Trains.com

Some Random Classic Pics perhaps worthy of Discussion

43504 views
725 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,669 posts
Posted by Overmod on Monday, July 27, 2020 7:24 AM

We can take a little solace, though, st the end:  Wikipedia said none of the 4MT standards survived to wear the new British Rail logo -- but there, right at the end, someone has put it on for her to wear with honor to the grave.

Firelock:  Belle was the actual name of the Thomas & Friends character patterned after this design, equipped with water cannon up top (I have no idea if that was even remotely historical).  I suspect the name does reference the famous Southern train.  Sure does look like Thomas' sibling...

https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Belle

  • Member since
    April 2018
  • 1,618 posts
Posted by Jones1945 on Monday, July 27, 2020 5:55 AM

Miningman

These tank locomotives remind me of passenger steam engines used in Hong Kong's KCR British Section. 

 

Class A, 2-6-4, 19"x26", 61 1/2" driver, 180psi, total 8 delivered from 1910-1915.

Class B, 22"x28", 180 psi, 61 1/2"driver, 4 delievered in 1924.

  • Member since
    September 2013
  • 6,199 posts
Posted by Miningman on Monday, July 27, 2020 1:33 AM
  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Sunday, July 26, 2020 9:14 PM

Miningman

15! One could start a whole commuter service with that and just think how popular it would be. 

 

Damn right!  And don't call it transportation either, call it a ride!  

So it was named "Belle?"  I couldn't tell from the picture.  Dat's kool, it works.  

 

  • Member since
    September 2013
  • 6,199 posts
Posted by Miningman on Sunday, July 26, 2020 9:09 PM

15! One could start a whole commuter service with that and just think how popular it would be. 

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,669 posts
Posted by Overmod on Sunday, July 26, 2020 8:00 PM

Flintlock76
Goliath, Thomas' big brother?

No, actually it would be a much younger brother.

(And in actual canon, it's a 'she' - Belle - so a younger sister...)

Also known as the locomotive Leader should have been... Devil

It will probably not be a surprise that 15 of these made it to preservation, nearly twice as many as any other Standard class...)

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Sunday, July 26, 2020 7:53 PM

Miningman

Holeeee... that's a BIG Tank Locomotive.

 

 

Goliath, Thomas' big brother?

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,669 posts
Posted by Overmod on Sunday, July 26, 2020 7:49 PM

That's a Riddles 4MT 'British standard' 2-6-4.  It has 68" driving wheels (so those men are not midgets like the ones in some past posts about C&NW power) but the design was tweaked a bit to fit a loading gauge a bit restricted even by British standards.  Put one next to a B&A 4-6-6 and you'll see what a HO-LEE big tank engine really is...

Designed around 1951, and all but one in regular service until 1964.  Then they went fast.  i think this one was built circa 1955 [EDIT;I was wrong, 1957... see below], and was retired in 1966, so about the same waste as a Niagara

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BR_Standard_Class_4_2-6-4T

  • Member since
    September 2013
  • 6,199 posts
Posted by Miningman on Sunday, July 26, 2020 7:08 PM

Holeeee... that's a BIG Tank Locomotive.

 

  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 20,096 posts
Posted by daveklepper on Sunday, July 26, 2020 7:25 AM

Briightening up the Royal Train:

  • Member since
    April 2018
  • 1,618 posts
Posted by Jones1945 on Saturday, July 25, 2020 9:09 AM

Overmod

The problem here is that 'nothing succeeds like success' -- the streamlined 'perception' of the train in Washington involved GG1s, the west end wouldn't support a required large pool of streamlined engines in the late '30s, and the very logical streamlining/moderninzation target, the two K5s dedicated to the Northern Central part of the Liberty Limited's route, would run at the wrong time of day through 'who cares?' country as far as making an impression of modernism with the streamlining expense would be concerned. 

This is all for the best, of course, because nothing PRR could have built would have prevented the disaster that came when B&O got operating rights over the P&LE in the mid-Fifties.  Better food AND a better ride AND a faster schedule added up to 'no real competition at all'... 

Thank you for the inspiring respone. I almost completely forgot the role of the K5s! As a railfan who loves PRR and streamlined steam engines, I wish Pennsy had streamlined a small fleet of Pacific and E6s, maybe 20 of them, to establish something like Southern Pacific, MILW and NYC's streamlined steam engine fleet before the coming of class T1, even though Pennsy already had a large fleet of streamlined electric engine GG1 serving the east end in the late 1930s. It didn't happen (until T1) but there is nothing wrong with it because it is just my railfan fantasy.

