Who designed the Vanderbilt Tender and where can I find out more information on the internet regarding it.?

Question

Also, I am looking for evidence that they were used on the Pennsylvania Railroad.

Answer 1

Cornelius Vanderbilt.

I know they saw extensive use in the western US.  PRR used a lot of Baldwin power, so they probably used them as well, since they were used for both oil fired and coal fired locomotives.

There is the Hicken type tender as well, which bears some resemblence to the Vandies.

Answer 2

I don't think any were used on th PRR, but another source could be history info on the Kansas City Southern.  The KCS used both styles.  In the 1920's they were heavily influenced by Delaware & Hudson motive power.

Answer 3

Cornelius Vanderbilt, great grandson of the legendary Commodore Vanderbilt of New York Central fame, patented the tender on May 31, 1901.  Ironically, NYC never operated a Vanderbilt tender.

The only evidence I was able to find that PRR used Vandys was  a reference to an N scale model by Con-Cor of #3704, a Mikado.  I don't know if this is really representative of an actual PRR locomotive, but it's a start.

Answer 4

Cornelius Vanderbuilt bought several railroads.  They never merged, but shared common designs.  That's how the name came about. It was a standard design that was used by the railroads owned by Vanderbuilt.

As for the engineer that designed it, I don't even know how you'd start looking fo rhat.

The distinguishing feature, is the water tank is a horizontal cylinder, and the coal bunker is squared, with the rear sloped forward.  

I don't think they were used by the Pennsy, except perhaps second-hand power, or standard USRA designs.

Find a Pennsy motive power book and keep looking at pictures.  You'll never prove they didn't ,but the first picture you find with a Vanderbuilt tender labeled "Pennsylvania" and you'll prove they had one.