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General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Rob52240 on March 27, 2012, 04:13:06 AM

Title: Last of the Giants
Post by: Rob52240 on March 27, 2012, 04:13:06 AM
I thought this was very interesting.  I was born well after the change to diesel and had no idea that the old steam locomotives were as powerful, and sometime more powerful than what we're producing today.

Union Pacific "Big Boy"  the largest steam locomotives ever produced
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pi7Jac3htts&feature=youtu.be&hd=1&t=12m22s
(http://www.vistadome.com/trains/steamtown2/uprr4012.jpg)
Title: Re: Last of the Giants
Post by: clerick on March 27, 2012, 05:44:46 AM
I thought this was very interesting.  I was born well after the change to diesel and had no idea that the old steam locomotives were as powerful, and sometime more powerful than what we're producing today.

Union Pacific "Big Boy"  the largest steam locomotives ever produced

[img]

These are some impressive machines, along with their smaller cousins the Challangers. It's impressive to see a million pound machine up close.
Title: Re: Last of the Giants
Post by: lyric1 on March 27, 2012, 06:32:54 AM
That is one big train.  :O
Title: Re: Last of the Giants
Post by: RTHolmes on March 27, 2012, 08:13:18 AM
That is one big loco.  :O

fixed ;)


edit: thinking about it, that may be a UK-only correction
Title: Re: Last of the Giants
Post by: Skuzzy on March 27, 2012, 08:40:43 AM
fixed ;)


edit: thinking about it, that may be a UK-only correction

Nope, you are mostly correct.  'Train' is used as generic term to include all the cars, including the locomotive and caboose, as a single unit.

Technically, the usage of 'train' is appropriate as there is a locomotive and a coal car.  Some would argue a train cannot be a train without a caboose as well.

At least, that is how it is used in the U.S.

That is one huge locomotive though.
Title: Re: Last of the Giants
Post by: eagl on March 27, 2012, 09:08:03 AM
That's not a train and certainly not a locomotive.  It's a "choo choo".  Just ask my niece, who appears to be an expert on such things.

Title: Re: Last of the Giants
Post by: RTHolmes on March 27, 2012, 09:18:23 AM
those Big Boys are total beasts, are there any still running?
Title: Re: Last of the Giants
Post by: Skuzzy on March 27, 2012, 10:13:03 AM
That's not a train and certainly not a locomotive.  It's a "choo choo".  Just ask my niece, who appears to be an expert on such things.

LOL!  Touche'
Title: Re: Last of the Giants
Post by: clerick on March 27, 2012, 11:51:50 AM
those Big Boys are total beasts, are there any still running?

I believe that there are 8 left in existence, none of which are running IIRC.  There are however a few of the Challangers and Yellowstones running I believe.  They were beasts too.  I have had the privilege of seeing some of these Loco's in action here in Minnesota and they are impressive to say the least.
Title: Re: Last of the Giants
Post by: Shuffler on March 27, 2012, 11:54:58 AM
We have several locomotives in the area but none that size that I know of. That is one long loco.
Title: Re: Last of the Giants
Post by: Rob52240 on March 29, 2012, 09:29:22 PM
Well I feel like an idiot for not calling the choo-choo it's proper name.
Title: Re: Last of the Giants
Post by: MiloMorai on March 29, 2012, 10:31:19 PM
There are no operable Big Boys and no plans to return any to running condition.

4004: Holliday Park, Cheyenne, Wyoming
4005: Forney Transportation Museum, Denver, Colorado
4006: Museum of Transportation, St. Louis, Missouri
4012: Steamtown National Historic Site, Scranton, Pennsylvania
4014: Railway and Locomotive Historical Society, Southern California Chapter, Fairplex, Pomona, California 3
4017: National Railroad Museum, Green Bay, Wisconsin
4018: Museum of the American Railroad, Dallas, Texas
4023: Kenefick Park, Omaha, Nebraska

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Pacific_Big_Boy

More powerful and slightly less weight were the 2-6-6-6 Alleghenys.

The Green Bay museum is worth the visit, if you can.
Title: Re: Last of the Giants
Post by: lyric1 on March 30, 2012, 12:00:12 AM
Nope, you are mostly correct.  'Train' is used as generic term to include all the cars, including the locomotive and caboose, as a single unit.

Technically, the usage of 'train' is appropriate as there is a locomotive and a coal car.  Some would argue a train cannot be a train without a caboose as well.

At least, that is how it is used in the U.S.

That is one huge locomotive though.
I guess I could lie & say I was referring to the Youtube link.  :devil
Title: Re: Last of the Giants
Post by: SIK1 on March 30, 2012, 01:20:26 AM
I've never actually seen a Big Boy, and can only imagine how impressive it was rolling down the tracks.

I have seen this run down the tracks a couple of times.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Pacific_4449

If you're ever in Sacramento the Railroad museum is worth a visit.
http://www.csrmf.org/

Skuzzy, I don't know how it is in Texas, but here in the west they haven't used the caboose in twenty years or more.

