Hello folks, I wanted to see how the Lionel VL Big Boy tender coal depleting mechanism works so I decided to check it out. The tender is a die cast shell with an "insert" that contains the electronics and the depleting load mechanism. The design is fairly simple yet involves many reduction gears and is innovative. Some of the gears are brass and others are steel. Here are some photos to show how it works.
Tender major pieces
Tender Die cast shell
The "insert" with complete electronics/mechanics
Can this shell be converted to OIL tender to replicate the future #4014?
The Rubber coal load and the dual speakers plastic enclosure, makes for great sounds!
Gears!
Springs to hold up the load. Note the fishing line!
Closer view.
DC motor and its initial gear box. The white stuff is grease I added.
Closer look.
The pull down fishing line
Great design, lots of work and effort went into it.
Initially I did not care for this feature, but now I appreciate the engineering behind it and I play with it more in the "demo mode"
I do hope Lionel will offer an upgrade Oil tender kit when the real #4014 is running...MTH will be releasing the 4014 with an oil tender and a smoking whistle....game is on?? 
