476's Real Tender is Easy to Identify

Herb,

My understanding is that ALCO did build them that way, but the D&RGW went with the more conventional feed shortly thereafter. I had been told originally that this was due to freezing of the pipes in cold temperatures, but this has been debunked in the past. Regardless, the feeds are where all others are, at the front.

By the way, to anyone interested, although all of the K-28 tender tanks have been replaced, #476's tender frame is the one that has all four cast steps. The D&RGW actually put #476's tender behind #473 back in the 70's. It probably actually has it's own tender now, if that is the one with the four original steps.

#473 and #478's rear steps were removed when power reverses were put on them in 1950. The stirrup steps that replaced the footboards have now been replaced with K-37 cast steps.

#476 was the only one with all original steps on the tender.

Mike



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/31/2009 08:10PM by Mike Trent.