My small layout is woefully inadequate. I found this video of a single Challenger, good old 3985, charging up a grade with 143 freight cars, I think all doublestacks, and it appears to be doing all of 50 mph, maybe more.
Where would I find room to trail 143 doublestacks?
I wonder what the guys in the diesel were thinking…[:-,]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhgHrDbN4EU
-Crandell
A steam locomotive with double stacks?!?! I agree, woefully inadequate!
One-hundred-and-forty-three? I can’t count that high.
Mark
“Well, at least we’ve got air conditioning.” [sigh]
Mark
So that’s how they get the 420 miles on 1 gallon of diesel for 1 ton of freight! The commercial doesn’t mention coal or bunker oil and water use. [;)]
I say bring them all back and tell the oil companies off for good! Its just too bad this country could not build anything like it again. [:(]
Pete
Nice thought, but I think these were/are oil burners.
One thing I’d like to point out to our steam-aholics - notice that there is no thick, black smoke. A well fired steam locomotive (coal or oil) once under way will produce very little smoke and the smoke it does produce should be pale and light in color. It’s evidence of a good fire and efficient burn of the fuel.
They were originally built as coal burners and converted later. When #3985 was resurrected, she was a coal burner. After providing a good workout for several fire departments with her cinder throwing shenanigans, she was converted to oil.
I happened to be in Salt Lake City in 1982 for one of #3985’s trips as a coal burner. She set a number of fires between SLC and Provo.
Andre
So I guess this means Broadway’s smoke units are realistic after all. [:-,]
I’m not sure you diesel-holics are getting the message here. Maybe this’ll help. [:-^]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9alWb5KI5Uo
Slide the time indicator over to the 2 minute and 30 second mark. Make sure your speakers are on, and turn them up a bit. Enjoy a Challenger towing two modern diesels on full set-up all over the Cheyenne yard.
-Crandell
If you ever want to see a steam locomotive belch a towering cloud of midnight-black exhaust, just catch your favorite oilburner when the fireman decides it’s time to sand the flues.
Even the crummy coal burned by the JNR could never compete in that league!
(And now you know why I won’t even consider adding smoke units to my steam locos.)
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Yada Yada Yada
Check out the 614 at 80 MPH
That’s cookin
The video notes indicate 35 MPH, still very impressive.
As far as your layout being inadequate, another recent thread discussing the space needed for true prototype modeling said something like ‘start with a blimp hanger’… [(-D][;)]
Seen the video before but thanks for posting again Crandell.
I wonder what the engineer thought when he saw the Challenger coming around the bend? I would think something like What the fill in the blank! 0
I wounder how hard it was working pulling that drag?
Cuda Ken
Probably something along the lines of “What a waste of money…We’ve got guys laid off and they (COMPANY OFFICIALS) are show-boating around in a steam locomotive”
Obviously you thought too small when you built your layout. Time to add an addition or two onto your house (ala Howard Zane). After all, if your Challenger isn’t pulling at least 100 double stacks you’re just not a model railroader.[V]
Be glad you’re not in G.
[(-D] [(-D] [(-D] [(-D]
Paul
Right-o!! They should lay off the guys in the Challenger instead. [banghead]
Selector, you know that’s not where I’m going with that [:-,]
But when talking about what the rail guy’s would actually say, that’s pretty darn accurate. I’d say most of my co-workers don’t see the same joy and benefit of the railroad as a hobby as well as employment. To them, seeing a steam locomotive on an active diesel freight line is exactly what I said - a waste of money.
There’s something to be said for company image, history, and paying tribute to your past and your elders.
These programs do a lot for a company’s image. I was never a UP fan, but these programs has led to more respect for them from me.
Another nice video, and notice, no huge plumes of dark black smoke. A properly fired steam loco doesn’t produce huge amounts of black smoke when running at track speed.
I remember hearing O.Winston Link speak years ago when his book Steam Steel & Stars was first issued. He talked about how he had to get the firemen on the locomotives in the pictures to produce thick white smoke so it show up in the night shots he took. Black smoke wouldn’t show at night and typically there was very little smoke unless the fire release a bunch of water/steam into the exhaust. He pointed out that a good fireman could control the amount and color of the smoke. It was an interesting lecture.