At the end of the day, PRR wasn't the only RR that used unstreamlined steam engines to haul streamliners, let alone the whole steam-streamliner era only lasted about 10 years. From my point of view, it was the best 10 years, but I understand that for people who took train but wasn't a railfan, many of them care more about the quality of service inside the car instead of the appearance of the train. Simple and straightforward. 

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Saturday, July 25, 2020 8:32 AM

Miningman
I've experienced a scene like this a hundred times or more as a kid in similar settings and I am forever grateful that I can draw on such memories and been around at the right time to appreciate it all. 

Oh my, steam in the snow!

I like the way the artist (Howard Fogg? Ted Rose?) left the locomotive ambiguous, it could be any railroad anywhere, so it's guaranteed to set anyones nostalgia motor into overdrive. 

It could be my North Jersey around Christmastime.  The Pascack Valley Line, the Northern Railroad, the Erie Main Line, the West Shore, the Lackawanna, the Susquehanna, it doesn't matter.  It's a reminder of a saner day, good times, and enough to bring a lump to your throat. 

Great find Vince!  Thanks! 

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,669 posts
Posted by Overmod on Saturday, July 25, 2020 6:53 AM

Jones1945
PRR probably thought that not even a fully streamlined consist could attract regular patrons of B&O's Capitol Limited and Royal Blue so that in this case, they didn't spend money on unnecessary things like modernized the whole train to beat their competitors. I wish I could hear the thoughts of B&O's regular patrons on PRR's FOM project, like how many of them switched to PRR's trains just because part of the Liberty Limited consist was attached with brand new sleepers and lounges.

The problem here is that 'nothing succeeds like success' -- the streamlined 'perception' of the train in Washington involved GG1s, the west end wouldn't support a required large pool of streamlined engines in the late '30s, and the very logical streamlining/moderninzation target, the two K5s dedicated to the Northern Central part of the Liberty Limited's route, would run at the wrong time of day through 'who cares?' country as far as making an impression of modernism with the streamlining expense would be concerned.

This is all for the best, of course, because nothing PRR could have built would have prevented the disaster that came when B&O got operating rights over the P&LE in the mid-Fifties.  Better food AND a better ride AND a faster schedule added up to 'no real competition at all'...

  • Member since
    April 2018
  • 1,618 posts
Posted by Jones1945 on Saturday, July 25, 2020 4:42 AM

Miningman
 

4) Departing with the Liberty Limited in the Fleet of Modernism scheme. Make Jones happy anyway.

  

I would be even happier if the entire consist was modernized or "Raymond Loewyized", including the steam engine that powered the Liberty Limited. PRR probably thought that not even a fully streamlined consist could attract regular patrons of B&O's Capitol Limited and Royal Blue so that in this case, they didn't spend money on unnecessary things like modernized the whole train to beat their competitors. I wish I could hear the thoughts of B&O's regular patrons on PRR's FOM project, like how many of them switched to PRR's trains just because part of the Liberty Limited consist was attached with brand new sleepers and lounges. Not many I guess. The Broadway Limited went FOM but that didn't change its extremely low ridership until 1943. 

  • Member since
    December 2017
  • From: I've been everywhere, man
  • 4,269 posts
Posted by SD70Dude on Friday, July 24, 2020 10:58 PM

Miningman

4)  While we are on hard working and magnificence here is a Santa Fe Northern going full out and putting on a show. Luv those drivers! What a beast.

That particular engine is still around today, currently undergoing her 1472 day overhaul at Amtrak's Los Angeles yard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=to_idu0dp7k

https://www.railpictures.net/photo/649871/

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

  • Member since
    September 2013
  • 6,199 posts
Posted by Miningman on Friday, July 24, 2020 10:07 PM

Thank you Peter, great information. Who knew? Your interest in these things is quite valuable. 

A few more pics perhaps worthy of discussion.

1)  C&NW Alco C628 High Hood! Why?.... because ex N&W. Here we are in Altoona, no not that one, the one in Wisconsin. Apparently they were seen on this line many years then they finished their days hauling Taconite ore up North. 

 

2)  Here's the Royal Train in jolly old England. Apparently it came within an inch of the scrapper, old fashioned and all that, until it was deemed or re-discovered as quite a good way to get around the country and sees occasional use by the Royal Family.

