Ouch!
(At least we can remember Fanny Brawne as an enthusiastic steam railfan ... which she was! Look it up!)
Overmod Lithonia Operator By “pacing,” do you mean shooting from a moving car traveling parallel to the train? "Pacing" is train-chasing that involves moving parallel with the train, usually with the power, without 'leapfrogging' to get to good views, setup locations for photography, etc. It does not necessarily presume a solo driver is taking photos or video while doing so, although of course many examples of the 'practice' show this -- because we wouldn't be seeing them at all if the solo driver hadn't been shooting...
Lithonia Operator By “pacing,” do you mean shooting from a moving car traveling parallel to the train?
"Pacing" is train-chasing that involves moving parallel with the train, usually with the power, without 'leapfrogging' to get to good views, setup locations for photography, etc. It does not necessarily presume a solo driver is taking photos or video while doing so, although of course many examples of the 'practice' show this -- because we wouldn't be seeing them at all if the solo driver hadn't been shooting...
Wow! Other than in some historic b/w films, I have never seen a steam locomotive go that fast.
Yes, clearly, pacing could easily end in tragedy. Have there ever been any bad accidents from pacing?
Overmod Ouch! (At least we can remember Fanny Brawne as an enthusiastic steam railfan ... which she was! Look it up!)
I tried, man. The only thing "steamy" I found out about Fanny Brawne was her romance with John Keats.
She was a cutie, though!
One thing I unlike is the Engineer is very relaxed and drinking (coffee) while operating smoothly and calmly. Astounded people might say, COOL.
He might as well enjoy his coffee and relax a bit. When you come right down to it you can't stop that thing on a dime anyway!
I'm sure he's aware of his surroundings and what's going on in those surroundings, i.e. signals and such. And more than likely there's a BNSF track pilot in the cab as well.
Flintlock76He might as well enjoy his coffee and relax a bit. When you come right down to it you can't stop that thing on a dime anyway!
Once your train "settles in" you really can just kick back and enjoy the scenery (alertly, of course). That's one reason for alerters - in case the engineer "settles in" a little too deeply...
I actually like it when the alerter starts its routine - it means that I've got a good balance of throttle and the need for same. Tap the alerter button and keep looking for deer on the tracks.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Electroliner 1935One thing I unlike is the Engineer
I typed unlike, I ment to say liked. He had that engine running nicely. Where the UN came from, I have no clue. Sorry.
No problem! I "fat finger" and mess up my typing all the time. Usually I catch it in time before I post.
PS: Did it again and caught it. I spelled usually as "usalally."
Flintlock76 No problem! I "fat finger" and mess up my typing all the time. Usually I catch it in time before I post. PS: Did it again and caught it. I spelled usually as "usalally."
Johnny
Oh, is THAT what it is?
Link to that wonderful YouTube video of the pacing of Santa Fe 3751 that Overmod posted about 2 days ago:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xp-b4Ce4Mf4
The difference is that with this version, the 'full-screen' mode is available, which is much more enjoyable.
What I keep wondering is what were the reactions of the non-railfan motorists - in either direction - who came upon this wonderful machine cruising down their highway (almost). And their kids!
Thanks for sharing, Overmod! I wasn't aware of this one before.
- PDN.
Paul_D_North_JrLink to that wonderful YouTube video of the pacing of Santa Fe 3751 that Overmod posted about 2 days ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xp-b4Ce4Mf4 The difference is that with this version, the 'full-screen' mode is available, which is much more enjoyable. What I keep wondering is what were the reactions of the non-railfan motorists - in either direction - who came upon this wonderful machine cruising down their highway (almost). And their kids! Thanks for sharing, Overmod! I wasn't aware of this one before. - PDN.
Notice the 3751 did not have the piston rod 'blow by' that the 4014 was experiencing.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Electroliner 1935Where the UN came from, I have no clue. Sorry.
Established by charter on October 24th, 1945 -- doesn't every school kid know that?
PDN -- thanks for improving that link!
Overmod - you're welcome!
The segment with the engineer drinking his coffee reminds me of an essay in Trains in the late 1960s (I think). As I recall it was written by Wallace W. Abbey, and described his impressions of the Illinois Central's Panama Limited getting up to speed heading south out of Chicago, as observed from a paralleling electric interurban (Illinois Terminal?) - another form of pacing, I suppose. Anyway, he saw the engineer's Thermos on top of the control stand, and said something like "It's safe there - you know it, and he knows you know it."
It started out with a line like "Ever watch E6's at speeed? I mean really at speed." He also compared the journals jumping up and down in the truck frames to horse's hooves while running. A shame we don't have railroad writing like that anymore.
Paul_D_North_Jr Link to that wonderful YouTube video of the pacing of Santa Fe 3751 that Overmod posted about 2 days ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xp-b4Ce4Mf4
Great coordination between engineer and fireman. No smoke until stopped and just a short interval then.
Thanks, Paul for that video. It was, indeed, a beautiful sight to watch the rods and valve gear working. The engineer and fireman did well in their work.
As to non-railfans, I doubt that they had any understanding at all about the linkage that controlled the motion of the engine.
No need for 'em to understand it Johnny, it's just there to be marvelled at. And I'm sure even non-railfans can make the connection that all that machinery has something to do with the forward motion of the locomotive.
That's always been part of the attraction of steam, all the guts are on the outside to thrill and amaze, unlike the diesel where it's all inside and hidden by sheet metal.
No wonder that back in the old days folks would go "down to the depot" just to watch the trains come and go, it was the best show in town, and it was free!
Good one.
Paul_D_North_Jr Overmod - you're welcome! The segment with the engineer drinking his coffee reminds me of an essay in Trains in the late 1960s (I think). As I recall it was written by Wallace W. Abbey, and described his impressions of the Illinois Central's Panama Limited getting up to speed heading south out of Chicago, as observed from a paralleling electric interurban (Illinois Terminal?) - another form of pacing, I suppose. Anyway, he saw the engineer's Thermos on top of the control stand, and said something like "It's safe there - you know it, and he knows you know it." It started out with a line like "Ever watch E6's at speeed? I mean really at speed." He also compared the journals jumping up and down in the truck frames to horse's hooves while running. A shame we don't have railroad writing like that anymore. - PDN.
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