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Bernie Vine Send message Joined: 26 May 99 Posts: 9954 Credit: 103,452,613 RAC: 328 |
Actually Bernie, the H8 2-6-6-6 Allegheny can/could beat a Big Boy, as the H8 had more horsepower(7,498 hp) than any other steam loco according to the wiki. Now I didn't actually say it was the most powerful loco. It just is the epitome of the big US steam engine, sounds right too "Big Boy" as apposed to "H8 2-6-6-6 Allegheny" kinda doesn't roll of the tongue so well. And boy they are certainly not the prettiest loco I have ever seen.(Still like to see on close up) :-) More of those strange "things on the front that started this particular conversation. Still form versus function, it didn't need to be beautiful to do the job. |
zoom3+1=4 Send message Joined: 30 Nov 03 Posts: 65777 Credit: 55,293,173 RAC: 49 |
Here's a pic of the UP 4-8-8-4 Big Boy for comparison. The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's |
Bernie Vine Send message Joined: 26 May 99 Posts: 9954 Credit: 103,452,613 RAC: 328 |
Here's a pic of the UP 4-8-8-4 Big Boy for comparison. Er yes I posted one two of my posts back, which is why I posted the other on for comparison!!! |
David S Send message Joined: 4 Oct 99 Posts: 18352 Credit: 27,761,924 RAC: 12 |
This, of course, is not a Big Boy. But at least the ugly stuff on the front is symmetrical. That alone makes is somewhat more pleasing. As noted, UP 4014 will be restored and converted to oil. It will move from West Colton, CA, to Cheyenne, WY, next month. They would have done it sooner, but the steam crew is also in charge of UP's rotary snow plows and didn't want to be in the middle of moving 4014 when another blast of this endless winter called them away. Of the several Big Boys they examined, this one was chosen mainly because its brakes were in the best shape. They completely rebuilt the lubricating system at the fairgrounds before they pulled it out. Railroads in the US pull freight from the middle of nowhere to the middle of somewhere, where it will be consumed. Steam engines were built either to pull lots of freight slowly, a little freight quickly, or some compromise of those factors (taking into consideration the physical characteristics of the railroad and its traffic base). Some railroads also had steam engines designed to move passengers very quickly, and some even painted them colors other than black. David Sitting on my butt while others boldly go, Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri. |
Bill Walker Send message Joined: 4 Sep 99 Posts: 3868 Credit: 2,697,267 RAC: 0 |
Bernie, function IS beauty, to me. But I still have a soft spot for the streamliners: US, European, or even Canadian like this one. |
Bill Walker Send message Joined: 4 Sep 99 Posts: 3868 Credit: 2,697,267 RAC: 0 |
And, as David said, Canada even had fast engines for passengers and they were not black. (And strictly speaking not steam, but still pretty, IMHO.) |
Bill Walker Send message Joined: 4 Sep 99 Posts: 3868 Credit: 2,697,267 RAC: 0 |
What were the windows in the front for if it was driven from the cab? If you mean the little round one on the front, it is called a headlight. ;) If you mean the two big rectangles above that, they were air inlets for the ejector system, that drew air in the front, mixed it with the smoke and vented steam in the long duct behind, and ejected the mixture out the top of the duct producing thrust. Canada pretty much pioneered this concept, which was later used to cool airplane engines with a mix of ambient air and engine exhaust, while producing thrust. Take a look at the typical Canadian exhaust system for example. The exhaust pipes (4 total) are way bigger than you need for just engine gases, and note the cowling outlet end is sealed, except for these pipes and a small vent on the bottom. It is a mix of exhaust and cooling air coming out those pipes. Also acts as a muffler, and give the Otter a very distinctive sound. |
James Sotherden Send message Joined: 16 May 99 Posts: 10436 Credit: 110,373,059 RAC: 54 |
