The following video shows a typical train of my childhood days in the late 1950´s. Loco is a DB class 38.1 ex Prussian P8 Tenwheeler, built from 1906 to 1922. Though not well balanced, it proved to be a really successful design, with over 3,800 locos built, outlasting all of its intended successors by decades. Actually, a DB class 38.1 was among the last steam locos taken out of service at the end of the steam days on German rails in 1977.
Wow! Great video of a grand old locomotive and some beautiful countryside as well. I’m not sure what you meant when you said the engine was “not well balanced”, she can sure go like a bat out of hell! One thing though, at about the twelve minute mark I heard someone playing “Give Me Your Higher Love” in the background. Considering the subject matter I think “Preussens Gloria” might have been more appropriate!
You’re lucky. Except for one brief moment the trains of my childhood were diesels.
Took a look at the drawing and now, ah, I see. Still, that engine runs so well it’s hard to believe it had all those shortcomings. And the fireman crewing the engine in the video obviously knew his business, except for starting the only exhaust I could see was white condensing steam.
There’s a lot to be said for ruggedness, I’d rather have something rugged and rough that can do the job than something so fine-tuned and finely crafted it’s finicky and temperamental.
Speaking of rough rides, have you seen the “Live (?) Steam” thread under “General Discussion”? Just watching it will have you looking for a bottle of aspirin!
I’ll tell you what, Ulrich, if I ever go overseas for a steam train ride I’m going to Germany! That German trackage and roadbed beats the Chinese in all respects. No bouncing or bobbling with that Prussian Ten Wheeler, just top-quality construction, which is what us Yanks always expect from the Germans.
Oh wow. You know, back in the old days the engine crews would have had some serious explaining to do on account of all that smoke. Sure looks cool, though, like both locomotives have tornados riding on top!
it may be a lousy explanation, but it was filmed on a cold morning in late fall and it was a hillside departure on a fairly steep grade, requiring full throttle. The plume is not all black, so at least the firemen knew their job.
Or at least they were giving it their best shot. It DOES make for some great photography at any rate, what Lucius Beebe used to call the “Burning of Rome” smoke effect.
Looks like mostly steam to me. Two engines working flat out on freight service on a grade. I don’t care what comes out the stack! It’s a really cool video! Vielen dank!
Leafing though some really old documents, I found a picture I have taken in my adolescent days:
It shows a DB class 41 oil-fired Mikado heading a string of empties towards Munster,. The shot was taken around Easter 1972, shortly before the line was electrified and the steamers were scrapped. Note the wires in front of the track. They ran to a signal box close by. The guard “signaled” each train movement to me, while I was waiting for the trains. Fond memories of times gone by!
Great picture, Ulrich! wish there was some of that around when I was a teenager. One thing surprises me, the engine’s oil fired. I would have thought that with all the indiginous coal in Germany they’d coal fire it. Then again, oil as a fuel is easier to handle, although it must have been more expensive than coal.
before the first oil crunch in 1973/74, oil was much cheaper than German coal, especially the low grade Bunker C oil used in firing the steamers. That, however changed dramatically the following year.
On that particular rail fan trip, I was lucky to be able to hitch a cab ride. That was some experience for a 16 year old! The fireman had a lot less to do on those oil-fired rigs.The engineer even let me handle the throttle for a while!
Oil cheaper than coal? That IS surprising, although maybe I shouldn’t be. Prior to the first oil crunch in 1973 (which some believe had as much to do with Richard Nixon’s downfall as ‘Watergate’ did. American presidents tend to get the blame for things they’re not responsible for, just like they tend to get credit for things they’re not responsible for either) the average price of gasoline here in the US was around 23 cents a gallon, at some places 21 cents if you knew where to look. If there was a “gas war” between two competing gas stations it could go as little as 19 cents. Diesel fuel was even less.
AND you got a cab ride too! You’re turning me green with envy! And some throttle time too! What a lucky kid!
So, minus that 70% gasolene would cost you about $2.50 a gallon. I wonder, are the fuel taxes that high to discourage driving and pressure people into taking public transportation? The idea’s been kicked around here in the US for a number of years in certain quarters but it would be political suicide for anyone who tried it.
The post 1973 war oil crunch wasn’t the only thing about the war that had a negative impact on Nixon - the “Saturday night massacre” took place when things were really heating up and the Nixon administration, much to their credit, were keeping their mouths shut about how bad things were getting (although SAC going on alert was public).
One other railroad related Nixon anecdote was that his administration was planning to intervene in the Penn Central bankruptcy but dropped the efforts when PC hired Nixon’s old law firm.
Getting a bit closer to the original thread topic, running Espee’s 4449 on oil for the American Freedom Train was apparently cheaper than running the other locomotive on coal.
