Here’s a link you might find interesting:
Oh .
Wow !
Hey - geee
Great !
( only , for my understanding they choose the wrong Duplex : to me the right one ( exactly that : ONE !) was , is and always will be the one and only S1 6100 6-4-4-6 - which b-t-w also allow to elegantly tour around some problems the T1 had and the S1 didn’t . All of which was concealed and all too soon drowned by the regrettable condition of steam on the Pennsy in late or final years of steam …
Regards
Juniatha
Juniatha, While the group probably won’t be swayed into building an S1, at least right now, they’ll probably be open to the idea of 84" drivers. If you’re interested, please consider joining The Trust as a member of the Engineering Committee. Your input would be most appreciated. All the best! Bradford Ross Noble, DO Chairman, The T1 Trust
I think this it truly great and hope to make a modest contribution.
There’s a big difference in scale from an LNER A1 to a PRR T1. I doubt that much of the manufacturing capabilities required to build a T1 from scratch exist anymore.
IN China, Russia, India?
@ Bradford Ross Noble
O-M-G - thank you !
With best wishes for success
Juniatha
I really should come over to this site more often.
Mr. Noble, if Juniatha becomes part of your engineering committee it’ll be as if God sent you an angel from Heaven armed with a slide rule! Do whatever she says! I think she knows more about the T1 than the men who originally built it!
A bit of advice, you’ve got to publisize this more in the rail press. I read “Trains”, “Classic Trains”, Classic Toy Trains", “O Gauge Railroading”, “Railfan and Railroad”, “The Railroad Press”, and, when I can find it, “Railpace.” This is the first I’ve heard of your group, so you’ve got to get more aggressive in getting the word out if you want to meet the goal.
Do mechanical engineers still use slide rules?
Oh, and where are you planning on running it?
I know; I only came over here to read Dave Klepper’s post about the psywar initiative that occupied the SAL main line, and look what happens …
Major announcement is waiting on formalization of important elements of the organizational structure, and preparation of a formal feasibility plan and a preliminary operating plan.
It’s important to establish right from the outset that the organization knows the magnitude of the task, including the operation, maintenance, and ‘stabling’ of the locomotive after construction, and can substantiate that it has proper planning and project-management methods, change-management, CAD/CAM and multiphysics simulations, and other aspects firmly in hand. There is little point doing mass publicity on building a T1 if the general reaction is “it’s a bunch of foamers dreaming, and it’ll never happen.” Things may be very different if the impression is that everything will be done ‘professional grade’.
Et tu Overmod, are you involved with the 5550 group?
Advisory.
Cool!
I hate to rain on anyone’s parade but building a T1 from scratch seems to me to be a fiscal impossibility. It would require not one but several million $ and I think it highly unlikely that such funds can be raised. It’s not like rebuilding an existing locomotive where most of the components are still intact and usable. Virtually every single part of a new T1 would have to be custom made and the cost would be tremendous. I’d love to see this project become a reality but I’m afraid it is just wishful thinking to ever see a T1 running again.
Mark
Where does this goup originate and any idea where all this would be taking place?
For a dream to come true some-one has to dream it to begin with. I won’t say this can’t be done, get enough money together and you can accomplish anything.
I’m wondering just where this locomotive would be allowed to run, as it wouldn’t make sense to spend ten million building it just to roll it a mile or so up and down some museum track. Union Pacific? No, they allow no-ones steam on their lines but their own. CSX? Not them, they allow no antique railroad equipment on the 'road at all, replica or other wise. BNSF? Maybe. they seem to be amenable to steam operations as long as it doesn’t interfere with their own freight operations. KCS? Don’t know about them. Canadian National? Possibly. Canadian Pacific? I don’t think so.
The only Class One left is Norfolk-Southern. As they consider the Pennsylvania to be a predecessor 'road they seem to be the only place where a T1 could operate in “full cry.” Good possibility there.
In the meantime keep dreaming, sometimes dreams are all we have to keep us going.
I’ve missed this until now. Sorry!
Do you have an estimated timeline for the project?
Several design phases; all in progress. Locomotive drawings are now being collated, and will be converted to 3D CAD models (probably in Dassault SolidWorks), then roughly optimized for CAM and process.
Before design is finalized, multiphysics simulations of the ‘key’ areas, in particular slipping, valve-gear integrity, suspension, and combustion, will be undertaken, and the results incorporated into the design. Proof of concept will be assured before major construction is undertaken.
The key point is that there is no fixed or required ‘timeline’ for the project. On the other hand, it will be fully organized and tracked by ANSI standards (PMI PMBOK 4th edition) and the funding will also be under professional management and stewardship.
Yes, all the support and maintenance costs, and equipment, are factored into the design and construction estimates. A preliminary location for the locomotive’s “base” has been chosen (it is not the facility NS is constructing for 611, although 5550 could be serviced there). Part of the expenses for the ‘base’ include test-plant equipment that can also be used to run the locomotive stationary if desired
The same approach toward trackwork integrity planned for 611 (modified track-geometry car to ensure full operation; smaller vehicles to do pre- and post-checking of geometry and other aspects) are of course applicable to 5550, and would be used for any operation. Neither dynamic augment nor the slightly extended rigid wheelbase of the duplex are expected to be showstopping complications.
A more detailed timeline will evolve out of the project-management system when some of the initial work is completed. However, several key concerns (siderod fabrication and some questions about frame and suspension fabrication) have been solved far earlier than anticipated, and ‘emerging’ technology in other areas (for example, pointcloud scanning at high accuracy, and laser we
Great! I’m looking forward to the success of the project.
Me too! Don’t misunderstand, I wasn’t trying to be a “wet blanket” with my earlier comments.