If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

Steam on the Horseshoe Curve (United States)

Discussion in 'Steam Traction' started by QLDriver, Aug 21, 2012.

  1. QLDriver

    QLDriver New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 3, 2011
    Messages:
    81
    Likes Received:
    40
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Materials Testing
    Location:
    California, USA (From Yorkshire)
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I just saw this video of 765, a Nickel Plate Road Berkshire (in this case, pronounced like "he's a berk", not "the tree is covered in bark") ascending the Horseshoe Curve - an approximately 600 ft radius, 180 degree curve on a 1 in 58 gradient. Worth seeing, and more importantly worth hearing!

    [video=youtube;SiV1hb4PYGA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiV1hb4PYGA[/video]
     
    QLDriver, Aug 21, 2012
    #1
  2. mike1522

    mike1522 Long Time Member Friend

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2010
    Messages:
    2,001
    Likes Received:
    237
    Location:
    Fort Worth, Texas
    NKP 765 has been on the Road since July 20 and is on her way back to Fort Wayne, Indiana arriving on Wednesday there. I have been meaning to make a thread about the locomotives travels in the States of Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Next Month, the Berk shall be traveling from Fort Wayne to St. Louis.

    Skip over the Mitt Romney ad for President and the ad in the mid point (Clip 1)

    Some links from the last few weeks
    Nickel Plate Road 765 Bellevue to Bucyrus - YouTube


    Chasing Nickel Plate Road 765 Across Ohio-Part 2 - YouTube

    NKP 765 Pittsburgh Runs 2012 - YouTube

    Nickel Plate Road 765_ Steam on the Pittsburgh Line - YouTube

    Nickel Plate #765-Harrisburg Pa (August 18th 2012) - YouTube
     
    mike1522, Aug 21, 2012
    #2
  3. daveannjon

    daveannjon Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2006
    Messages:
    1,114
    Likes Received:
    425
    Location:
    Waiting for the Right Away
    Love the spare fuel complete with JCB bringing up the rear! Great video.

    Dave
     
    daveannjon, Aug 21, 2012
    #3
  4. stevepurves

    stevepurves New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2011
    Messages:
    198
    Likes Received:
    17
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Melton Mowbray
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    If you would like to see a Berkshire in action in the UK (albeit a smaller one). The FSMR, near Melton Mowbray is having its twice yearly opening this weekend... See index for more details
    DSC_0034.JPG

    Steve
     
    stevepurves, Aug 21, 2012
    #4
  5. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2007
    Messages:
    35,831
    Likes Received:
    22,271
    Occupation:
    Training moles
    Location:
    The back of beyond
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    I've got an old 12" stereo LP. One side is 4472 in the USA and the other is 765. One very long on board sequence of her climbing the horseshoe - awesome.
     
    Spamcan81, Aug 21, 2012
    #5
  6. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2007
    Messages:
    35,831
    Likes Received:
    22,271
    Occupation:
    Training moles
    Location:
    The back of beyond
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    The website says the Berkshire is out of action for all of 2012.
     
    Spamcan81, Aug 21, 2012
    #6
  7. stevepurves

    stevepurves New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2011
    Messages:
    198
    Likes Received:
    17
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Melton Mowbray
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Just noticed that myself! Still, I will be visiting for the Stunning EAR class 31...
    DSC_0198.JPG
     
    stevepurves, Aug 21, 2012
    #7
  8. THE MELTER

    THE MELTER Member

    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2006
    Messages:
    422
    Likes Received:
    63
    Occupation:
    ENGINEER
    Location:
    BLACK COUNTRY
    ha ha LOL
    I was there.
    not in the trees though i wasn,t to mean to pay to get trackside at the curve park.
    Have a look at the vid again and when the loco is square on to the camera look for the three bright red lights.
    they are holes in the outer wrapper straight through into the fire i was told after asking they are to let air into the fire at specific points.
    The loco slipped as it came on to the curve and it gets steeper after the camera position and it slipped again but was well controlled on both occasions.
    It was a very good morning with a good atmosphere in the company of the "Foamers"
    The melter,
     
