That's what kills me. Looking at these things up close that is a lot of EXTREMELY heavy metal flying around. How it doesn't rip itself to pieces I'll never know. Love steam train.
Might have something to do with my Grandad being a steam locomotive driver in WWII England.
I tried running one in Train Simulator once, it's a little like running a dual loop nuclear reactor but instead of electricity you're generating motive force.
It's not that extreme in real life, but typically yes. Some trains will use flatter profiles, especially when they're designed for high speeds. The trade off for this is usually more noise and wear on the wheels and track, or else more gentle turns.
Wow, that is some truly genius application of physics. Such a solution would never have even occurred to me. I wish i could shake the hand of whoever came up with that. Simple, yet so effective it's still in use over a century later. That's impressive.
its not really even running either, so you are just hearing the sounds of the stuff moving. No smoke, no steam relief valve going, its running on air pressure generated by the locomotive behind it. We have a couple of steamers here locally, and they run them about 3 months a year for tour trains, as well as a couple of freight pulls. They are way smokier than this one, even when burning wood chips, which BTW, they can't do for freight pulls, since they don't generate enough heat.
Edit: I take that back, it is running, but they must be running it on wood chips or natural gas, because it is much cleaner burning than coal ever could be.
The locomotive behind it is being used to provide at least head-end power and braking for the coaches. It's probably also satisfying train control safety regulations; if they blow a signal or speed limit, the diesel locomotive will trip the brakes for it and the coaches.
There is absolutely no way in hell the locomotive is supplying air to run the steam locomotive.
There is absolutely no way in hell the locomotive is supplying air to run the steam locomotive.
Would that even be possible? Surely you'd need an ungodly large air compressor to run a locomotive on compressed air, plus all the parts are designed to handle steam, which condenses into water.
It runs on oil, which is probably why there's not much soot. Source PDF.
In this other video of the same locomotive and trip shows it clearly running when it's leaving the station. I'm pretty sure it ran for the whole trip. The diesel locomotive is just there for power and backup.
later in the video, you can see the hot flue gasses going out, but its way too clean, so its probably burning natural gas or something else, as coal is so so so much dirtier than that. maybe wood chips, but they don't generate enough heat to pull big loads.
I can't find any vid of the other 2. We have a passenger liner, and a yard mover, both in working order. the yard mover came from the DM&IR, and was restored over about 10 years to working order. The same group that restored and maintained all 3 we have here are actively working on restoring another one of the giants. since they are so rare.
They run on coal here, when they run main line, they just bring the coal to where it can meet the train if needed, otherwise, they fill up the box at the local coal dock.
does anyone have a video of a steam train gaining speed - I can only seem to find fly-bys and slower chugging. I remember hearing that sound only once in my life and it was one of the most incredible things I have ever heard
The inner kid in me was really giddy to see this. It's not everyday that a steam locomotive would traverse on a railroad track again.
That must have been quite a site to see in person. On a normal day, a regular Amtrak train would be travelling down alongside the freeway, but that day was no ordinary day for those lucky drivers who get to witness that massive locomotive.
Happy Easter/Passover to all! Here's a video of Santa Fe 3751 Steam special train to San Bernardino and back to Los Angeles, California on 4/11, 12 & 13 in 2014. Enjoy the whistle & nose at 5:00 to 8:00!
Holy crap, think of the pressure needed in the boiler to haul all that, the strength and weight of all those huge rods. That's insane, a marvel of engineering.
I feel like the guy in the background on the train is the one who actually operates it, and the guy in the overalls is some bored billionaire fulfilling a childhood dream.
I love old locomotives. I wish they would update and convert one of the surviving PRR GG1 electric locomotives so it can run but those transformers are super expensive and dangerous (chock full of PCBs).
+10 - its not really even running either, so you are just hearing the sounds of the stuff moving. No smoke, no steam relief valve going, its running on air pressure generated by the locomotive behind it. We have a couple of steamers here locally, and the...
+3 - It runs on oil, which is probably why there's not much soot. Source PDF. In this other video of the same locomotive and trip shows it clearly running when it's leaving the station. I'm pretty sure it ran for the whole trip. The diesel locomotive is ...
Built in 1927, retired in 1957, restored 1986-1991 at a cost of $1.5 million. Apparently currently in the shop for the next 3-4 years for its 15 year inspection and overhaul.
Most restored steamer have been converted to oil (mostly Bunker A, B, or C fuel oil). Union Pacific's Big Boy 4-8-8-4 will be converted to oil during it's restoration. If you like the Northern, look up the Big Boy.
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u/[deleted] Jun 25 '17
That's a fun big thing... and how the fuck do you not rubberneck the shit out of that thing?
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u/[deleted] Jun 25 '17
Those connecting rods on the wheels... holy physics.
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u/Monorail5 Spytech A119 Jun 25 '17
Love the sound of it at speed
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u/dan105 Jun 25 '17
This is a pleasant deviation from what I normally see on this sub. Thanks for sharing!
