That is exactly true. But there is a shortcut that can be taken if you were to make a commonsense assumption about what kind of locomotive this is likeliest to be, and then find a fairly common 9and reasonably exhaustive) reference work on that kind of locomotive....
So,someone with access to Alco records can find the answer by noting whatever compound locomotives were sold overseas with one of the specific wheel arrangment, three-cylinder or Mallet, did not have superheating and the rest did, and then find the special arrangement for the one that did not have superheating.
To my knowledge Alco never built a Beyer-Garratt. And in fact the first 'main line' Garratts were virtually contemporaries of the engine in the question.
I think there were very few compound locomotives that lacked some form of simpling valve for starting, whether or not they were superheated. A class of compound Garratts was built circa 1927, and although I don't have specific technical information on their starting arrangement (all I have is Wiener's book on articulated locomotives) I am quite certain some kind of simpling or 'boosting' valve was provided for starting.
A narrow gauge Beyer-Garrett built by Alco? This one was not superheated but did have a simpling valve, like N&W Y's, that permitted an amount of high-pressure steam to enter the low-pressure cylinders for increased tractive effort on starting. The remaining locomotives were superheated and did not have the simpling vavle.
daveklepperWhat? Were there three-cylinder narrow-gauge locomotives? Or four-cylinder non-articulateds?
In fact, I can name you a three-cylinder narrow-gauge locomotive, in fact an articulated six-cylinder articulated locomotive, as well as a whole passel of four-cylinder non-articulateds. All from the same country! (Not quite the same one that ran the eight-cylinder articulateds, but associated with it, usually via a hyphenated expression, in popular American terminology ...)
I thought the Uintah-Sumter Valley locos were the only North American rod articulateds.
Where did I say the locomotive in question RAN in North America? I only said it was built there (by Alco).
Wht? Were there three-cylinder narrow-gauge locomotives? Or four-cylinder non-articulateds?
rcdryeDid it use a steam cylinder to push down on one or more of the axles to transfer weight? Baldwin did this with some 4-2-0's in the 1840s.
No, nor was there anything unusual about the suspension or equalization.
As a hint: the 'feature' is one way to adjust a compound's expansion ratio.
Did it use a steam cylinder to push down on one or more of the axles to transfer weight? Baldwin did this with some 4-2-0's in the 1840s.
rfpjohnWas this engine built without counterweights on the drivers?
No, it had normal counterweighting, and no, it was not a Camelback.
The special 'feature' was the same as a method proposed to reduce a perceived problem in duplex-drive locomotive design many years later.
I seem to remember a 4'1" gauge camelback on one of the copper range lines of the Michigan upper penninsula. But as to the question at hand, I'm stumped! Was this engine built without counterweights on the drivers?
Could there possibly have been a narrow-gauge camelback?
daveklepperwell, was the Dan of Dashing Dan of LIRR fame a railfan? If so, what was his last name?
I thought I'd specifically ruled him out by name. (And Dan is about as far from being a 'railfan' as anyone can be ... he's probably on the train by necessity, not appreciation...)
Yes, superheat is the missing feature. But that is not the big, big thing that makes the difference so striking.
Going back to the narrow gauge locomotive, superheat?
well, was the Dan of Dashing Dan of LIRR fame a railfan? If so, what was his last name?
daveklepperBefore giving up, give us a few more hints.
Gladly! The wheel arrangement was exactly the same; in fact, I think most of the dimensions were the same. The 'missing piece' was not drifting valves, it was something much more obvious than that (something almost inconceivable, to me, that would be left off this locomotive when her sisters were so equipped).
The 'difference' that is the original principal question's answer is something so strange that I can't believe no one has caught it... Again, it has to do with the running gear, specifically associated with drivers.
What kind of equpment did the train named after a railfan have? Sleepers and a diner or parlors? Was it a single-road train or a through train over two or more railroads? Was it an overnighter or a day train?
I already gave a big hint along this line with an excessively 'cagy' reply to a previous request for a hint. I will now essentially give it away, as the answer will be obvious in a relatively short number of steps: it was a commuter train. (Don't anyone get hurt racing for the keyboard!)
Before giving up, give us a few more hints. Was the missing piece of equipment the drifting valves on the cylinders? Was the wheel arrangement the same as the similarly sized locomotives also built by Alco for the same narrow-gauge operation of the same raiklroad. Or were the similarly-sized locomotives standard gauge?
Final hints (before I unlock this and give someone else 'the question')
It involves the letter T.
With respect to the other question -- the 'controversy' involves the running gear, specifically the drivers. The 'piece of equipment' that is missing from this one but not all her near-sisters involves steam distribution, in a way.
No.
As a hint: alliteration plays a prominent part. And the train has its own four-page thread on railroad.net.
Is his son Alexander Hamilton IV?
If I remember correctly, he sold insurance.
His son has the same name as he did.
Did he have any other connection to the Industry? As a member of Congress or the Senate with legislation? Or a newpaper or magazine reporter or editor?
Of course I am thinking of Rhode Island Senator Pell.
daveklepperWas Nelly Bly a railfan? (Ooops,sorry, not a he!) Or John Wilkes? Or Asa Packer?
None of them in the sense of the question. We're talking someone famous for BEING a railfan. One of the known names. Not a trick or surprise.
Was Nelly Bly a railfan? (Ooops,sorry, not a he!) Or John Wilkes? Or Asa Packer?
daveklepperOK, sorry. Was or is there a train named Frimbo or Rogers Wittiker?
There certainly should have been! But no. You are in the right geographical area, though on the wrong side of the bridge. Or rather, tunnel or ferry, depending on your preference.
OK, sorry. Was or is there a train named Frimbo or Rogers Wittiker?
That is interesting because you're batting .000 with the details I heard. Remember we are talking about a RAILFAN -- the train being named after him because he was a railfan. You would certainly recognize the railfan's name.
Well, the answer is a regular METRA train named after a regular Chicago-area commuter who was popular with both crew and fellow passengers, but I do not remember the name. This will help someone in the Chicago area to come up with the name and be the winner.
Answering that would give it away. But yes, trains run by commuter agencies would count. (Even if Dashing Dan is not a real person!)
Is this a commuter authority operated train?
While we're waiting -- who's the only railfan to have a train named after him?
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