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California group hits milestone in diesel-hydraulic restoration
In the history of locomotives, the Krauss-Maffei deserves the grand prize for “What Were They Thinking?”
Bravo for the dedication.
Bravo for the dedication.
Or even better yet, a steam turbine locomotive.
What I’d really like to see restored is a Gas Turbine locomotive.
What they were thinking was, “here’s a technology that has aloready proven itself in Europe, and it’s BIG horsepower!!” Unfortunately, the mechanical department reacted in much the same way as american mechanics did in the 50’s and 60’s to the volkswagon: “what the h#@%!?!?”
Congratulations Pacific Loco Association restoration team and Niles Canyon Ry.! Nice to see the ol’ gal restored! I think one of my photographs assisted your efforts, and that makes me glad.
No one aboard SP Extra 9120 West passing through Niles Canyon on Sunday April 30, 1967 could imagined anything like this! The occasion was the first of two diesel-hydraulic powered excursions operated by the Pacific Locomotive Association, and a rare opportunity to ride behind a K-M on freight-only trackage between Tracy and Niles via Altamont Pass. To think that one day PLA would own a portion of the line and someday operate a restored K-M ML4000 along the same route was beyond comprehension. Kudos to Howard Wise, diesel wizard extraordinaire, and all the dedicated crew at Brightside!
That certainly is a grand moment is preservation. The Pacific locomotive Assn. deserves a standi9ng ovation. Well done, Gents!
Could someone please explain how the diesel-hydraulic system worked? The article mentions a torque converter-is this similar to automotive units with mechanical drive to the axles,or a pump w/hydraulic motors on each axle? Any explanation would be appreciated. Thanx in advance.
Mr Haggit, actually both variants can be used; in case of using torque converter the drive is referred to as “hydrodynamic” or “hydrokinetic”, in case of pump and hydraulic motors it is called “hydrostatic”. Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel-hydraulic#Diesel-hydraulic) and other sites offer more elaborate explanations.
And to Mr Guse: after series of ownership changes, locomotive business of Krauss-Maffei is now owned by Vossloh, and it still manufactures a range of diesel-hydraulic (hydrokinetic) locomotives, so it looks that there was some merit in their thinking.
And it seems like only yesterday that these units were being lifted off the boat, and gracing the cover of “Trains.” Well done, guys – you’ve saved a small bit of a truly unique piece of railroad history.