Unlike most of you non railroaders I do understand and appreicate the power of these machines I both ride them and will when required stand on the ground on the oppsite side if I can and do the required roll by inspections. trust me when say this it is not my most favorite thing to do but I am required to do this. So when you stand on the ground and a 70mph stack train is whizzing by then You can tell me something I dont already know Larry
....I'm of the age bracket to have seen the operation of many steam engines flash past....They sure were awesome in their size and sounds and overpowering the scene as they did so. But they didn't have to be "flying by" to impress and overpower. Standing anywhere near the R of W as a blasting coal train works by was just as overpowering as well. The ground literally would shake and the heat of the engine or engines was a little frightening too. Steam blasting from the Cylnders would shoot up the stack and into the air and rain some cinders all around where one would be standing. And one more thing....A laboring steam engine or engines....dragging a coal train up 2 % or more and just crawling past was an awesome experience....The steam made a very loud noise with each stroke of a piston....Such a massive machine with all kinds of visable parts rotating and moving back and forth.....It all added up to be an awesome site.
Quentin
You are so right, Larry!
I had occasion once to step out of the car while chasing the 844 here in Kansas, to get a shot on a long tangent section of track. I thought I was back far enough (about 25'ft)--Wrong! It was a mesmerizing experience, the ground was shaking. and the draft was buffetting; even frightening comes to mind.
I had seen fast passenger trains on the IC in the Mississippi Delta, " Going so fast, they sucked the trash out of the ditches on both sides of the R.O.W., as they roared past!" . In Altoona, Ks. I experienced that; a big Northern or Challenger at speed is nothing but impressive--and intimidating. A set of "E's" glides by in comparison.
cnwfan51 So whats the problem Seems to me that they were built and designed to run like that.
So whats the problem Seems to me that they were built and designed to run like that.
If you've never stood alongside a mainline facing an oncoming train doing 60, 70, or even 80, you can't realize the sensation. Been there, done that. It's imposing, even frightening.
CSX runs through the Utica station at track speed most of the time. For intermodals, that's 60. You step back, even if you've already stepped back.
Seeing a big Northern (or Greenbrier, or FEF, or GS) bearing down on you at speed is certainly an intimidating experience.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
So whats the propblem Seems to me that they were built and designed to run like that
carnej1 [ Of course being a 4-8-4 C&O 614 is not a ten-coupled engine....
"Open mouth, insert foot . . . ", or, as Roseanne Rosannadanna (the late Gilda Radner) used to say on Saturday Night Live: "Nevermind."
Well, at least my reasoning was pretty close. And thanks for pointing that out - I learned something new: 614 is a 4-8-4, not a 2-10-4 - for some reason, I really thought it was. Oh well. And nice to know there's yet another 4-8-4 in the land.
- Paul North.
The C&O Greenbriers (4-8-4s, but never call them "Northerns"!) were in fact built as passenger locomotives.
C&O used its 2-10-4s (the 3000 series) and 2-12-6s (the 1600 series ) for coal trains, though the latter probably could have handled passenger as well without problems.
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
Paul_D_North_Jr tree68 Indeed. Just loping along... One measure I've heard regarding design speed for steam locomotives more or less equated driver size with working speed. The 614 has 72" drivers. The factor I've seen was 1.1, as in approx. max. speed (in MPH) = 1.1 x driver diam. (in inches). So, for 72" drivers, it wold be 79 or 80 MPH, which seems about right. I'm pretty sure 614 was for fast freight, not passenger, esp. on C&O - a coal road. Plus, I understand that the T-614 was rebuilt for freight use, not passenger. Modern ten-coupled passenger power was rare, aside from maybe UP's 4-10-2's and 4-12-2's. More common was 8-coupled, like Northerns (4-8-4) and Mountains (4-8-2). Both UP & AT&SF used 4-8-4's as their fast passenger power, even though they too had larger (ATSF also had 2-10-4's). - Paul North.
tree68 Indeed. Just loping along... One measure I've heard regarding design speed for steam locomotives more or less equated driver size with working speed. The 614 has 72" drivers.
One measure I've heard regarding design speed for steam locomotives more or less equated driver size with working speed. The 614 has 72" drivers.
The factor I've seen was 1.1, as in approx. max. speed (in MPH) = 1.1 x driver diam. (in inches). So, for 72" drivers, it wold be 79 or 80 MPH, which seems about right.
I'm pretty sure 614 was for fast freight, not passenger, esp. on C&O - a coal road. Plus, I understand that the T-614 was rebuilt for freight use, not passenger. Modern ten-coupled passenger power was rare, aside from maybe UP's 4-10-2's and 4-12-2's. More common was 8-coupled, like Northerns (4-8-4) and Mountains (4-8-2). Both UP & AT&SF used 4-8-4's as their fast passenger power, even though they too had larger (ATSF also had 2-10-4's).
Of course being a 4-8-4 C&O 614 is not a ten-coupled engine....
"I Often Dream of Trains"-From the Album of the Same Name by Robyn Hitchcock
Actually, the "Greenbrier's" were built for passenger service.
They (610-614) came along about the time C & O was dieselising,
and probably pulled more freights than passenger trains.
Maybe C.S. will jump in here and tell the story about 614-611.
(had something to do with an R F & P engine, and a C & O Engine)
Being Crazy,keeps you from going "INSANE" !! "The light at the end of the tunnel,has been turned off due to budget cuts" NOT AFRAID A Vet., and PROUD OF IT!!
Thanks for the info,I had forgotten about the ACE3000 project and those experiments...
CShaveRR C&O 614 and 614T were one and the same. It became the 614T when it became the test bed for some components of the ACE3000 steam locomotive. Ross Rowland, the man behind the ACE3000 (and current owner of the 614) has appeared on this Forum before; perhaps he can elaborate if he desires. As for 70, I don't doubt it.
C&O 614 and 614T were one and the same. It became the 614T when it became the test bed for some components of the ACE3000 steam locomotive.
Ross Rowland, the man behind the ACE3000 (and current owner of the 614) has appeared on this Forum before; perhaps he can elaborate if he desires.
As for 70, I don't doubt it.
The operative working phrase witrh these Steam Locos is "fast passenger." You can bet if the speed limits allow it Steve Lee and Ross Rowland will let them roll at track speed. Having chased the 3985 and 844 here in Kansas. They Will roll at track speed!
CShaveRR As for 70, I don't doubt it.
Indeed. Just loping along...
wrawroacx eolafan I've no way of knowing for sure, but I wouldn't be one bit surprised if it were true by the looks of your video! This isn't my video. Somebody elses. By the way, why dose your picture of your account have the BNSF H3 Logo backwards?
eolafan I've no way of knowing for sure, but I wouldn't be one bit surprised if it were true by the looks of your video!
I've no way of knowing for sure, but I wouldn't be one bit surprised if it were true by the looks of your video!
This isn't my video. Somebody elses. By the way, why dose your picture of your account have the BNSF H3 Logo backwards?
I think she's going every bit of 70.
wrawroacx Where's she at now? Is she going to run again?
Where's she at now? Is she going to run again?
Same question,and what about the other Chessie loco 614-T
If 614 looks like she was going that fast, then she probably was.
I've had the oppertunatity to see her in operation several times.
The last time I saw her, was from Charleston, Wv, towards Hinton, Wv.
I was able to catch her at Charleston, Handley and Thurmond, Wv.
Whatever the speed limit was on the old C & O at that time,
She was Doing It!!
How's that too fast? Those engines were made for speed; not for sputtering along at 5mph on some weed-covered branch line...
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
I think she's going here 70 MPH. What you think?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0R9PkVB244&feature=related
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