Trains!

[Pisis]

Okay, here's the pics I took on Prague Main Railway Station (former Woodrow Wilson's Station). I'm not very much familiar with all the types of the trains so you have to decide what is what. The Czech Railway Co. is owned by the state and it's called ČD - České Dráhy.

 

[trackend]

Good shots Pisis
That unusual to have 5 aspect colour light signals its not a common signalling configuration.
Funny you should have been talking about Bigboy the other day Eric there was a program on last night about the problems they had moving one to its new site along with the Challenger at Durham Western Heritage Museum, Omaha, NE the Diesel unit was a big enough problem but the BigBoys 300tons really made the tractor units grunt. One dolly just snapped in two like a rotton carrot.

 

[Pisis]

hmmm, i know there are also blue and yellow but actually never thought about it. will try to ask someone.

 

[trackend]

Normal Its 1,2,3 or 4 and Red,Green,single yellow or double yellow.

 

[evangilder]

Yep, Lee, that is one BIG engine. I had seen other shots of them moving it, but not the one you posted. It would have been something to be there to see them moving that big old beast.

 

[reddragon]

We have been chatting a bit about trains, so I thought I would start a thread for it. I am a big fan of the old steamers. So I will start this one off with the Union Pacific Big Boy. For your rail fans, this baby is HUGE. It's a 4-8-8-4.

So, you have an interest in trains? The Union Pacific Railroad is certainly a good one to have an interest in, especially with their "lust" for power. They've certainly built some powerful (and beautiful) locomotives. One UP locomotive I'm very interested in is the Gas Turbine. It was a "transitional" locomotive built during the transition from steam to diesel power. It was rated anywhere from 8,000 to 12,000 horsepower. It had an A unit which was diesel powered to move it around the yards. While they would burn most anything, the fuel of choice was bunker C fuel because it was cheap. They built one to burn coal as an experiment and I think it was the last coal-burning locomotive built in the U.S., around 1963.

Steam engines are very interesting, each is unique and they seem to be alive. I especially like the sound of a steam whistle. They carry for miles and to me make a really lonely sound.

 

[JCS]

The UP sure had some intersting locos. Another besides the Big Boy and Challenger is the DDA4, the largest, most powerful diesel locomotive ever built, with two prime movers totalling 6600HP

 

[reddragon]

Here's a photo of a gas turbine. As I said earlier, the A unit is a 500 horsepower diesel locomotive and the B unit is the turbine. The fuel tender was needed because the turbine burned about 400 gallons of fuel per hour and the bunker C fuel wasn't found just anywhere on their rail system. I know the locomotive is rated at 8,500 horsepower, although some were rated higher (I think there were some experiments done to increase the power).

 

[evangilder]

I remember the gas turbine ones. Alot of the coal burners were converted to oil burning later. I think there are a couple of Challengers that are still running after being converted to oilers.

 

[JCS]

Is there more then one still operating? As far as I know #3985 is the only one that still is, I could be wrong though.

 

[evangilder]

It could be just one, I am not sure. I thought I read somewhere that there was one or 2 more, but I may be wrong on that.

 

[JCS]

I'm not sure either, I'll have a look around online....

 

[JCS]

It is one of 105 Challengers built for Union Pacific between 1936 and 1943 and is the only operating engine of its class in the world today

From: http://www.uprr.com/aboutup/excurs/up3985.shtml

 

[evangilder]

Well, looks like you are right, straight from UP. I sit corrected. Wouldn't it be something to see that thing running?

 

[JCS]

Wouldn't it be something to see that thing running?

That'd be great! I hope I get to see it run some day. I'd imagine the ground shakes as that behemoth flys by at 70mph

 

[evangilder]

Yep, it would be pretty cool! 8)

 

[trackend]

The UK's national railway museum in York I think it is one of the best rail museums around . heres a link, click on the interactive tour for a 360o tour of some of the museum.
http://www.nrm.org.uk/html/home_pb/menu.asp

 

[evangilder]

That looks like a neat museum to visit.

 

[reddragon]

The UP sure had some intersting locos. Another besides the Big Boy and Challenger is the DDA4, the largest, most powerful diesel locomotive ever built, with two prime movers totalling 6600HP

The Centennial is an impressive locomotive. I'll bet those 4 axle trucks can't be used just anywhere.

 

[JCS]

I'll bet those 4 axle trucks can't be used just anywhere.

Yea, I bet it'd shear the spikes right off if it was going fast enough around a tight enough turn with all that weight.