OK, how is this done? Not often (I don't think I've ever been seen it in real life) is an engine shipped on a flatcar of some type. Larger engines can run on their own, but what about small driver engines? switchers, tank engines and geared locomotives?
Lets say that a lumber company in Oregon ordered a new Shay. How would it be shipped by rail if it was standard gauge? Narrow gauge I assume would be shipped on a flatcar, but would it fall as a special load and what precautions must the shipping road take?
If you can read this... thank a teacher. If you are reading this in english... thank a veteran
When in doubt. grab a hammer.
If it moves and isn't supposed to, get a hammer
If it doesn't move and is supposed to, get a hammer
If it's broken, get a hammer
If it can't be fixed with a hammer... DUCK TAPE!
As I read your question, it seems to be dealing with steam locomotives
I have seen it done in real life. In the olden days, it was pretty common for steam locomotives to be moved dead on their own wheels. And, it can still be done this way. For example, when the big ATSF engine was moved from the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago to the Illinois Railway Museum in the early 1990s, it was moved on its own wheels (including an interesting move on city streets from MS&I through a gas station, and up an unsued spur track ramp to the elevated IC ROW, and then moved by rail from Chicago to Union. In these kind of moves moves, if the loco is completely dead, the side rods are usually removed.
I believe UP recently moved a steam loco on its own wheels to some kind of exhibiton. While it was towed, I think it was moved with some steam pressure in the boiler (possibly so the lubricators would work, so the siderods didn't have to be removed). I don't have any further info on this move.
Smaller locos were also often moved on their own wheels in the days of yore. There's a famous photo (well, maybe not so famous) of a string of little "Forney" locos being moved on their own wheels to the South Side Elevated in Chicago in the early 1890's.
Locos like Shays which could not be moved at reasonable track speeds on their own wheels would, of course, be moved by flatcar. This is also true of some larger locos in modern times, due to the increasing unwillingness of Class I railroads to move equipment on its own wheels not equipped with roller bearings. Unless there are clearance issues, I'm not aware of any special precautions being taken with these loads (after all, when hauled on a flatcar, they are simply another piece of machinery), but perhaps others on this thread have further info.
Diesel locos with roller bearings are usually moved on their own wheels, but a railroad may insist on moving a units with friction bearings on a flatcar. Some railroads also have restrictions on moving diesel locos on their own wheels based on self centering couplers. In my declining years, I can't recall whether these restrictions apply to locos equipped wth self centering couplers or to locos not equipped with them. Again, someone else on this thread can probably clea this up.
Thank You.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.