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I’ve been looking for a Legacy water tender to go with my NKP heavyweights. The undecorated tender in the new catalog might be an option. What I can’t get my head around from the description is its size.  How big is it in relation to, for example, a Legacy Berkshire tender (e.g., NKP 765)?  

What I’d really like is a re-release (in Legacy) of the N&W water tenders, but I’m beginning to think that isn’t in the cards given the recent number of N&W steamers without it making an appearance. Thoughts?

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Image result for chessie steam water tender

After doing a little online research, I get why Lionel chose this type to use for a variety of water tenders, but the one pictured in the catalog looks like the same one they used on the recent LEGACY J3a Hudson rerelease, which is actually wrong. As pictured above, the Chessie Steam Special and the T-1 Freedom train water tenders are actually a repainted tender from the New York Central L3a class Mohawks series.

Lionel has made the L3a Mohawk in the past, first in 1990 when Mike Wolf was under contract with Richard Kughn, and again in 1998. I'm not sure if the tooling for the engine and tender got destroyed in the 20 some years since, but the catalog states the tenders will measure 12" long, which IS longer than the 10 or so inch long Hudson tenders and about the same length as the Berkshire tenders, so I guess we'll have to wait and see until a prototype surfaces.

If the tenders are correct, I hope we see a LEGACY L3a Mohawk w/ whistle steam in the line soon...

Last edited by Mikado 4501

I emailed Lionel to inquire about which tender they were going to use - the Hudson in the picture or the Mohawk (correct).  I'll reply to this string when they email me back (if they do).

I'm not sure I'll get one though as I made one myself from a Mohawk Tender I got on the For Sale section years ago:

aux tender 01aux tender 02

Attachments

Images (2)
  • aux tender 01
  • aux tender 02
Rider Sandman posted:

Thanks, guys, for the helpful replies. I, too, noticed the description that said they were 12” long.  Scaling that against the photo, these things seemed really big/tall. In any case, it seems like they will be really big in comparison to the UP and N&W water tenders. I like that they released an undecorated one.

I think they will be close in length than to the UP style tender than you think.  I think what makes them look so long is that aren't nearly as tall.  I Have 3001 tender I've been saving for a CSS aux tender.  I hope Lionel does this one correct to save me all that work.

 

C&O Allie posted:

I emailed Lionel to inquire about which tender they were going to use - the Hudson in the picture or the Mohawk (correct).  I'll reply to this string when they email me back (if they do).

I'm not sure I'll get one though as I made one myself from a Mohawk Tender I got on the For Sale section years ago:

aux tender 01aux tender 02

Thank you. Please let us know.  Yours is still the best.  

C&O Allie posted:

I emailed Lionel to inquire about which tender they were going to use - the Hudson in the picture or the Mohawk (correct).  I'll reply to this string when they email me back (if they do).

I'm not sure I'll get one though as I made one myself from a Mohawk Tender I got on the For Sale section years ago:

aux tender 01aux tender 02

Good luck Allan on getting a response from Lionel. I'm still waiting to see if Lionel will eventually have the Bush funeral train cars sold separately. I've been waiting almost 3 months for that answer.

And Thank you again for the help with my CSS Aux Tender. #Love it! as they say.....

DSCN0015

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Images (1)
  • DSCN0015
Jayhawk500 posted:
C&O Allie posted:

I emailed Lionel to inquire about which tender they were going to use - the Hudson in the picture or the Mohawk (correct).  I'll reply to this string when they email me back (if they do).

I'm not sure I'll get one though as I made one myself from a Mohawk Tender I got on the For Sale section years ago:

aux tender 01aux tender 02

Good luck Allan on getting a response from Lionel. I'm still waiting to see if Lionel will eventually have the Bush funeral train cars sold separately. I've been waiting almost 3 months for that answer.

And Thank you again for the help with my CSS Aux Tender. #Love it! as they say.....

DSCN0015

Chris,

It looks great!!

Allan

jeremy ferrell posted:
Rider Sandman posted:

Thanks, guys, for the helpful replies. I, too, noticed the description that said they were 12” long.  Scaling that against the photo, these things seemed really big/tall. In any case, it seems like they will be really big in comparison to the UP and N&W water tenders. I like that they released an undecorated one.

I think they will be close in length than to the UP style tender than you think.  I think what makes them look so long is that aren't nearly as tall.  I Have 3001 tender I've been saving for a CSS aux tender.  I hope Lionel does this one correct to save me all that work.

 

Jeremy,

If it is the wrong one, I can send you the decals I used for mine.

C&O Allie posted:
jeremy ferrell posted:
Rider Sandman posted:

Thanks, guys, for the helpful replies. I, too, noticed the description that said they were 12” long.  Scaling that against the photo, these things seemed really big/tall. In any case, it seems like they will be really big in comparison to the UP and N&W water tenders. I like that they released an undecorated one.

I think they will be close in length than to the UP style tender than you think.  I think what makes them look so long is that aren't nearly as tall.  I Have 3001 tender I've been saving for a CSS aux tender.  I hope Lionel does this one correct to save me all that work.

 

Jeremy,

If it is the wrong one, I can send you the decals I used for mine.

Thank you Sir.

