Tank You: A New Tender for N441 

In the latter years of steam operation, tenders of Victorian Railways A2, C and 1st & 2nd series N class locomotives were standardised to become what is known as the “ACN” tender, thus being interchangeable between these three classes of locomotives. However, with the NSG N class locomotives from the North British Locomotive Company, a new tender tank design was implemented. As many ACN tender tanks were starting to show their age in the 1950s, some tanks were swapped for NSG tanks, but retained their original ACN frames.

While the LRG already has an NSG tender tank that was planned to be used for the N class project, this new tender tank is the ACN type which was used behind 1st series N class locos such as N441. Additionally, it is in much better condition than our NSG tank and is now the prime candidate for restoration. As N441 will be an oil burning locomotive, A square oil tank will be constructed as per VR drawing A6200-64 and fitted to the tender tank, as seen on C class locomotives.

Restoration of the tender underframe that will be used behind N441 was completed some time ago now, and has also been transferred to our new facility at Traralgon Loco Depot. This tender frame, used behind either a C or A class locomotive due to it having a spring type intermediate buffer, was found stored in the west yard of the Newport Railway Workshops with our NSG tender tank on top.

Through research and restoration, we have discovered that the tender frame was likely built to be used behind a C class locomotive due to the discovery of brackets, holes and cutouts needed for straight air brake equipment. This equipment was standard on the C class and was not fitted to the entire A2 class (six A2 class locomotives were tested with a straight air brake, but this equipment was likely removed).  At some point in its life, the original ACN tank was replaced with an NSG tank and the tender was used as a departmental water tanker.