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Steam Engine Torque?
- Thread starter rbattelle
- Start Date
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rbattelle
TDR MEMBER
Awesome! They got a museum in Altoona, too!
Best. Trip. Ever.
On edit: Horseshoe Curve and the museum aren't open in March.
More editing:
Check this out, you can order complete blueprints for the 4-8-8-4 "Big Boy"!
Ryan
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another reason to hate winter???
i can't wait until summer. . no more crawling through deep snow out in the boonies to go cut off dragging stuff on the locomotives [had an almost 20 hour day on sunday going 250 miles north of my shop out in the sticks to torch off some dragging brake rigging
took longer to find the loco than it took to drive up there]
Vaughn MacKenzie
TDR MEMBER
John I had an odd thing happen once in 1997. I started to follow a train running eastbound from Coulee City and after taking a few pictures I went on ahead to stake out my next shot, in a secluded woody area. When the train reached me the engineer stopped right where I was, got out of the locomotive and walked over to me. I was a bit uncomfortable wondering why this guy stops his 52-car train just to talk to me. But he was friendly and was curious if I was in a hurry to go anywhere, and said I was welcome to hop in for a ride
I'm like "let's go!!" I rode along for an hour as the well-worn locomotive bucked & rocked down the rough track. It was a warm summer day and very enjoyable sitting there with the windows open and breeze blowing through. When we were out of sight of the highway the engineer let me go out on the catwalk. That was a very cool perspective. The engineer handled the call of nature out of sight of the highway too. He left the throttle in Run 2 or 3 then stepped out on the catwalk to take care of business. Said the technique is to firmly grip the handrail with one hand an let it fly with the other :-laf The highlight of the day was when we were coming into town and about hit a car in a crossing. A lady saw us, panicked, and stalled her car on the tracks. Luckily we were only going 10mph and got the train stopped just in time
Once we reached our destination (Cheney) a RR employee ran me back to get my rig.
Vaughn
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rbattelle
TDR MEMBER
250 miles north of my shop out in the sticks to torch off some dragging brake rigging
Oh c'mon, they can't give the engineers a torch so they can take care of things like this on their own? What a waste to send someone from the backshop just for this!
Ryan
John I had an odd thing happen once in 1997. I started to follow a train running eastbound from Coulee City and after taking a few pictures I went on ahead to stake out my next shot, in a secluded woody area. When the train reached me the engineer stopped right where I was, got out of the locomotive and walked over to me. I was a bit uncomfortable wondering why this guy stops his 52-car train just to talk to me. But he was friendly and was curious if I was in a hurry to go anywhere, and said I was welcome to hop in for a ride
The highlight of the day was when we were coming into town and about hit a car in a crossing. A lady saw us, panicked, and stalled her car on the tracks. Luckily we were only going 10mph and got the train stopped just in time
Once we reached our destination (Cheney) a RR employee ran me back to get my rig.
Vaughn
Vaughn, isn't it a completely exciting experience!!!! Words can't do it justice,, specially for us motor heads!!
That crossing experience you had reminds me how I was most amazed at the chances people take at the crossings. It looks entirely different from the view of the train engineer.
nickleinonen,, you must work on these things every day. Probably you wonder what the fuss is all about
But for us rubber meets the road guys trains are a captivating attraction for sure!!!Steam Engine Torque?
I don't know how this would apply to locomotives, but I was watching an antique tractor show on RFD-TV one evening and they were interviewing the daughter or grandaughter of the founder of the Case Tractor Company (I think it was case, anyway). No matter really, as the point was that back in the early 1900's her namesakes tractor company built huge steam farm tractors to work on really big plots of land. According to her, one of the largest of those would actually start an 18 bottom plow from a dead stop with the plows buried --- something she claimed not even the largest diesel tractors built since will do.
I don't know how this would apply to locomotives, but I was watching an antique tractor show on RFD-TV one evening and they were interviewing the daughter or grandaughter of the founder of the Case Tractor Company (I think it was case, anyway). No matter really, as the point was that back in the early 1900's her namesakes tractor company built huge steam farm tractors to work on really big plots of land. According to her, one of the largest of those would actually start an 18 bottom plow from a dead stop with the plows buried --- something she claimed not even the largest diesel tractors built since will do.
This is true from what I understand. These tractors are displayed in running form in shows such as the "Midwest Old Threshers Reunion" in Mt Pleasant, IA.
Anyone who hasn't seen these machines should take the trip for sure.
