In business since 1992 LBR Enterprises,llc as been through many changes over the years and now that we are getting older it is time to specialize in one or two things to offer the "S" gage community.

     To that end we are now offering our rendition of the FAMOUS Vanderbilt cylindrical tender that was used by many railroads back in the day.

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Cylindrical tanks with dished ends are self-bracing. Rectangular tanks are not; they require internal cross-braces and reinforcing to prevent bulging. Rectangular tanks are generally built with an complex internal square-honeycomb of antislosh baffles (with holes big enough to crawl thru) riveted to the sides and bottom of the tank. They're a perfect nightmare to chip out with a needle gun or sandblaster. You're constantly on your knees in a dark confined space, surrounded by a dust storm of rust and crud. Cylindrical Vanderbilt tanks require a much simpler system of cross-wise and fore-and-aft anti-slosh baffles. This gives the Vanderbilt tank some advantages:
- less steel needed, so easier & cheaper to construct, and less deadweight... an important consideration, since roughly half the weight of a loaded tender is steel.
- easier to clean out
- easier to inspect and keep relatively free of rust
- somewhat better visibility towards the rear when switching.

Tender tanks tend to rust out on the side sheets near the bottom. S.P. Vanderbilt tender tanks (and probably most other Vanderbilt tanks) have an extra-thick lengthwise bottom plate in this zone. They survived daily service in the steam era, plus years of neglect in outdoor display, in surprisingly good condition. The two S.P. 4-6-2 Vanderbilt 12,000-gallon tenders I'm familiar with (S.P. 2467 & 2472) had a lot of corrosion on the anti-slosh baffles and their angle irons. They seem to have served as the sacrificial anodes or cathodes, whereas the tank body is in much better shape. Fortunately the Vanderbilt anti-slosh baffles & their angle irons are relatively easy to reinforce or replace.