1931 Lima long haul tender help needed..

[e-paw]

I have been tossing the idea around of building one of the CNJ's heavy Mikes. In particular # 903. I do have some nice pics of both sides of the engine, but I could use some better pics and or drawings of the 6 axle Lima built tender that they used. I do have some basic dimensions, but a more detailed set is needed before I can start. I have heard of a Lima loco historical group but have not been able to find a way to contact them for help.

Here are a few pics of what I am going for. Both pics show the 21,000 gallon - 24 ton tender behind the subject that I am planning on modeling. She is almost 49 feet long and stands 14 feet high at the coal bunker and 12 feet at the cistern.
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Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.

[nkp_174]

You might want to contact the Allen County Museum in Lima, OH. They have a vault filled with goodies. It is a good first stop for info and probably easier than contacting the library at Sacramento (CSRM). The Allen County Museum's collection includes all of the builders photos (many exposure from many different angles for each engine/tender). I am aware of at least one order of 22R tenders from Lima and they had builder's photo's as well. The railroad collection at ACM has its own curator.

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[nachoman]

Wow. That's a big 2-8-2!

[e-paw]

Thanks NKP_174, I think that just might be the historical group that I was looking for. I'll give them a shot tomorrow.

& Nachoman as far as 2-8-2's get, they don't get much bigger. The CNJ wasn't ready to retire them until the Baldwin DR-44-1500's and EMD F-3's put the final nail in the coffin for steam on the Central. Up until that time the CNJ was looking towards something like the Challengers used on the D&H as a possible upgrade in steam freight power. The road crews used to say they could pull everything out of the Jersey city yard including the track.

[e-paw]

I heard back from the people over at Allen County Museum in Lima, OH. Here is what they told me.

" Only item found in files relating to five tenders for CNJ is an actual and estimate of cost sheet. It lists Tender Type as 12Tons WH-21,000 Gal , Tank as Rectangular Tender Weight Empty as 149,000. Date of Oder May 16,1931 Shipped September 16,1931. Mentions Elizabeth, N.J.

No photos or drawings.

Lima only made a limited number of Tenders only, and the only order we have negatives for is an P. & L.E. order.

You might check with the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento. It's possible that they might have something pertaining to your request. "

So guess you I'm going to talk to next.

[Sumpter250]

Both pics show the 21,000 gallon - 24 ton tender behind the subject that I am planning on modeling. She is almost 49 feet long and stands 14 feet high at the coal bunker and 12 feet at the cistern.
Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.

Length and Heights are very close to the 25,000 gallon- 25 ton Lima tender built for the C&O Allegheny.
49' loa, from the face of the bumper to the face of the coupler, 14 feet high at the cistern, and 15 feet 6 inches high at the
coal bunker.
The Lima tender for the "Monogram " NKP Berkshire kit, measures 46 feet long, 12 feet 6 inches high at the cistern, and 14 feet 3 inches high at the coal bunker.
The overall shape, and proportions of both of these, look to be virtually identical to the photos you posted. If you are building your tender from scratch, you would only have to adjust your drawings a bit to compensate for the difference.
The old Monogram, " Snap tite ", NKP Berkshire kit, if you could find one, could supply a reasonably close size plastic tender shell. You would have to build a proper tender frame, as the plastic one has no "depressed center" to the frame.

[nkp_174]

You could also look for someone with one of the late-90s early 2000s' Rivarossi 765s as they included an extra 22R tender which would could then modify.

Good luck with CSRM! If not, perhaps a trip to Baltimore with your camera is in order ;-)

[Puddlejumper]

I was about to offer to drive to Baltimore and take photos for you, but I mapquested it and you only live 45 minutes further away than me.

[e-paw]

Thanks for the help guys, but I think I am going to hold out for some good pics or drawings.. I know they are out there somewhere,, I just got to find them.. I still have a few more leads to look into.

Overland did make a few of them years ago, they do have a giant price tag on them if you can find one. If I get the chance to look at one, it would probably answer a bunch of my questions..

It's not a project that I need to do right now, so I'm in no rush.

I did check out a CNJ molders forum but my membership to that forum was rejected. I guess they felt that I was a spammer.