I know this is probably real basic and that there is a simple reason for it, but why is the connection between model steam locos and tenders made with a bent steel tab rather than knuckle couplers like the rest of the cars?
Thanks for the help,
Bill
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Because it's an easy method to separate the locomotive and tender and in the real world, locomotive and tender were connected by drawbars, not couplers.
Rusty
Real steam locomotives use a semi-permanent drawbar connection, rather than a knuckle coupler. Models generally use some sort of functional, simple arrangement that can still be easily uncoupled. The tab/slot arrangement is just one typical way that's stood the test of time in models.
If the loco had regular couplers, someone would put the tender somewhere else in the train. Just look at how people hook up trains of Marx six inch cars sometimes.
In the real world, the locomotive and tender were considered one unit and were permanently coupled together with a drawbar. Permanent connections of air, steam and water were made between loco and tender, as also was a connection for the coal stoker in the larger locomotives.
In our model world, only scale models seem to incorporate a permanent drawbar connection, while the rest have a hook and slot arrangement to simulate the drawbar.
Larry
American Flyer guys are used to a drawbar as almost of the flyer steamers until 57 or so were semi- permenatly attached to their tenders. The power pickups and the E unite were in the tender before 57 or so, and there was a four or five pin tether, plus a draw bar.
At least we Flyer guys never had someone's mom put the tender on the track backwards. 
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