Further, the old timers said where these tractors were used in the plains they would plow 1/2 day away from the barn then finish the day coming back. As one wwould expect they are extremly cumbersome and quite slow,, but very powerful with a large tractive effort.
In todays world I would not be surprised if a Cat Challenger could not start the plow as she described. Probably little chance though of a wheel tractor.
http://www.geneseecountyparks.org/railroad_photos.htm
I get to hear this one from my shop (about a mile away) 3 days a week, May to September. Whenever I need a fix I'll take my lunch at the village and go for a ride and BS with the engineers. What a great way to travel...
From the website...
Currently, the Huckleberry Railroad owns 7 locomotives. Of the 7 locomotives, #2 and #464 are the primary locomotives that serve the Huckleberry Railroad. The Huckleberry Railroad #2, formally known as #152 locomotive, is a 4-6-0 (wheel arrangement) built in June of 1920 by Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia, PA for the Alaska Engineering Commission (AEC). The AEC purchased #2 and the Tanana Valley Railroad to further its task of building the Alaska Railroad.
The Alaska Railroad was a three-foot gauge railroad and ran out of Fairbanks to the coal mines of Nenana, and the gold rush town of Chatanika. Once the standard gauge main line of Alaska Railroad was completed, the AEC dissolved, and its property transferred over to the Alaska Railroad.
In 1943, #152 was transferred from storage at the Alaska Railroad to the US War Department, in Seattle, WA. At some point later, #152 was sold to the Davison Scrap Company in Stockton, CA. It was purchased by Hal Wilmunder and relocated to the Antelope & Western in Roseville, CA and renumbered as #2. In 1963, #2 went to the Camino, Cable, & Northern. When Camino, Cable, & Northern shut down in 1974, Mr. Wilmunder sold #2 to Keystone Locomotive Works. In 1975, the Genesee County Parks and Recreation Commission purchased #2 and began restoration.
After restoration was completed on #2 locomotive in 1976, it began revenue service at the Huckleberry Railroad. #2 is the primary locomotive for the Huckleberry Railroad. And of the locomotives operating at the beginning of the Huckleberry Railroad, #2 is the only locomotive still in active service.
After proudly serving the Huckleberry Railroad for 14 years as the primary locomotive, #2 was in need of a major repair and overhaul. In January of 1990, #2 went down for service, and the newly rebuilt locomotive #464 went into service.
There were several changes made to #2 locomotive. A new set of windows were cut and installed into the front of the cab. The cab was stained with a deeper color to give it a more realistic look and the red paint on the locomotive was changed to black, to give the locomotive cab a more traditional appearance. After four years of repair and restoration, in December of 1994, #2 began regular service and continues to this day.
The other primary locomotive, #464 was built in 1903 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works for the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. #464 was the final “mudhen” in an order of 15 locomotives delivered with Vauclain Compound cylinders, Stephenson Valve Gear, and a slope back tender. The Rio Grande, a few years later, converted #464 to simple cylinders and slide valves. Later in its life #464 was again converted to its third set of cylinders, now with Walschaerts Valve Gear and piston valves.
The #464 spent most if its life under the ownership of the Rio Grande, It hauled freight and may have performed helper duties. Also, during its time with the Rio Grande it served in the Rio Grande Southern in the 1940's and was used on the Silverton train, out of Durango, CA in the 1950's. In 1973, Knotts Berry Farm, Placentia, CA, purchased #464 and used it for one year. Due to low clearance of the counterweights, and a declining mechanical state #464 was sidelined.
In 1981, the Huckleberry Railroad acquired #464 from Knotts Berry Farm and started restoration immediately. By 1989 restoration of #464 was completed and ready to enter service. In January of 1990, #2 went down for major rebuilding, and #464 became the Huckleberry's primary locomotive.
In the fall of 1994, #464's sword hanger (part of the suspension system) broke. At this point it was taken out service for repair of the sword hanger and replacement of locomotive tires and repair to the water tank.
Huckleberry Railroad Coaches and Cars
As of January 2003, the Huckleberry Railroad own and operate 7 locomotives, two cabooses, one hopper car, and motor car (Speeder). Each and every coach, caboose, and car is very unique in its origins and history. Ride the Huckleberry Railroad and see history come to life!
I get to hear this one from my shop (about a mile away) 3 days a week, May to September. Whenever I need a fix I'll take my lunch at the village and go for a ride and BS with the engineers. What a great way to travel...
