The translation of Plandampf roughly reads as “Planned Steam” which, as a concept, began in Germany some time ago. These are popular throughout Europe. There are plenty of references to it on the web if you “google” it. These are not extra runs-railfans pay any additional cost for the substitution of steam power for diesel or what have you on a regularly schedualled freight or passenger run. These are not sedate runs-they run at track speed, in fact it was’nt that long ago, one Plandampf run topped off at an astonishing 100 mph. I wonder if such a concept would work here? I included the link below which I still have not figured out how to activate-my apologies for that. I recall that Ross Rowland’s 614 was placed on an Amtrak run-was it The Cardinal? I can’t imagine that you would have much trouble filling up the seats-I suppose the problem once again would be the cooperation of a Class 1.
Filling the seats was rarely a problem, but the biggest one that “got the press” for causing the demise of mainline steam excursions was insurance. Host railroads required increasing liability rates which drove the premium for the excursion operators through the roof.
Plus the logistical problem of fuel and water: there aren’t too many water or coal towers in existance anymore, although most steam engines still operating can take water from a fire hydrant.
If I am not mistaken the B&O used one of the Reading’s T 1’s to haul the Capitol Limited between Baltimore and Washington in 1964, but I don’t remember the occasion.
In recent years many of the “Class 1” freight carrieers have been averse to steam-hauled excursions not only for liability reasons (high insurance), but for operational reasons as well. For example, one of their questions might be what happens if the steam locomotive breaks down? It appears that the regional railroads might be a little more cooperative.
Generally coal and water have not been a problem in that the engines can carry enough coal in the tender for a day’s run if trips are not too long. The water problem can be solved by carrying an auxiliary tender or by making arrangements with a local fire department enroute to fill the tender with water using fire hoses.
You know, seeing steam run at high speeds is really awesome in the absolute sense of the word (as in, it inspires awe). However, speaking from a photographer’s perspective, it would really kind of tick me off, too.
Suppose I was set up for a shot somewhere along a main where the train is coming by at 100 MPH. I get the dramatic shot and then what? By the time I get my tripod taken down, the camera put away and get myself and my gear into the car, several minutes have gone by (in which time the train has been heading away from me at 100 MPH). In order to catch it again anytime soon, I’ll have to do A LOT more than 100 MPH. Let’s ignore all laws and reality for a moment. Even if I had perfectly flat, straighht, open roads without another soul on the road, the cruiser gets squirrely above 130 MPH (she needs a spoiler), and it kind of freaks me out so I wouldn’t go above that. At that pace I’d need at a very minimum of 15 or 20 minutes of that perfectly flat, straight, open, lonely road to even have chance of catching the thing and getting set up and ready for a shot somewhere.
Of course such a place doesn’t exist. So heading back to reality (but still ignoring traffic laws for a moment), we’d ALL be chasing on not so perfect roads at high rates of speed, ignoring safe trailing distances trying to get past the 30 cars who are trying to pace the thing. It’s a perfect recipe to kill off dozens of railfans I think.
No thank you. I tried to catch 261 once when she was doing 60+. That was hard enough (and not completely legal). At 100 MPH, I’d get one or two shots and then be really mad that I paid money to see a steam locomotive for a few seconds.
Then again, that’s just my [2c]
How do you figure you paid money to see the locomotive? The passengers pay the freight for the railfans with cameras along the route. I figure my gasoline and any tolls are part of the cost of “doing business.”
As I understand the concept being presented, this isn’t an excursion, but rather a case of railfans paying for a railroad to put steam on a regular everyday freight, or whatever. I suppose that one could go railfanning on such an endeavour without being one of the “sponsors,” but that would seem to be presuming upon the donations of other railfans. I’d have a hard time being trackside for such an event if I didn’t have a hand in raising funds for it. I could be completely mistaken, though, too.
Most municipal water supplies do not treat steam boilers kindly. Chlorine and ozone are very good for killing bacteria in the water but are also oxidizers and can damage the boiler - even with the addition of chemicals (re UP844). I would be very careful of water from that source.
dd
With all of the problems Amtrak has to deal with, I think that we should leave Amtrak alone when it comes to running steam trips. They have some “splainin” to do about how they were allowed to keep going without the understanding that Amtrak could never-ever-be self supporting. See “The Men Who Loved Trains” by Rush Loving for an explanation.
Generally, you can pay a supplement and ride the regular train or pay and get the schedule of trains (yes plural) so you can stake out a good spot and have the trains come to you rather than chase them. If you are not a sponsor than yes you are frowned upon and since you do not know were or how many trains run you might well have to chase the train. In all likelyhood some harsh words may be spoken.
Wouldn’t it be fun if all the remaining Big Boys and Challengers were in steam and run all scheduled freight on a division of the UP?
greetings,
Marc Immeker
As far as payment is concerned, organized groups sponsor the event to pay the cost above the cost of the normal operation. The groups typically raise the money by selling lineside tickets which include a full schedule of the event, special access to servicing facilities, etc.
Also, the events also generally cover a specific territory. For example, in Germany, there are many local routes where the same consist runs back and forth between city pairs. This allows those who have paid for the event to catch the train numerous times and to even ride it as it goes back and forth. While most of the trains have traditionally been passenger trains, some are even freights using locals.
A number of the events have used multiple steamers so that there are plenty of targets for the photographers. In the US, Amtrak probably wouldn’t be a great participant except maybe on some of its short corridors like Chicago- Milwaukee. Commuter lines might be better but both would run you into very tight operating schedules that steam would be hard to match. Rare diesels might work better for these cases.
Bart Jennings