    THE MELTER, Aug 21, 2012
    #8
  9. odc

    odc Member

    Joined:
    Apr 11, 2006
    Messages:
    765
    Likes Received:
    35
    Occupation:
    Network Technician at St Albans School
    Location:
    Hemel Hempstead
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Overfire holes are not uncommon on late US steam and were then first step towards Porters GPCS developments. Some even had steam blow across the holes and this was supposed to bring extra top air to the fire and reduce/eliminate smoke in certain intollerent places. Chicargo Union Station most famiously
     
    odc, Aug 28, 2012
    #9
  10. guard_jamie

    guard_jamie Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2008
    Messages:
    2,503
    Likes Received:
    27
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Signalman
    Location:
    Herefordshire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    That video sums up the majesty of US steam: huge black brutes, spectacular whistles and a landscape worthy of its adversary!

    US steam is awesome.
     
    guard_jamie, Aug 28, 2012
    #10
  11. THE MELTER

    THE MELTER Member

    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2006
    Messages:
    422
    Likes Received:
    63
    Occupation:
    ENGINEER
    Location:
    BLACK COUNTRY
    That is true but the steam fans look over there look at us with green eyes, and wish they could do what we do.
    US steam on the mainline is very rare ( that event was the first on the curve since 1977).
    We should be oh so gratefull for what we have,

    The Melter
     
    THE MELTER, Aug 28, 2012
    #11
  12. fish7373

    fish7373 Member

    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2009
    Messages:
    251
    Likes Received:
    80
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    tube lines Northfields railway depot Piccadilly li
    Location:
    london
    HI yes US steam is awesome great video, went to the states once and traveled from san francisco to denver for about three weeks and visited along the way most of the steam railways, plus the famous loop at tehachapi, that is a spectacular place to watch trains and had a special visit to UP work shops at cheyenne where they keep UP steam locos and at the time they were over hauling 844 boiler , still in frames all the tubes out and both tube plates out and replaceing the inner fire box in frames . we were able walked from smoke box to fire box so massive in side best hols ever had for steam, ps plus done the fire box of a big boy loco thats is really big big big. FISH7373 81C
     
    fish7373, Aug 28, 2012
    #12
  13. guard_jamie

    guard_jamie Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2008
    Messages:
    2,503
    Likes Received:
    27
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Signalman
    Location:
    Herefordshire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Very true, I was talking about US steam generally, specifically the locos - not the mainline scene over thee, which is sadly sparse.
     
    guard_jamie, Aug 28, 2012
    #13
  14. mike1522

    mike1522 Long Time Member Friend

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2010
    Messages:
    2,001
    Likes Received:
    237
    Location:
    Fort Worth, Texas
    Our mainline steam scene is a little better this year. We have 2 Southern Railroad locomotives returning to the rails. That brings our count from 9 last year to 11 this year.
    261, 1225, and 4501 are in Overhaul, with 4449 going into overhaul late this year.

    630, 700, 765, 844, 3751 and 3985 are in operation. Include 4449 we have 7 in operation and 3 in overhaul. That is an improvement.

    Under Restoration in New Mexico is SF 4-8-4 2926.
     
    mike1522, Aug 28, 2012
    #14
  15. THE MELTER

    THE MELTER Member

    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2006
    Messages:
    422
    Likes Received:
    63
    Occupation:
    ENGINEER
    Location:
    BLACK COUNTRY
    I hope people remember this the next time we are having a hanbag duel over pain and other silly things,
    What really matters is that we have them and they work.

    and another issue is they really really wish they had a team like we have at the NRM fighting their corner.


    The Melter
     
    THE MELTER, Aug 29, 2012
    #15
  16. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2007
    Messages:
    35,831
    Likes Received:
    22,271
    Occupation:
    Training moles
    Location:
    The back of beyond
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Pain?
     
    Spamcan81, Aug 29, 2012
    #16
  17. THE MELTER

    THE MELTER Member

    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2006
    Messages:
    422
    Likes Received:
    63
    Occupation:
    ENGINEER
    Location:
    BLACK COUNTRY
    paint sorry,

    the melter
     
    THE MELTER, Aug 29, 2012
    #17
  18. mike1522

    mike1522 Long Time Member Friend

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2010
    Messages:
    2,001
    Likes Received:
    237
    Location:
    Fort Worth, Texas
    mike1522, Aug 29, 2012
    #18

Share This Page