Locomotive to Tender tensioning system from the Fireman's side.

The 905's tender is coupled to the locomotive by a drawbar. The tender is kept tensioned against the locomotive by a wedge pushing against the backside of a plunger which is pushed against a plate on the locomotive. The wedge is pushed forward by a strong spring.

Same photo without lables.

There are really two separate jobs to be done to uncouple the tender from the locomotive.

First, it has to be detensioned.

Second, the drawbar has to be disconected at one end or the other.

Some have been cut. That's not a cool solution.

Locomotive to Tender tensioning system from the Engineer's side.

This is a view of the narrow end of the wedge. This end needs to be pushed back so the plunger can move backwards releasing the tension against the locomotive.

Same photo without lables.

Safety Chain

With this lower perspective of the coupling, you can see the size of the two safety chains between the locomotive and tender.

An unsuccessful attempt.... one of many!

We tried an electric jack-hammer to drive the wedge out. Didn't work.

Trying to drive the wedge out with a sledge.

Neither did a 10 lb sledge.

Nor did turning the spring assemply around and using it as a puller.

Hydraulics

Using both a bottle jack and a porta-power piston to apply pressure on the tensioning assembly.

Trying to force the wedge out hydraulically.

Using the porta-power to push on the small edge of the wedge, bracing it against the front casting of the tender.

Finally, a combination of the porta-power pushing horizontally, lots of penetrating oil (lots), jacks from the bottom pushing one part of the wedge up, then another part up (kind of wiggling it real slow and tediously), hammering and cussing and about 4 days work, the wedge came free.

The wedge

Heavy? Yes sir, it's all there.

Detensioned. (no labels)

Note the gap between the plunger and the locomotive.

Another day - pulling the pin that holds the drawbar.

Top of the pin that secures the drawbar to the tender.

The drawbar is attached to both the tender and the locomotive by one pin on each end. We have been pouring penetrating oil on it over a period of several months.

Top of the pin - locomotive

Top of the pin that secures the drawbar on the locomotive.

Sorry, it's under the leaves. Thought I had a better photo.

Like the wedge - many different attempts

A hammer to the bottom of the pin in the tender.

A porta-power to the pin.

Trying to push the tender pin up.

The porta power on the tender pin.

Try a little slack.

Another trick tried was to move the tender towards the locomotive, just in case it was putting the drawbar and thus the pin in a bind.

One of the stranger attempts that didn't work.

Obviously, the tender was sitting higher than it probably did when loaded with coal and water. We thought this was putting the drawbar and pin in a bind. Loading the tender down would require equipment, materials and planning and couldn't be done that day. (no suggestion is too stupid, especially if it doesn't take much time and effort).

We decided to load up the tender with as many people as we could and all jump up and down in unison. The problem was, this was all we could muster who didn't have bad knees or backs, and who could get into the tender. I think it was more a photo op. than a real serious try.

Fingerhold - on the locomotive pin

John McDevitt has a fingerhold on the locomotive pin.

Finally, things began going our way on the locomotive end of the drawbar. It was the locomotive pin we ended up pulling.

Both hands...

There isn't much room to work, and no room to get leverage.

Out!

The pin and its keeper.

Moving the tender.

Since the tender was now free of the locomotive, we just had to move it a little to prove its independence. We used our manufacturer donated car moving tool.

The crew for the day.