 

3)  Might as well call this "I've been working on the Railroad" . Here we have the Virginian 2-6-6-6 beast looking like it's earning its keep. Fabulous, stunning actually.

 

4)  While we are on hard working and magnificence here is a Santa Fe Northern going full out and putting on a show. Luv those drivers! What a beast.

 

5)  Need to cool down a bit in all the heat? Need an escape from all nonsense going on in the world? Well you can lose yourself for a minute in a simplier time when all was right and life was not so frantic. 

I've experienced a scene like this a hundred times or more as a kid in similar settings and I am forever grateful that I can draw on such memories and been around at the right time to appreciate it all. 

  • Member since
    January 2002
  • 4,612 posts
Posted by M636C on Thursday, July 16, 2020 7:06 AM

1) We rarely, if ever, mention Mongolia. Well here we are in Tuul-Khonkhor Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on the Mongolian Rwy with 2TE116UM units. Looking pretty good. 

 Thanks to the political wonderland of the former Soviet Union, these locomotives are actually Ukrainian.

There is a good summary of the whole class at

https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/2%D0%A2%D0%AD116

This is of course in Russian but will (sort of) translate by the usual means.

The 2TE116UM is a Mongolia only version of the 2TE116U used in Russia and elsewhere. The original 2TE116 is 3060 HP per unit and the 2TE116U is 3600 HP per unit both from a 5D49 four stroke V-16. There are 2176 pairs, 4352 units, known to date.

Mongolia also has five 2TE116UD (of 63 built in 2012 onward) which each have a GE GEVO V-12 rated at 4250 HP.

This is 2TE116UD-006.

Peter

  • Member since
    May 2012
  • 5,017 posts
Posted by rcdrye on Thursday, July 16, 2020 6:00 AM

The class designator for the rotary:

x = service (no character is used for revenue)

Rot = rotary (rotierend) - surprised its not Dp (Drehpflug)

d = Dampf (steam)

  • Member since
    September 2013
  • 6,199 posts
Posted by Miningman on Wednesday, July 15, 2020 10:58 PM

No it's real. Here is rcdrye's comment with 2 videos of it in motion.

Posted by rcdrye on Thursday, April 9, 2020 6:58 AM
  • Member since
    May 2019
  • 1,768 posts
Posted by MMLDelete on Wednesday, July 15, 2020 10:46 PM

Miningman

1) Funky

 

2)  Very Funky

 

3)  Overwhelmingly Funky

 

 

 

Number 2 is a Photoshop creation, right?

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Wednesday, July 15, 2020 10:30 AM

That South African Pacific's a looker all right, a neat blend of British and American styling and tastefully painted as well.

I don't know if it's the most beautiful Pacific ever built, but it's certainly a contender!

  • Member since
    September 2013
  • 6,199 posts
Posted by Miningman on Monday, July 13, 2020 11:20 PM

1) We rarely, if ever, mention Mongolia. Well here we are in Tuul-Khonkhor Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on the Mongolian Rwy with 2TE116UM units. Looking pretty good. 

 

2) Depiction of B&O 2-8-8-0's .. captures the power of steam quite well.

 

3) Is the South African 4-6-2 the most beautiful Pacific ever built?!  What a beauty.

 

  • Member since
    October 2008
  • From: Calgary
  • 2,047 posts
Posted by cx500 on Thursday, July 9, 2020 11:14 PM

Correction on picture No.5:  that is not a C-Liner but what is termed an Erie-Built.  It has the F-M prime mover but was assembled by GE in Erie for Fairbanks--Morse, likely because at the time they did not have full manufacturing capability themselves.  The big radiator panel at the rear of the unit is diagnostic.

John 

  • Member since
    September 2013
  • 6,199 posts
Posted by Miningman on Thursday, July 9, 2020 1:15 PM

1)  Nice pic eh? First thing I thought was how much is their power bill??

2)  A few degrees of separation and time from the above photo. 

C&NW Proviso Yard Dec. 1, 1942.  The War is on. Dark days.

 

3) The great hope immediately after the war, the shine is off quickly and in full decline. Looking a bit beat up considering not that old.

 

4) December 1944 and Union Pacific receives its very last new steam locomotive, a FEF-3, the famous and still with us #844. Do you think they actually knew this was the last? 