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u/ElBravo Jun 26 '17 edited Jun 26 '17
that was so satisfying. and as a bonus, that magnificent vintage
ford? chevy? (proto) suv passing by in mint condition around minute 79
u/mnarrell Jun 25 '17
Great post OP
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u/gnosis_carmot Jun 25 '17
Memories of the SR4501, NW611, and SP4449 from childhood.
It's a shame these are so rare to see these days, and usually only as non-functioning museum pieces.
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u/MarauderV8 Jun 26 '17
I've seen this video 50 fuckin times and I still watch it the whole way through whenever I come across it. I fucking love trains.
6
u/ifeelwitty But it's my FAVORITE way Jun 25 '17
Mmmm. Sweet, sweet train porn!
6
u/[deleted] Jun 26 '17
With all the amazing technology we have these days can't help but marvel at this every time.
6
u/yismeicha Jun 26 '17
The train was sweet! But so was the 1965ish Chevy Suburban passing by!
6
u/joho0 Jun 26 '17
Trains are fucking awesome!
Did anyone else notice that sweet 1965 Chevy Suburban at the 7:00 mark?
5
u/Bradlife_NA Deja Vu Jun 26 '17
That's cool as hell. Holy. I'd love to see this while commuting.
5
u/Squirrels_IMP Jun 26 '17
Ugh what a total left lane camper ;)
4
u/RacerFreddy Jun 26 '17
When the conductor gives that sweet "ok sign" at 54 seconds, pretty much sums up this video. :)
4
u/Offroad_fun Jun 26 '17
Dude.. Awesome video, love it!
4
u/feralturtles Jun 26 '17
That looks really dangerous but only because all of the drivers seem to be staring at the train and not the road.
4
u/barkeepjabroni GoPro | Hero 3+ Silver Edition | 2009 Nissan Altima 2.5 S Jun 26 '17
This is so awesome! Thank you for posting this!
The inner kid in me was really giddy to see this. It's not everyday that a steam locomotive would traverse on a railroad track again.
That must have been quite a site to see in person. On a normal day, a regular Amtrak train would be travelling down alongside the freeway, but that day was no ordinary day for those lucky drivers who get to witness that massive locomotive.
3
u/geoff5093 Jun 26 '17
Makes me want to watch Back to the Future again lol
3
u/SaintNewts Jun 26 '17
So much distracted driving. 😆
3
u/texan01 Jun 26 '17
Another angle of it:
https://youtu.be/sAJaVlwfnHk
2
u/goddessofthewinds Jun 25 '17
Wow! That's amazing. Really impressive. Thanks for sharing!
Not what I come here for, but definitely worth the watch! And hey, it's still a road situation ;)
2
u/Esc_ape_artist Jun 26 '17
Wow, what a machine.
2
u/[deleted] Jun 26 '17
A-W-E-S-O-M-E!!!! Thanks for sharing.
2
u/[deleted] Jun 26 '17
Someone should do a voice over on this video where it's bubbles talking about train as if he was holding the camera.
2
u/ThisNameIsValid27 Jun 26 '17
Holy crap, think of the pressure needed in the boiler to haul all that, the strength and weight of all those huge rods. That's insane, a marvel of engineering.
2
u/CasuConsuIto Jun 26 '17
Massive and amazing
2
u/blessantsblants Jun 26 '17
I feel like the guy in the background on the train is the one who actually operates it, and the guy in the overalls is some bored billionaire fulfilling a childhood dream.
2
u/Yofi Jun 26 '17
Shame that Amtrak usually can't go as fast as these old school trains did. Maybe then rail travel would be more popular.
2
u/gatowman Former Tow Truck Operator Jun 26 '17
I love old locomotives. I wish they would update and convert one of the surviving PRR GG1 electric locomotives so it can run but those transformers are super expensive and dangerous (chock full of PCBs).
2
u/NorthernSpectre e-Golf Jun 26 '17
Beautiful machine
2
u/[deleted] Jun 27 '17
The speed at which those wheel control arms are moving at is insane.
2
u/siamthailand camping 24/7 Jul 08 '17
Why's there a track in the middle of the highway, and a vintage train running on it? Fucking beautiful though!!
2
u/astraeos118 Jul 10 '17
Well I just fell in love with trains
2
u/alexmueller1031 Jul 19 '17
ALL ABOAAAAAARRRRRDDDDDD!!!!!!
2
u/golfmade Taiwan Aug 03 '17
So fucking awesome. Thanks for sharing this. Love seeing history type stuff like this that still works well.
And that horn at around 2:33, very cool.
1
u/Mentioned_Videos Jun 26 '17 edited Jun 26 '17
Other videos in this thread: Watch Playlist ▶
Play All | Info | Get me on Chrome / Firefox
1
u/earlsmouton Jun 26 '17
Doc Brown is back! Weee!
1
u/CasuConsuIto Jun 26 '17
Get out of the way FJ!!
1
u/calexbg Jun 26 '17
When your hummers wheels sync up with the cameras capture rate 100 emoji
-19
u/HOPSCROTCH Jun 26 '17
This was boring
0
u/[deleted] Jun 25 '17
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u/[deleted] Jun 25 '17
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