The Resurrection.... Of a Steam Locomotive
Sober Preacher's Kid
Shipmate
Steam Locomotive restorations are far rarer on the left side of The Pond. Which is why this one is so special. Of all the Class I mainlines in North America, Union Pacific is by far the most steam-positive. Rarer still then, that a locomotive is being restored by her original owner and returned to (excursion) service. And it's a Union Pacific 4000-Class Big Boy.
With fire in her boiler.
https://youtu.be/fBwKkMw7T8A
On May 4th she will roll out of the Cheyenne Steam Shops under her own power for UPs 150th Anniversary on a run to Ogden.
It to be hoped that UP will put her on a revenue freight run, as they are known to do.
[Edited the title - jedijudy]
With fire in her boiler.
https://youtu.be/fBwKkMw7T8A
On May 4th she will roll out of the Cheyenne Steam Shops under her own power for UPs 150th Anniversary on a run to Ogden.
It to be hoped that UP will put her on a revenue freight run, as they are known to do.
[Edited the title - jedijudy]
Comments
jj-HH
Back to the subject of the Union Pacific 4000-Class Big Boy!
A shame, in its way, but for the best. Some of our preserved railways are taking care because of the risk of ground fires.
The former Dobwalls Adventure Park in Cornwall had a wonderful 7.25inch gauge 'miniature' railway, complete with a Big Boy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dobwalls_Adventure_Park
(BTW, I have had first-hand experience of driving/firing steam engines - nothing larger than 2-foot gauge, though - and would LOVE to be at the controls of even a miniature version of a Challenger or Big Boy
https://advanced-steam.org/5at/modern-steam/modern-steam-miscellany/dlm-52-8055/
The Finnish State Railways, until comparatively recent times, also had a stud of clean steam engines, fired by oil, or (O! the wonderful aroma!) by birch logs. I know, from having used birch logs on the stove in my Episcopal Ark, how long, and hot - with little smoke or ash - these burn.
Birch trees, AIUI, are not exactly uncommon in Finland, and, therefore, presumably count as a sustainable, and renewable, energy source, though I don't doubt there may be emission issues IYSWIM.
https://pohjoiseen.fi/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/IMG_4237-1016x762.jpg
The Discerning Eye will note that this Finnish engine (though built as recently as 1947) is, with its lean and hungry look, rather reminiscent of much earlier (i.e. mid-19thC) American engines.
Colin Smith is, of course, quite right about the size and power of US narrow-gauge engines!
If you'd like to see a Krauss 15" gauge pacific working hard you might take a look at Whillan Beck on the Ravenglass & Eskdale Rly.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Greenly
Greenly's enduring memorials are, of course, the superb locomotives of the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway, and the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway.
They are, of course, very much the German equivalent of Greenly's engines (which were based on Nigel Gresley's designs for the London & North Eastern Railway), but still have a certain uncluttered 'British' look......
We are rather getting off the subject of the OP, but full marks to the Union Pacific RR, over the Pond, for taking the trouble they take with STEAM (however produced).
But all this leads to another obvious discussion, similar to the dog thread. Will there be steam locomotives in Heaven? The answer is quite clear to me; the theology less so.
Is there gravity in Heaven?
Given the sheer pleasure, hard work, but satisfaction, that Steam Machinery (not just railway engines) has given us, yes, they will all be there in Heaven!
But the various challenges will NOT be insurmountable!
This problem may be solved with trump's famous 'clean coal', though I am not sure what it will be like. Perhaps, just as we can have white chocolate, there will be white coal? Lots of other problems for God to deal with, though. We'll need mineral - fossil - oils and greases for the valve gear and axleboxes. A locomotive smelling of olive oil wouldn't be quite right.
One railway owner in the UK is looking into the possibility of converting its steam locos to burn seed oil. Admittedly the Statfold Railway (2' gauge) is unusual in being based on a farm that grows the stuff.
Her voice was a little croaky at first, but this was a recent firing and the boiler was still full of saturated steam. Takes a little time to warm up.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=t_hj5HW6jTk
As a Uklander, I nonetheless have to hand it you Usanians for begetting such Puissant Beasties!
A sign, not only of the sheer power of the locomotive, but of the skill of the crew. That 'extra' steam will doubtless be used to top up the boiler, by means of the injectors.
I am proud to say that I achieved something similar - albeit on a much smaller scale (2-foot gauge) - by managing to produce enough steam whilst going up a long incline, not only to get the heavy train to the top, but also to partially fill the boiler again by the time we got to the station.
Yes!
There is a certain photo in an Ian Allan book about the Welsh narrow-gauge, showing Myself leaning nonchalantly out of the cab of a certain not-much-used (but rather nice) little locomotive, having done this Mighty Deed.
I remember working on the Festiniog in 1969 - not on the railway itself but as a Deviationist (let those who know, understand). There was a severe motive power shortage as the only useable steam locomotives were "Mountaineer" and "Blanche" as "Earl of Merioneth" had failed and was in the Works. They tried using the diesel "Upnor Castle" but it either kept breaking down or (I think) spread the track - so they were down to using "Moelwyn" on service trains. One day I was at Dduallt when "Blanche" came in, very late, with a packed train of about 10 coaches. You could hear her coming for a very long time as she was going so slowly - but she made it (just!). I have no idea how good she was at raising steam, and of course in RL she'd been a loco which always hauled the heavy loads downhill.
Re Blanche on the Festiniog, AFAIK the Penrhyn sisters Blanche and Linda have always been Very Useful Engines on the FR, so maybe she was having a Bad Day, as even good Engines sometimes do.
Re my exploits - no secret - 'twas on the Peckett 060ST Triassic, and the pic is on page 9 of Ian Allan's Welsh Narrow Gauge - a Colour Portfolio. The occasion was the Bala Lake Railway's gala w/e in August 1999 - ye gods, 20 years ago....
We started off at the bottom of the bank with a hole in the fire (!), and I managed not only to mend the fire, but to get the lovely little gem of an Engine to make steam up the hill. Those who appreciate such things will know how much more comfortably a six-wheeler rides, in comparison with the equally lovely and puissant Hunslet 040STs usually employed on this delightful little railway! Once they get going, they tend to wag about a bit.
I rather suspect that it's actually more enjoyable to work on it, than to ride on it.....
We had some tremendous fun with Hunslet Una (usually based at the Llanberis Slate Quarry museum) earlier in the day, but that's another (very oily) story...suffice to say that she enjoyed stretching her wheels....