So I'm gonna fix that!
Here's a neat 17-minute video of the Northern Central Raiway up in Pennsylvania, starring the 4-4-0 York, and a beautiful engine she is! So have fun folks!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4crMEgHI9g
Perhaps because nothing has been happening due to the virus shutting virtually everything down, including tourism and restoration work?
GERALD L MCFARLANE JR Perhaps because nothing has been happening due to the virus shutting virtually everything down, including tourism and restoration work?
Work is still happening, you (the public) just aren't getting to see it because so many places are closed. Enforcing proper social distancing and cleaning everything multiple times a day (or between each visitor) is simply beyond the capabilities of so many organizations, which either operate on a tight budget, are 100% volunteer-run, or both.
Trust me when I say I know what I am talking about.
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
Cool!
Are they firing the steamer with oil?
If GM "killed the electric car", what am I doing standing next to an EV-1, a half a block from the WSOR tracks?
I still see plenty of recent happenings being shown on the social media sites.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
Paul Milenkovic Cool! Are they firing the steamer with oil?
Yes. David Kloke built the locomotives (Leviathan, his first, and York) to operate with fuel oil. It's a lot easier that way.
So these are new-built steam locomotives running on standard-gauge track?
I guess there is a place for everything, but the new-built Tornado required some serious fund raising in England to make happen, the T1 Trust is a work-in-progress, and the David Wardale 5AT project ran out of steam, as they say.
The rationale behind the high-speed capability of the 5AT was to keep up with the mainline passenger traffic in England, which in the most part is not HSR but nevertheless moves pretty quickly. But does the public wanting to be entertained by a steam locomotive need a 100 MPH-capable new-built steam locomotive, or how much of this was David Wardale keen on seeing if this could be done?
What, in rough numbers, are the cost figures of locomotives such as what Mr. Kloke is building as opposed to other paths to getting standard-gauge steam operating? The Mid-Continent Railway's project on a C&NW Ten Wheeler is far from cheap, and that isn't really rehabbing an old steam loco as much as doing the heavy maintenance needed to continue its use?
Paul MilenkovicSo these are new-built steam locomotives running on standard-gauge track?
Absolutely!
It's bee a while since I've read the story, but the first one, "Leviathan," was built by Kloke strictly as a hobby item, for lack of a better term. Mr. Kloke is fascinated by 19th Century steam and since he owns a metal fabricating company he was in a good position to build one of his own. I think "York" was built specifically for the Northern Central.
Even though both locomotives are set up for ease of operation and could run on mainline 'roads, Mr. Kloke never intended same. Operation on museum trackage or a dedicated line like the Northern Central was the aim.
And both those engines ended up about 40 minutes from each other. (The York in New Freedom, PA, and the Leviathan in Elizabethtown, PA).
zugmann And both those engines ended up about 40 minutes from each other. (The York in New Freedom, PA, and the Leviathan in Elizabethtown, PA). Hmmmmm. I wonder if a 19th Century drag race could be arranged on a two-track main line?
Hmmmmm. I wonder if a 19th Century drag race could be arranged on a two-track main line?
Flint, this COVID-19 is sure exacerbatin' the challenges for all the preservatin' goin' on out there.
Maybe we ought to organize a pork loin barbecue as a fund raiser, or something like that.
In the meantime I am still supporting MILW 261 with some modest donations to help to keep 'er movin'.
Oh absolutely, can't get people excited if you can't draw a crowd.
It won't last forever. Just got to be patient.
In the meantime, thanks to all working hard out there, even if it's going unnoticed at the time.
Some of my other fandoms ahve been hosting online cons. Virtual meet ups with programming, chat, concerts, charity auctions - all online in part to support the various artists and merch vendors that are losing a huge chunk of their income due to the lack of physical conventions.
Kind of hoping there would be something like that for rail preservation. Oh well.
Well, the (toy) Train Collectors Association tried a "virtual" train show last spring in lieu of the usual mega train show they hold twice a year in York PA. I don't know how successful it was, I watched a bit of it and to me it didn't amount to much more than a big commercial for various manufacturers. What I saw left me cold. Just not the same as a real train show.
Flintlock76 I watched a bit of it and to me it didn't amount to much more than a big commercial for various manufacturers. What I saw left me cold. Just not the same as a real train show.
That's a shame. They should have taken lessons from other cons.
Need to bump this.
Remember the problem between the town of Jim Thorpe and the RBM&N?
Remember steam locomotive 425?
Both appear to have been resolved in August, hang the pandemic...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=r_2d5CwPZVE
Great film! Very professionally done!
Thanks for posting it Mod-man!
Thanks!
Question that just occurred to me:
Is 425 painted blue because it operates at least partially on CNJ trackage?
CNJ, of course, had the Blue Comet though it would not have traversed the trackage over which Reading & Northern operates.
They've never come right out and said so, but I can't help but think the blue paint scheme on R&N's 425 is "Blue Comet" inspired. It's darn near the same shade of blue, and it looks darn good on the locomotive.
And no, the "Blue Comet" never went to Pennsylvania. The CNJ did have olive painted Pacifics that ran to Wilkes-Barre PA on a train called "The Bullet."
Here's three minutes of CNJ action in PA. Like most good vids it leaves you wanting more!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BfIILYpsD8
Flintlock76And no, the "Blue Comet" never went to Pennsylvania. The CNJ did have olive painted Pacifics that ran through Jim Thorpe and the Gorge to Wilkes-Barre PA on a train called "The Bullet."
If I recall, the Bullet was run even faster than the Blue Comet, at 4'30" including the ferry ride over from Manhattan!
I appreciate that Mod-man!
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