From the website...
Currently, the Huckleberry Railroad owns 7 locomotives. Of the 7 locomotives, #2 and #464 are the primary locomotives that serve the Huckleberry Railroad. The Huckleberry Railroad #2, formally known as #152 locomotive, is a 4-6-0 (wheel arrangement) built in June of 1920 by Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia, PA for the Alaska Engineering Commission (AEC). The AEC purchased #2 and the Tanana Valley Railroad to further its task of building the Alaska Railroad.
The Alaska Railroad was a three-foot gauge railroad and ran out of Fairbanks to the coal mines of Nenana, and the gold rush town of Chatanika. Once the standard gauge main line of Alaska Railroad was completed, the AEC dissolved, and its property transferred over to the Alaska Railroad.
In 1943, #152 was transferred from storage at the Alaska Railroad to the US War Department, in Seattle, WA. At some point later, #152 was sold to the Davison Scrap Company in Stockton, CA. It was purchased by Hal Wilmunder and relocated to the Antelope & Western in Roseville, CA and renumbered as #2. In 1963, #2 went to the Camino, Cable, & Northern. When Camino, Cable, & Northern shut down in 1974, Mr. Wilmunder sold #2 to Keystone Locomotive Works. In 1975, the Genesee County Parks and Recreation Commission purchased #2 and began restoration.
After restoration was completed on #2 locomotive in 1976, it began revenue service at the Huckleberry Railroad. #2 is the primary locomotive for the Huckleberry Railroad. And of the locomotives operating at the beginning of the Huckleberry Railroad, #2 is the only locomotive still in active service.
After proudly serving the Huckleberry Railroad for 14 years as the primary locomotive, #2 was in need of a major repair and overhaul. In January of 1990, #2 went down for service, and the newly rebuilt locomotive #464 went into service.
There were several changes made to #2 locomotive. A new set of windows were cut and installed into the front of the cab. The cab was stained with a deeper color to give it a more realistic look and the red paint on the locomotive was changed to black, to give the locomotive cab a more traditional appearance. After four years of repair and restoration, in December of 1994, #2 began regular service and continues to this day.
The other primary locomotive, #464 was built in 1903 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works for the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. #464 was the final “mudhen” in an order of 15 locomotives delivered with Vauclain Compound cylinders, Stephenson Valve Gear, and a slope back tender. The Rio Grande, a few years later, converted #464 to simple cylinders and slide valves. Later in its life #464 was again converted to its third set of cylinders, now with Walschaerts Valve Gear and piston valves.
The #464 spent most if its life under the ownership of the Rio Grande, It hauled freight and may have performed helper duties. Also, during its time with the Rio Grande it served in the Rio Grande Southern in the 1940's and was used on the Silverton train, out of Durango, CA in the 1950's. In 1973, Knotts Berry Farm, Placentia, CA, purchased #464 and used it for one year. Due to low clearance of the counterweights, and a declining mechanical state #464 was sidelined.
In 1981, the Huckleberry Railroad acquired #464 from Knotts Berry Farm and started restoration immediately. By 1989 restoration of #464 was completed and ready to enter service. In January of 1990, #2 went down for major rebuilding, and #464 became the Huckleberry's primary locomotive.
In the fall of 1994, #464's sword hanger (part of the suspension system) broke. At this point it was taken out service for repair of the sword hanger and replacement of locomotive tires and repair to the water tank.
Huckleberry Railroad Coaches and Cars
As of January 2003, the Huckleberry Railroad own and operate 7 locomotives, two cabooses, one hopper car, and motor car (Speeder). Each and every coach, caboose, and car is very unique in its origins and history. Ride the Huckleberry Railroad and see history come to life!
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what they should have done was send someone from sudbury down to cut it off. they have an on call machinest at their small yard there. that would have been about 50 miles round trip. there are a lot of the train crews who are not very mechanically inclined. they can change a hose or knuckle if they have to, but any other mechanical/electrical work they won't do unless they really need to [and it was easier for the crew to set off the loco in a siding]
nickleinonen,, you must work on these things every day. Probably you wonder what the fuss is all about
i understand what the fuss is about. i'd love to see an old steam engine working, and i would love to see some old diesel working too [old switchers with the alco inline 6's (13" piston) or the FM opposed diesel engine switchers] but all i have is more modern stuff to work on. they may be painted different colors for the different rr's, but they are all almost the same on the inside
i did blow up a cylinder on a 16fdl today though. . exhaust valve broke and imbedded itself in the piston crown. man i wish i had some pictures of that unit. . we had 5' flames out the stack before it went boom
Ryan i live 5 miles from Steamtown. Its in Scranton PA.