Rider Sandman posted:

What I’d really like is a re-release (in Legacy) of the N&W water tenders, but I’m beginning to think that isn’t in the cards given the recent number of N&W steamers without it making an appearance. Thoughts?

Well, assuming Lionel does produce a Legacy Auxiliary Water Tender buy the boards at the annual Lionel parts sale. Then get one of the N&W brass TMCC auxiliary water tenders and swap the boards.

To me it's not close enough.  Substituting a smaller tender for a larger one like what they are doing (especially when the tooling should be available since they used it twice before) is unacceptable.  Why not do it right the first time and make people happy?  I guess they are banking on people saying "I guess it's close enough."  That tender might look ok with a RailKing model, but not the scale Chessie and AFT T1s.

Last edited by mountain482
Gilly@N&W posted:
Rider Sandman posted:

What I’d really like is a re-release (in Legacy) of the N&W water tenders, but I’m beginning to think that isn’t in the cards given the recent number of N&W steamers without it making an appearance. Thoughts?

Well, assuming Lionel does produce a Legacy Auxiliary Water Tender buy the boards at the annual Lionel parts sale. Then get one of the N&W brass TMCC auxiliary water tenders and swap the boards.

Great idea, Tom. I’ll try to find the brass tender before this fall’s sale unless by some chance the N&W tender shows up in the v2 catalog. 

Rider Sandman posted:
Gilly@N&W posted:
Rider Sandman posted:

What I’d really like is a re-release (in Legacy) of the N&W water tenders, but I’m beginning to think that isn’t in the cards given the recent number of N&W steamers without it making an appearance. Thoughts?

Well, assuming Lionel does produce a Legacy Auxiliary Water Tender buy the boards at the annual Lionel parts sale. Then get one of the N&W brass TMCC auxiliary water tenders and swap the boards.

Great idea, Tom. I’ll try to find the brass tender before this fall’s sale unless by some chance the N&W tender shows up in the v2 catalog. 

If you just get the shell/chassis, I have 2 pair of the N&W trucks that are left over from another Aux Tender modification I did.  I took the MTH Chessie Safety Special tender and modified it to be more like the prototype, which included changing the trucks out.  I have no need for the trucks I took off.

C&O Allie posted:
Peter Araujo posted:

From what I've seen, it looks like it resembles the K-Line Hudson or Berkshire tender tooling.

Peter,

It is the Lionel Tooling for the Hudson Tender.  You can tell because of the ladder.  It is the same as mine above and my tender is a Lionel one.Husdon Tender

K-Line Lima Demonstrator Berkshire tender. I've looked at some photos and compared.

Too bad the plan is not to use the correct tender.  I wanted one for my Freedom Train, but will not be ordering one that is not correct.  I guess it is back to my original plan of finding one from a Mohawk and making some decals.......  If Lionel changes their mind and uses the correct shell, I could live with what ever trucks they put under it.

Rolland

Peter Araujo posted:
C&O Allie posted:
Peter Araujo posted:

From what I've seen, it looks like it resembles the K-Line Hudson or Berkshire tender tooling.

Peter,

It is the Lionel Tooling for the Hudson Tender.  You can tell because of the ladder.  It is the same as mine above and my tender is a Lionel one.Husdon Tender

K-Line Lima Demonstrator Berkshire tender. I've looked at some photos and compared.

Peter,

You are correct - my mistake.  So it will be slightly longer than the Hudson Tender in my picture, but shorter than the Mohawk Tender in my current version.

RLaHaie posted:

Too bad the plan is not to use the correct tender.  I wanted one for my Freedom Train, but will not be ordering one that is not correct.  I guess it is back to my original plan of finding one from a Mohawk and making some decals.......  If Lionel changes their mind and uses the correct shell, I could live with what ever trucks they put under it.

Rolland

Rolland,

Here are the decals I used for my version.  I printed the sides on clear decal paper and the numbers for the back on white decal paper.  Use the top set of the side decals for the words.

Attachments

RLaHaie posted:

Too bad the plan is not to use the correct tender.  I wanted one for my Freedom Train, but will not be ordering one that is not correct.  I guess it is back to my original plan of finding one from a Mohawk and making some decals.......  If Lionel changes their mind and uses the correct shell, I could live with what ever trucks they put under it.

Rolland

They don't have the correct tooling  Is how Ryan implied it in the video.   Sounded like one of those hey we don't have it and ehh it close enough.   Mike's has the tooling.  Maybe we can petition them to do the right ones for us lol

 

mountain482 posted:

If they implied in the Facebook Live that MTH has the tooling, then they really don't know their product history. Lionel did a second run of the Mohawk in 1998 which is long after they parted ways with MTH.

I think I confused you.  I'm sorry.  They noted that their Mohawk tender was not the correct length.    I was just saying MTH has the correct length tender.

I have to correct my earlier statement.

Ryan clearly spoke about the Mohawk tender as the prototype for this tender on the Notch6 podcast (check out the audio around 53:50). However, on the Dave and Ryan Show, he did mention that the tender model was not from the Mohawk.

My understanding from the show, is that tooling money for this catalog was depleted, and yes, this one will have to be close enough. As usual, if you absolutely need the correct/prototypical model, you can wait, build your own, get the MTH version or simply purchase this offering and understand there is a compromise.

Charlie

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