I may not be old enough to have seen steam locomotives but I do remember cabooses. When I was a kid I thought that would be the best job in the world. Getting to travel all over the country looking out the windows of the caboose with not a care in the world.  :lol
 
Title: Re: Last of the Giants
Post by: Rob52240 on March 30, 2012, 01:33:46 AM
Anyone else think it was cool when The Boys on Top Gear (real) raced a steam choo-choo against a Vincent Black Shadow and a 1946 Jaguar?

http://www.topgear.com/uk/videos/train-race-part-1
Title: Re: Last of the Giants
Post by: clerick on March 30, 2012, 01:37:08 AM
Anyone else think it was cool when The Boys on Top Gear (real) raced a steam choo-choo against a Vincent Black Shadow and a 1946 Jaguar?



I was surprised Clarkson shoveled fast enough to even keep the boiler lit.
Title: Re: Last of the Giants
Post by: Skuzzy on March 30, 2012, 06:29:31 AM
I've never actually seen a Big Boy, and can only imagine how impressive it was rolling down the tracks.

I have seen this run down the tracks a couple of times.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Pacific_4449

If you're ever in Sacramento the Railroad museum is worth a visit.
http://www.csrmf.org/

Skuzzy, I don't know how it is in Texas, but here in the west they haven't used the caboose in twenty years or more.

I may not be old enough to have seen steam locomotives but I do remember cabooses. When I was a kid I thought that would be the best job in the world. Getting to travel all over the country looking out the windows of the caboose with not a care in the world.  :lol
 

I still see cabooses on many (not all) trains here.
Title: Re: Last of the Giants
Post by: clerick on March 30, 2012, 06:49:03 AM
I still see cabooses on many (not all) trains here.

That surprises me. Most railroads went to FRED's to eliminate the nonrevenue car and excess crew.
Title: Re: Last of the Giants
Post by: Slate on March 30, 2012, 07:38:21 AM
  There's still many smaller "Choo Choo's" still running. Find one near you and take a ride to support them as their upkeep takes a lot of work. Strausburg Pa. has a nice trip through some Amish Farmland.

    Nice Baldwin 2-10-0 rolling some vintage passenger cars. Big Boy is a 4-8-8-4 configuration.
 
(http://i665.photobucket.com/albums/vv15/d0nwaters/Strausburg2.jpg)

 
Steam Locomotive Engine 90 at the Strasburg RR, Lancaster County, Strasburg, Pa Engine 90 is a Baldwin with a 2-10-0 configuration built in 1924. It is an ex-Great Western engine. It originally pulled 40 to 50 sugar beet cars on the high plans near Loveland, Colorado. It was build by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1924. It is the most powerful engine at this railroad
Title: Re: Last of the Giants
Post by: PR3D4TOR on March 30, 2012, 08:00:45 AM
That was one of my favorite episodes!
Title: Re: Last of the Giants
Post by: Skuzzy on March 30, 2012, 08:40:35 AM
That surprises me. Most railroads went to FRED's to eliminate the nonrevenue car and excess crew.

Surprises me every time I see one.  There is a local steam passenger train which has a caboose also.  It runs from Grapevine to downtown Ft. Worth a few times a day.
Title: Re: Last of the Giants
Post by: Shuffler on March 30, 2012, 09:24:44 AM


Piney Woods Steam Excursion http://www.texasstaterr.com/schedule.php (http://www.texasstaterr.com/schedule.php)

The Texas State Railroad, established 1881, is truly a
 
“Texas Treasure!”

Take a relaxing train ride through the pineywoods of East Texas, enjoy fun special events with your family, or experience an evening dinner train!

This historic railroad offers steam train excursions that travel 25 miles through the scenic piney woods and hardwood creek bottoms of East Texas amidst a backdrop of rolling hills, nature and wildlife.
 
Passengers board excursion trains at the beautiful Victorian-style depot in Rusk, where southern hospitality is the norm. Perfect trip for friends, families, groups, schools, and more!
 
Meet The Lone Ranger® on every steam excursion and an unruly group of robbers!

(http://www.texasstaterr.com/images/gallery/347.jpg)

(http://www.texasstaterr.com/images/gallery/288.jpg)

(http://www.texasstaterr.com/images/gallery/300.jpg)
Title: Re: Last of the Giants
Post by: RTHolmes on March 30, 2012, 10:24:35 AM
nice, theres nothing quite like seeing/hearing/feeling/smelling a steam loco working :aok
Title: Re: Last of the Giants
Post by: flight17 on March 30, 2012, 01:37:07 PM
Union Pacific still uses a single Challenger Steam loco on excursions... It no longer uses Coal however, but its one of the only two Challengers left in existance. Its also the largest Steam engine still running in the world.

The train also has the Rare DDA40x Diesel Engine behind the challenger in case the challengers breaks down.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Pacific_3985 according to this article, it says that it is also used sometimes for mainline frieght operations on ferry runs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OgSNQOTw2U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Iy6rNMMN50&feature=related
Title: Re: Last of the Giants
Post by: Shuffler on March 30, 2012, 02:25:10 PM
Was looking at the videos and found this one too. It is vid on the one I posted.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fztkF47lVQg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fztkF47lVQg)
Title: Re: Last of the Giants
Post by: Rob52240 on March 30, 2012, 04:20:30 PM
Anyone Model Railroad anymore?

The Master Model Train Building Race Does.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyIgwqhBZi0&t=2m15s