edblysard>>Chinese Steam Locomotives...

[samfp1943]

ed:
Any Idea when those 2 Chinese Locomotives are due in Houston? According to the article in TRAINS they were shipped April 21. Any idea as to routing from Houston to destination?

Enquiring minds would like to know.
Thanks,
Sam
[:D]

[edblysard]

I am trying to find out...as of wensday, no word yet.
We, the PTRA, have not received any request as to having any specialized equipment on hand.
I have the trainmasters checking, and will ask again this morning when I get to work at 06:30...(thursday and friday are my off days)[:D]
Ed

[Modelcar]

...As fast moving as the Chineese are now they'll probably convince us here in the US to go back to steam and they will {of course}, manufacture and sell them to us....! At the same time they will be building high speed rail for themselves....

[TH&B]

Hey if they can build steam engines cheaply enough and deliver them, then it's not too far fetched. With open access and sheap labour it could be done.

[Modelcar]

...We would be better served if we build more of what we use here and SELL them more of what we make....Our balance of trade is already far down in the dumper...

[edblysard]

Ok...ship was at the channel mouth this morning early, docked and cleared customs at dock 18 this afternoon.
Welders are called for 5 pm tonight to start on the flat car mods, locomotives should be on the flats tomorrow morning somethim, depending on what the welders have to do...welders and fitters will work after that to secure the locomotives to the cars.
I will try and get down to the dock tomorrow afternoon after work, and see about photos.
Good enough?
Ed

[samfp1943]

Thanks, ED.
I really do appreciate your info. I was hoping that they might accidentally come up the UP through Coffeyville, and on to KC, or even up the KCS through Joplin and Pittsburg.
[ I would think that it would be a good chance with a somewhat oversized load they might be transported in their own train, rather than as a general freight move?] I suspect that there is more than one forum member that would like to catch this move.
Sam

[edblysard]

I will try and find out...so far, we usually transport locomotives on flats in with everything else...about the only dedicated train would be for oversized things, like the really big transformers, or the reactor vessel we sent out last year, and the Windfan trains...
Ed

[samfp1943]

QUOTE: Originally posted by edblysard

I will try and find out...so far, we usually transport locomotives on flats in with everything else...about the only dedicated train would be for oversized things, like the really big transformers, or the reactor vessel we sent out last year, and the Windfan trains...
Ed

Again, Thanks Ed:
I reallly hope to be able to see these engines in transit. Got to see the 844 when it was thru Coffeyville and even chased it for a while. I am curious to see how these engines compare size-wise with that Northern. So any information would be helpful, and the pictures you mentioned would be great.
Sam

[Tulyar15]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 440cuin

. With open access and sheap labour it could be done.

"sheap" labour? Never knew sheep could drive trains - perhaps that's where we've been going wrong![:)]

[edblysard]

Gotta watch them sheep...they might join a union or something...
Still have not see the locomotives lifted out of the ship yet.
One of our trainmasters is going to run down there today and see whats up.
Ed

QUOTE: Originally posted by Tulyar15

QUOTE: Originally posted by 440cuin

. With open access and sheap labour it could be done.

"sheap" labour? Never knew sheep could drive trains - perhaps that's where we've been going wrong![:)]

[samfp1943]

QUOTE: Originally posted by edblysard

Gotta watch them sheep...they might join a union or something...
Still have not see the locomotives lifted out of the ship yet.
One of our trainmasters is going to run down there today and see whats up.
Ed

QUOTE: Originally posted by Tulyar15

QUOTE: Originally posted by 440cuin

. With open access and sheap labour it could be done.

"sheap" labour? Never knew sheep could drive trains - perhaps that's where we've been going wrong![:)]

[(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D]
Lets hope the "Sheap" don't organize.. Hollywood will want to make a movie..
At any rate, let's hope the Trainmaster can find out some info on what's going to happen down there in the Port with those engines.
Thanks for the update, Ed.
Sam

[edblysard]

Ok, they are off the ship and on the flats...I sent some photos out to a few folks, hopefully one or two of them can post some of them here...got the ok to do so from our trainmaster.
Yes, if they post one with a skinny guy in front of the locomotives, that is me.
Sorry about the snapshot quality, couldnt step back any more, unless I wanted to go swiming in the ship channel.[xx(]

Note the engineer stands on the left side....

Cant tell you what route they will take, or who is carrying them, thats privledged info I am not a liberity to release, but watch UP and BNSF's websites.

If you want a few photos e mail me with an email address I can send them to...
Ed

[samfp1943]

Ed.
Do appreciate the info on this.
Thank you.
Sam

[Murphy Siding]

Paging Chad Thomas.....if Ed should happen to e-mail photos, would you post them for us?[:D]

[chad thomas]

Yea, give me a few minuets.

