There has been some prior discussion on whether or not the Q used water to
cool overheated journal box bearings on locomotive tenders, if or if not such a
practice was effective and the existence of photographs that would prove such an
application actually took place. The following link shows such an
application to the tender of O1a No. 4994 at the time it was built in
1923 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works:
I'd like to hear from some of the other "old timers" on this List who
actually repacked hot boxes on friction journal bearing cars to hear their
comments on if adding water to oil to cool such a hot box would actually
work, or if the water would damage the axle seal and make a bad situation
worse. Lastly, can any one explain the large apron between the tender
tank and drawbar? Were the tenders designed to have their water capacity
expanded during heavy repairs at some later date? Certainly looks unusual.
Louis Zadnichek II
Fairhope, AL