Steam & Excursion > From one end to the other

Water tenders were used on many railroads, even in areas of plentiful water. Take for example Texas & Pacific light USRA 2-8-2 # 802. It came from the builder with a 9,000 water tender. It was a plain off the shelf mike accept it was built as an oil burner. In later rebuilds it was upated with a tender holding 12,000 water and 4,500 gallons of oil. When the T&P retired some 2-10-2,s tenders were swapped and it got a 15,000 gallons of water tender along with 5,000 gals of oil, the largest on the railroad, even larger than on the 2-10-4's.

The engine was used a lot in east Texas on the busy line from Shreveport and Texarkana to Ft Worth. It has a 10,000 water tank car attached. It was very common for most freight engines to have the water tenders on that line to avoid water tanks and slowing down traffic.

A look at picture #2 reveals the ever present water car. However, it is on the Texas New Mexico line (owned by the T&P) from Monahans to Lovington NM was was needed due to a lack of water locations. Picture was taken by John McCall in July 1950.

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