Tender (rail)

Tender (rail)

A tender or coal-car is a special rail vehicle hauled by a steam locomotive containing the locomotive's fuel (wood, coal, or oil) and water. Steam locomotives consume large quantities of water compared to the quantity of fuel, so tenders are necessary to keep the locomotive running over long distances. A locomotive that pulls a tender is called a tender locomotive. Locomotives that do not have tenders and carry all their fuel and water on board the locomotive are called tank engines.

A brake tender is a heavy variant used primarily to provide greater braking efficiency.

Read more about Tender (rail):  General Functions, Tender Design Variants, Tender-first Operations

Famous quotes containing the word tender:

    My tender age in sorrow did begin:
    And still with sicknesses and shame
    Thou did’st so punish sin,
    That I became
    Most thin.
    With Thee
    Let me combine
    And feel this day Thy victory;
    George Herbert (1593–1633)