 

5)  Fairbanks Morse C Liner coming at you, Inductive Phone antennas and all. Not all that long on the roster, but a break from legions of F's and E's.

Mifflin, Pa.

 

6) New York Central looking pretty snappy in Buffalo.  Doing what the Central did best but how much worry is going on in the home office right now?

 

7)  One more late add on ! Here we are in Watkins Glenn, famous for racing, but back in the day the home of Hippos and Decapods! 

Includes a bonus video! Not bad, Decapods in the raw, home movies but it gets better. Not long.

 

Bonus Video Pennsy Decapods

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bu34hQfnlK4&list=UUpAxlhe2QWOECupW5rXHCKA

 

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Tuesday, July 7, 2020 9:22 PM

Yeah, I'd like to see someone pick up the MTH line, especially the "Railking" line, but I'm not holding my breath.  All the tooling's in China, they're not going to give it back, and considering what's going on with China nowadays it just doesn't look good. 

Bachmann just ruined the Williams line, as I've said either they bought the company and then didn't know what to do with it, or they bought it just to keep someone else from getting it.  

You know, I had a chance to buy an MTH "Bantam" Daylight starter set at an antique show in Kutztown PA just about 10 years ago.  Passed on it, not sorry I did, but sometimes I wonder if I did the right thing.  That's one beautiful engine!

  • Member since
    September 2010
  • From: Parma Heights Ohio
  • 3,442 posts
Posted by Penny Trains on Tuesday, July 7, 2020 8:10 PM

Somebody's gonna buy those MTH manufacturing rights sooner or later.  I just hope it doesn't go the way the Williams to Bachmann sale went.  Prices went up, up, up while selection went down, down, down.  It's also funny that MTH didn't do a 109 for tight radius since they had no problem producing "bantam" 4-8-4's with drivers more suited to an articulated:

But, what can I say.  I DID buy one!  Big Smile

Trains, trains, wonderful trains.  The more you get, the more you toot!  Big Smile

  • Member since
    September 2013
  • 6,199 posts
Posted by Miningman on Tuesday, July 7, 2020 11:12 AM

So many errors on my part in one day so thanks to all for the corrections: NW2 is a NW4 .. went by memory instead of checking, thanks for the correction Overmod. Had a 50/50 shot at being correct, I lost.

F's are E's on the Southern so thank you rcdrye, made that mistake before, how I don't know, just getting ahead of myself I guess. A steam generator on the MP NW4 Switcher...pretty spiffy! 

.. and of course the 2-6-4 is not a 4-6-2 Pacific, a great pic and posting Peter. Thanks to all for being my editors. 

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Tuesday, July 7, 2020 8:14 AM

Overmod
I do have to admit using "affordable" and "Mike's Train House" in the same sentence made me chuckle a bit...)

Yeah, that's a "Premier" grade scale (1/48) model, which was expensive, too much to pay for a toy, at least for me.  It needed layout with at least a 42" curve radius and mines only got a 31" radius curves, so it wouldn't have worked anyway. 

Mikes "Railking" models were a bit more affordable, but he never did a DL-109 in the "Railking" line.

  • Member since
    May 2012
  • 5,017 posts
Posted by rcdrye on Tuesday, July 7, 2020 6:19 AM

3) has 4 E8s.  Note the double roof air tanks on each. 

4) Note the tiny stack on MP 4102 in front of the cab.  It (and 4103) had steam generators, the first EMC switchers so equipped, presumably left over from 511/512.  MP also had a pair of NC2s with the same engine and electricals as the NW4. Also 4 600 HP SCs and 1 SW with in-line 8s.  The NW4 was built in 1938 while EMC was still selling the 201-A in production switchers, along with the "City" E2 sets and Santa Fe's last E1 sets.

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,669 posts
Posted by Overmod on Tuesday, July 7, 2020 12:05 AM

Flintlock76
I wish someone would come out with an affordable O gauge model of one. 

You mean something like this?  From 2012...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyH00r0dmhQ

(I do have to admit using "affordable" and "Mike's Train House" in the same sentence made me chuckle a bit...)

And #1 is obviously not an NW2, it's an NW4.  There were two, built with parts from boxcabs 511 and 512.  One of the last hurrahs for the 201A.

SUBSCRIBER & MEMBER LOGIN

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

FREE NEWSLETTER SIGNUP

Get the Classic Trains twice-monthly newsletter