been run down, let's get back on topic.
 
You guys are right about the unique tenders. They were delivered with early cab forwards and when those were scrapped found their way onto 2-10-2 Decks and the Berkshires when they were converted to bunker C. Paulz Trainz has created one for his AC3 and should probably offer it separately for those who don't want the loco.

Bernie
 
bl4882 said:
You guys are right about the unique tenders. They were delivered with early cab forwards and when those were scrapped found their way onto 2-10-2 Decks and the Berkshires when they were converted to bunker C. Paulz Trainz has created one for his AC3 and should probably offer it separately for those who don't want the loco.

Bernie
Click to expand...

they were mostly on the 2-8-2's though for the 2-10-2's later ended up with the larger tenders that were on the MT-4's
 
I thought the engine came from the B&M, but the tender was different. I was trying to figure out the scenery that was with the loco. Then I read your post again and realized it was a B&M T on the SP with a different tender.

John
 
El Gobernador

I thought SP had tried to quitly destroy all the pictures of her - talk about a disaster, tender to small, to heavy for the rail - she was to heavy for the secondary rail at Summit so she could'nt be wyed, to big for any turntable at the time, so they had to back her all the way back to Mojave, or run her through. and was a poor steamer, Other than those little problems she was a nice looking engine. Side note, built by CP in Sacramento shops in 1883, largest enine in the world at the time. She was retired 1n1893 when she was replaced by the cross compounds.
 
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