Re: 346 tender at Strasburg, PA

Ted miles Wrote:
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> The tender of the D&RGW 346 is the other piece of
> the Colorado Railroad Museum that has traveled to
> the Shops of the Strasburg Railroad in
> Pennsylvania.
>
> I recently heard that the water tank is going to
> be made of stainless steel so it should last quite
> a few years.
>
> Is there any other news on the rest of the car?
> Will the frame still be wood? Can the trucks or
> any of the old car be used in the new tender?
>
> Ted Miles

The tank is being made of stainless steel, due to the total lack of resistance to rust of modern mild steel, which is much worse than the rust resistance of the steel in the original tenders. The new tank is being made with all of the riveted patches and laps of the original. Over 3,500 cosmetic rivet heads in two different styles will be welded on the new tank. Then only noticeable difference should be that the new tank won’t have any of the more modern welded repairs that are visible on the original.

The frame has been built new with douglas fir longitudinals, and oak end beams, the same as the original tender frame. All of the metal hardware has been transferred to the new frame, and it is complete. CRRM kept the trucks to overhaul in their shop.