The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-29
Santa Fe Mallet Locomotives
Tenders Biggest in World.
Have Capacity of $4,000 Gallons
Water, 1000 Gallons Oil.
SIX WHEEL TRUCKS.
Tenders Weigh 23O,55O Pounds
When Fully Loaded.
Other Items of General Interest
in Railroad Circles.

Not long ago when the big massive
Mallet passenger and freight locomo-
tives were delivered to the Atchison,
Topeka & Santa Fe and set up at the
Topeka shops the hundreds of visitors
who admired the big engines and gazed
at their mammoth size were somewhat
surprised to see painted on the rear OF
the tender the following inscription
Capacity, 10000 gals. water, 1000 gals.
oil'
Not only were these locomotives the
biggest in the world and by far the
most powerful ever manufactured at a
locomotive works but the tenders have
the greatest capacity ever given to feed
an engine boiler and keep it hot. 10
make a tender that holds 10000 gallons
OF water and 1000 gallons of oil or To-
900 gallons of fuel and water all told,
is a pretty piece of mechanical engl-
neering for the best workmen.
The weight of this great tender when
filled equals over 100 tons or 230,55O
pounds al. told when in working Or
der.
However, it was absolutely necessary
that the Santa Fe have the great ca
pacity of the tender to conform with
the uncqUaled power and size of the
locomotive proper. Out onr.the western
divisions where these locomotives are
used there is a scarcity of water. 1t
IS economical to carry a large amount
in the tanks of the engine Some rail-
roads find it necessary to treat their
water along the lime regions and the
Santa Fe has found that it is cheaper
to carry lots of water with the engine
rather than erect additional treating
n1ants and maintain them. 1t is also
considered cheaper to use the big en-
CINE tenders rather than haul tank cars
over the system from one point to an
other.
Then the enormous requirements or
en- engine of this kind make 1t neceS-
sary for the unusual amount of water
1t was only a few years ago when the
average locomotive carried 1000 gallons
OF water. This was increased in a
short time to $500 gallons. Then it
jumped to 1000 and a tank carrying
this amount was considered one of the
big things in railroading. Now the T.
600 and 5000 gallon tanks have become
so common that they do not attract any
more than the usual notice.
The construction of these heavy ca
1,acity tanks does not differ materially
from the old tanks now in use. The
same Santa Fe idea of a. fiat top with
the slope to the front down to the dou-
ble floor. The Santa Fe has failed to
see the advantage of the Union Pacific
system of using rounded tanks which
are supposed to keep the water from
splashing against the sides and tipping
the tender.
There is a little difference in the new
Mallet tenders in the fact that the oil
basin is placed at the front end and
appliances used for its loading and I'M
Loading from this part of the tender.
The rear end of the tank is almost
identical with the back end of all tenders
used on the larger engines of the Santa
F'e.
The height Of the tank is not an I'M
usual feature on account of the oper-
ating and cleara nee requirements. The
height is but six feet and two inches.
The width over the side sheets is ten
feet and two inches. Thus it will be
seen that the increase in length is made
tc give the tender it's Dig capacity and
give it the reputation of being the larg-
est in the world.
The one big characteristic feature of
the tank and the feature that attracts
the eye at first sight is the use of the
rev six wheel trucks under the tender.
These locomotives are the only engines
in use in the country with the big six
wheel trucks under the tenders. In or
der to carry this 230550 pounds it is
necessary that these massive trucks be
used. This is the real innovation and
novelty of the big tender of the Santa
F'e MalIets.
Thus it will be seen that the Topeka
enthusiasts who saw the big locomotives
when they were here not only witness