I just wish we had passenger rail like you guys over the pond have. We used to have back in the early 1900's. But when cars became cheap to own, Only frieght moved by rail. My Grandmother was born in 1907. I asked her when her dad got his first car. It was 1922,And it wasnt a new car either. Before that she said if you wanted to go anywhere it was by horse or train or trolly. And the last two was if you lived near a station. For my grandmother a trip to Syracuse, NY was an all day affair. ( now days 20 minutes from just about any where in the suburbs ) My great grandfather who I do remeber, Would hitch the team up to the buggy, Take the trek to a trolly or train station depending on where they lived and then go to the big city. I can still to this day see the old trolly and old roadbeds where they used to run to. The infrastructure was there and we let it go. The good thing is those old rail beds are still here being used for snowmobile trails. If only they would lay new track. [/quote] Old James |
David S Send message Joined: 4 Oct 99 Posts: 18352 Credit: 27,761,924 RAC: 12 |
I can still to this day see the old trolly and old roadbeds where they used to run to. The infrastructure was there and we let it go. The good thing is those old rail beds are still here being used for snowmobile trails. If only they would lay new track. If anyone ever tried to put the track back, the snowmobilers, hikers, horseback riders, and general NIMBYs would throw a fit. There are even places in your state where they want to get rid of active tracks and put in a trail. David Sitting on my butt while others boldly go, Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri. |
James Sotherden Send message Joined: 16 May 99 Posts: 10436 Credit: 110,373,059 RAC: 54 |
I can still to this day see the old trolly and old roadbeds where they used to run to. The infrastructure was there and we let it go. The good thing is those old rail beds are still here being used for snowmobile trails. If only they would lay new track. So true. They like the straight a ways. So they can lose control and whack a tree. [/quote] Old James |
David S Send message Joined: 4 Oct 99 Posts: 18352 Credit: 27,761,924 RAC: 12 |
I've decided to become more active at Illinois Railway Museum this year. I read all the way through the 96 page rule book (plus 4 pages for my training records) and am now working on the 36 page timetable. I plan to go to the safety training meeting and may or may not take the rules test afterward. I want to be a trainman this year, maybe a qualified conductor next year. Then I could learn to run things. David Sitting on my butt while others boldly go, Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri. |
David S Send message Joined: 4 Oct 99 Posts: 18352 Credit: 27,761,924 RAC: 12 |
Of course, the biggest obstacles to this are A: my weight, B: my cat, and C: my gas tank. The latter two need to be fed regularly, while the first needs to be fed rather less than it currently is. David Sitting on my butt while others boldly go, Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri. |
Luigi Naruszewicz Send message Joined: 19 Nov 99 Posts: 620 Credit: 23,910,372 RAC: 14 |
Of course, the biggest obstacles to this are A: my weight Of you can always apply for the position of the Fat Controller ! . A person who makes no mistakes, creates nothing. |
John McLeod VII Send message Joined: 15 Jul 99 Posts: 24806 Credit: 790,712 RAC: 0 |
Of course, the biggest obstacles to this are A: my weight Only if you wear a top hat. BOINC WIKI |
celttooth Send message Joined: 21 Nov 99 Posts: 26503 Credit: 28,583,098 RAC: 0 |
Bill this image brings back fond memories for me from my youth.... (Let me know if it won't display.) |
zoom3+1=4 Send message Joined: 30 Nov 03 Posts: 65777 Credit: 55,293,173 RAC: 49 |
Of course, the biggest obstacles to this are A: my weight And have a beard... The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's |
rob smith Send message Joined: 7 Mar 03 Posts: 22227 Credit: 416,307,556 RAC: 380 |
No self respecting Fat Controller would ever grow facial hair.... Bob Smith Member of Seti PIPPS (Pluto is a Planet Protest Society) Somewhere in the (un)known Universe? |
Bill Walker Send message Joined: 4 Sep 99 Posts: 3868 Credit: 2,697,267 RAC: 0 |
Bill this image brings back fond memories 105 Flight. Is that Winnipeg or Namao? All you train guys relax. Beautiful machinery is beautiful machinery. |
celttooth Send message Joined: 21 Nov 99 Posts: 26503 Credit: 28,583,098 RAC: 0 |
Winnipeg or Namao? Looks like Namao.... I was based at Winnipeg a few times and I don't remember that view. The pix is a buet' eh? |
Donald L. Johnson Send message Joined: 5 Aug 02 Posts: 8240 Credit: 14,654,533 RAC: 20 |
Sir Topham Hatt agrees with you. Some longish sideburns or mutton-chops wouldn't hurt..... Donald Infernal Optimist / Submariner, retired |
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