A buddy of mine sent me a pic he shot while riding the GCRY in August of '04.
It shows the 4960 followed by a tank car, then two (maybe three) diesel (I think EMD F) B units.
Is the tank car for extra water? Or is it for extra oil for the 4960 (if it's an oil-burner now)? I assume that engine was not originally an oil-burner.
Are the B-units actually being used for grunt? Or are they really just shells (with maybe HEP generators, or steam generators, or one of each in each? It's a summer photo, so they wouldnt be using steam, so I doubt a solely steam-generating piece would be in the consist.
My guess is they are indeed for hauling the train; either full-time, or for on the grades. Or maybe just standby for if the 4960 breaks down? In either case, that would mean some sort of diesel controls in the steamer's cab. Are those on the fireman's side, controlled by a second hogger? Or on the engineer's side also? Seems like there would be space issues on the engineer's side.
And are they connected by an MU cable running along the tank car, or are they radio-controlled?
In other words, boys, what the heck is going on? I want to report back to my friend; he's not a railfan, but he loved that train!
Still in training.
I rode the GCRY in 2014, but it was diesel powered. I believe the steam engines were converted to biodiesel. Maybe the tank car was easier than converting the tender. I also rode the nearby Verde Canyon RR, and they carried (and used) water to put out small weed/brush fires along the tracks. On the GCRY, I don't remember if the cars were air conditioned, but maybe the diesels provided the HEP for AC.
I saw you asked the same questions on RYPN, and got good information there.
RYPN thread:
http://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=44218
A video from that thread. This short little clip has everything. Steam, diesel, stainless steel, domes, and a open-platform observation car. All on a mountain grade:
https://www.facebook.com/220346631311469/videos/1934849639981500/
The power car (boxy thing immediately behind the diesel) appears to have been converted from a ex-CN steam generator car.
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
Thanks Mike and Dude.
Yes, I did get good info from RyPN.
Unfortunately, Dude, that FB link takes me to some kind of People's Court show. ???
Lithonia OperatorUnfortunately, Dude, that FB link takes me to some kind of People's Court show. ???
I had no trouble getting a correct link by clicking
If that fails to resolve as it did for me, you may have a DNS redirect problem or similar exploit.
Consist I saw had one of the F40s, at full power, necessary on the grade in question even with the steam locomotive near the ragged edge of adhesion at times.
I can't get the link to go there, only to the court thing. ?? Oh well.
Here is my friend's photo:
https://web.500px.com/photo/1010989714/gcrr3-by-KudzuTraveler/
See what you need to do on your browser to flush the DNS cache. You have something in there maliciously redirecting links. It is quite possible there are more that you haven't recognized are working.
Suspect you may find the video listed differently directly on the GCRY Facebook page -- it may even play embedded straight from the post. (I have as little to do with Faceplant as I possibly can, so I can't advise firsthand.)
It is very clear in your friend's picture, as mentioned on RyPN, that you have two FPBs, Alco booster units, there. The pattern of side grilles and radiators is distinctive once you understand what to look for.
Interesting!
The link works fine on the computer. On Safari.
Before now, I had only tried it on my phone. On the phone, the link kicks me into the FB app, and it's there that I get the court show clip.
For anyone who might be interested, there is now a lot of GCRY info on this thread I started on RyPN: http://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=44218
I rode the GCRy once in 1997 during the monsoon season, behind the 4960 (?) whatever the ex CB&Q steamer, no diesel assist. We wound up needing to double the train to make it to the south rim.
The "B" units, are all power units for the railcars. The other units are "Alco units, not F units
They're not even ALCOs, they are MLW units from Canada. And they also have the coaches converted from RDCs.
azrail They're not even ALCOs, they are MLW units from Canada. And they also have the coaches converted from RDCs.
I rode in 2005, and #4960 pulled our train, she had been converted to oil. I heard she had later been converted to cooking oil. I know it was coal fired in the 60's because my parents rode with her a few times when Q ran steam excursions and Dad got a cinder in his eye. Mom got it out with a hankie. On the early trips, she did not have a tender and local fire department would come and fill up the boiler at our lunch stop. Later, she did have a water tender which eliminated that having to be done. There were no diesel helpers on any of those trips and the one with GCR either. It was like seeing an old friend, I told the crew and the fireman gave me a card for the curator of AZ RR museum and said to write him with my memories which I did. Got a thank you note from him and my letter is in their archives.
I don't think #4960 was with GCR yet in 1997, they had a couple of other steamers, but she was acquired shortly before our trip in 2005, I had heard about it and hoped she would be pulling our train and there she was.
guetem1 I rode the GCRy once in 1997 during the monsoon season, behind the 4960 (?) whatever the ex CB&Q steamer, no diesel assist. We wound up needing to double the train to make it to the south rim.
4960 operated out of Bristol, Va on Sou RR's old Bristol - Gate City Va line to Benams va. Dates unknown.
blue streak 14960 operated out of Bristol, Va on Sou RR's old Bristol - Gate City Va line to Benams va. Dates unknown.
Leased 1980. See here, for example:
https://www.newrivernotes.com/photos/displayimage.php?album=10&pid=4405
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.