What i sight it is I love watching them and checking out the train and trolly museum. and esp. BIG BOY!!
BTW scranton is called the Electric city, I beleive because we were the first to have electric trollys
Michael
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http://www.hfmgv.org/museum/transportation/allegheny.asp
If your ever in the Detroit area, The Henry Frod museum has lots of steam power. A trip to this museum is a must see if your close.
If your ever in the Detroit area, The Henry Frod museum has lots of steam power. A trip to this museum is a must see if your close.
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My only regret is that I had so little time to spend there. I should have swapped days and gone to the W. P. Chrysler museum since I had plenty of time that day. It was really cool to see the old machines that ran the factory. Nothing is cooler than seeing a two-story flywheel
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Vaughn MacKenzie
TDR MEMBER
The Ford museum is awesome! I found the ancient stationary steam engines fascinating.
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Yeah, The Henry Ford museum is a world class museum. Days are needed to really take it all in, especially with Greenfield Village, the IMAX, etc.
Kind of off topic... . I was visiting a customer of mine (Pulte Home R&D Center) at their newly renovated, state of the art, R&D facility... . and we're walking towards the back corner of the plant (which shared a wall with the building next door) towards this door. He asks if i wanted to see something neat (well... sure!) and opens the door to this other building that was like stepping back 80 years in time..... it was an old Dodge Brothers assembly/manufacturing plant, and they were in the process of scrapping some ORIGINAL dodge brothers equipment! Looked to be part of the sheet forming equipment. I don't think he was expecting such a reaction from me as my jaw slammed the floor. I could literally feel opportunity slipping through my hands as they just demolished the equipment as I stood there gaping. Fifteen minutes earlier and they would have gladly thrown that equipment up on my (empty!) trailer and saved themselves 10 minutes worth of work. That was about 4 years ago and I still cringe when I think how close I came to getting and preserving some very rare manufacturing equipment.....
Kind of off topic... . I was visiting a customer of mine (Pulte Home R&D Center) at their newly renovated, state of the art, R&D facility... . and we're walking towards the back corner of the plant (which shared a wall with the building next door) towards this door. He asks if i wanted to see something neat (well... sure!) and opens the door to this other building that was like stepping back 80 years in time..... it was an old Dodge Brothers assembly/manufacturing plant, and they were in the process of scrapping some ORIGINAL dodge brothers equipment! Looked to be part of the sheet forming equipment. I don't think he was expecting such a reaction from me as my jaw slammed the floor. I could literally feel opportunity slipping through my hands as they just demolished the equipment as I stood there gaping. Fifteen minutes earlier and they would have gladly thrown that equipment up on my (empty!) trailer and saved themselves 10 minutes worth of work. That was about 4 years ago and I still cringe when I think how close I came to getting and preserving some very rare manufacturing equipment.....
rbattelle
TDR MEMBER
Best museum I've ever been to in my life. Oo.
The Allegheny was quite possibly the most beautiful machine I've ever laid eyes on. And get this: you can sit in the cab!!!!
Ryan
steam power is cool especially the steam powered locomotives but i would personally favor diesel electric more tractioneffort to each axle dynamic brakes and A/C the UP big boy only has 135,000lbs of traction effort no dynamic brakes to help stop . Down in South Texas we haul alot of Rock Trains and we use normally 4 6000 horsepower unitswith 175000 lbs of traction effort per unit , wich gives the train around 700,000 pounds of traction effort not to mention all that dynamic braking effort. i think i would choose diesel power .
http://home.att.net/~cz17/Tanktrain-bealville.wmv
heres a older diesel train clip old Southern Pacific SD40s and GP-9 train pulling a heavy tank train each running SD40 is around 3000 horsepower
heres a older diesel train clip old Southern Pacific SD40s and GP-9 train pulling a heavy tank train each running SD40 is around 3000 horsepower
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rbattelle
TDR MEMBER
Did I count 12 locomotives!? Awesome. How do they get the MU connectors to run from the middle (or back) of a train all the way up to the front? Really long wires?
I love diesels for their sheer power. I like steam because I like machinery and steam has more "stuff" to look at.
Ryan
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Issue 128 – Digital Version
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FREE!
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Renew
Subscribe
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Back Issues
Subscription Status
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