[chad thomas]

Sorry guys, rrpicturearchive.net is down for maintainance today. I will post them tommarrow if the site is back up.

[CopCarSS]

QUOTE: Originally posted by chad thomas

Sorry guys, rrpicturearchive.net is down for maintainance today. I will post them tommarrow if the site is back up.

Chad,

If you send them my way, I can host with my Pbase account.

[tree68]

Here's one!

[chad thomas]

OK Chris, sent them to ya.

[blhanel]

This one's cool...

[CopCarSS]

OK...all images can be found at:

http://www.pbase.com/copcarss/chinese_steam

Thanks Ed for getting and sharing these!

[chad thomas]

Yea, Thanks Ed. And thanks for hosting them Chris.

[rrandb]

QUOTE: Originally posted by edblysard

Ok, they are off the ship and on the flats...I sent some photos out to a few folks, hopefully one or two of them can post some of them here...got the ok to do so from our trainmaster.
Yes, if they post one with a skinny guy in front of the locomotives, that is me.
Sorry about the snapshot quality, couldnt step back any more, unless I wanted to go swiming in the ship channel.[xx(]

Note the engineer stands on the left side....

Cant tell you what route they will take, or who is carrying them, thats privledged info I am not a liberity to release, but watch UP and BNSF's websites.

If you want a few photos e mail me with an email address I can send them to...
Ed

Hey Ed. Pretty impressive. I think most of us would take you up on that offer "To watch a sorrya** operation manned by folks like Ed" anytime. Where did you say to post that address. LOL!!!!! Not too many people can still load steam on a flat car. Looks good.[:D]

[CopCarSS]

QUOTE: Originally posted by chad thomas
And thanks for hosting them Chris.

Shoot...that's easy. Ed's just lucky that they got through the screener over at www.pbase.com/copcarss! That place always rejects my photos![:p][:o)][(-D]

[Murphy Siding]

OK, dumb question: Why can't they be shipped rolling on their own wheels?

Thanks for posting pics guys.[:D]

[CopCarSS]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Murphy Siding

OK, dumb question: Why can't they be shipped rolling on their own wheels?

Thanks for posting pics guys.[:D]

I'm pretty sure it has something to do with FRA certification. I don't think they're officially recognized by the FRA as "railroad equipment" yet, and so they get shipped as freight on a flat car that is certified.

I'm sure someone more knowledgable than I can clear it up a little better than that.

[edblysard]

Couple of reasons...
Those drivers would beat the crud out of the track for one.
They are not completly FRA compliant,
The unions would want to treat them as a locomotive, instead of a railcar,
and rolling on their own wheels, they would have to go on the head end of the train, which means they would have to bear the entire trailing weight of the train, have working air brakes, the ten wheels might not work on some curves, so forth and so on, you get the point...
And I assume the owner wanted them shipped this way in the first place, saves wear and tear and miles on his locomotives and gets rid of the problems mentioned above.
Ed

[edblysard]

Thanks, RRandB.
The invite to Dave was serious, once upon a time.
Now, while I cant really let you pull pins or line switches, I can promise you the dime tour of the PTRA if you show up.

Ed

QUOTE: Originally posted by rrandb

QUOTE: Originally posted by edblysard

Ok, they are off the ship and on the flats...I sent some photos out to a few folks, hopefully one or two of them can post some of them here...got the ok to do so from our trainmaster.
Yes, if they post one with a skinny guy in front of the locomotives, that is me.
Sorry about the snapshot quality, couldnt step back any more, unless I wanted to go swiming in the ship channel.[xx(]

Note the engineer stands on the left side....

Cant tell you what route they will take, or who is carrying them, thats privledged info I am not a liberity to release, but watch UP and BNSF's websites.

If you want a few photos e mail me with an email address I can send them to...
Ed

Hey Ed. Pretty impressive. I think most of us would take you up on that offer "To watch a sorrya** operation manned by folks like Ed" anytime. Where did you say to post that address. LOL!!!!! Not too many people can still load steam on a flat car. Looks good.[:D]

[rrandb]

QUOTE: Originally posted by edblysard

Thanks, RRandB.
The invite to Dave was serious, once upon a time.
Now, while I cant really let you pull pins or line switches, I can promise you the dime tour of the PTRA if you show up.
Ed

No problem on the pins. I would be suprised if corperate would let Dave no matter how many waivers he signed. Even if you made him employee for a day the unions might bark. LOL. I will be on a jaunt to move my daughter from DC to Mobil AL. Might sgueeze a day trip to Houston on way back to KC. Have a sister-in-law in Sugarland might put me up on the couch. I just might take you up on that if you make it the fifty cent tour minus the pins and switches. I know I'll never be half the man Dave is. LOL