Pennsylvania RR Duplex 4-4-4-4 replica build

The interviews on this site are well worth a read. They give a fascinating insight into the twighlight of steam on the PRR, and a couple of "less-than-diplomatic" viewpoints gave me a good chuckle!

The UPRR site is worth dipping into as well, from time to time.
http://www.up.com/aboutup/special_trains/steam/locomotives/index.shtml

 

They appear to have obtained a (rather large) tender for it.......
https://prrt1steamlocomotivetrust.org/station/index.php?route=tinfo/tinfo

 

Stone the crows! That thing is humongous... plus having as many axles as the loco!! This project is beginning to gather pace.

 

Christ on a bike, that thing is massive!

 

I find it quite offensive in it's size

 

Large, yes, massive please refer to UP 4014!

 

Significant boiler progress, involving metal, is reported:
https://prrt1steamlocomotivetrust.org/news.php
They're really not hanging around over the pond!

 

Keep in mind that this is a costly effort, more costly just in terms of the amount of steel required if nothing else.
It isnt too far removed from the cost of the UP 4014 project but without the funding available when you have
a corporation that does billions of dollars in profit every quarter paying the bills.
It is tough in America to get enthusiasts to donate and no donation no engine.
May they persevere and succeed!

 

I think the phrase I'm looking for is "Amen to that"! Reading through the T1 website (not an onerous task as it's very well thought out .... and btw, do take the time to read the interviews, some of those are hilarious and they're all informative), the team are very open about the lessons learned from the successful example of A1SLT (with whom there seem to be very good relations) and they've added quite a few chapters of their own making to the manual. Every time I check the site, there's evidence of additional company sponsorships, so whoever the team have addressing the fundraising, they seem to be doing it successfully.

When I first happened on the project, I admit my first reaction was "not a snowball in hell's chance". I'm delighted to see progress to date has proved me completely wrong and the sheer pace at which momentum is building is nothing short of astounding. I really wasn't expecting to see the boiler barrel taking shape so soon.

The T1 project looks to be catching the imagination of many in the same way "Tornado" did and I suspect many of the reasons for that are the same i.e. an iconic loco, a realistic build schedule, a detailed incremental timetable and target completion date, couple that with a highly competent team of very skilled engineers and draughtsmen fully versed in communicating effectively with acceptance bodies and suppliers and not least, the ability to effectively keep the widest audience abreast of progress. Even to a cynical old goat like me, that's none too shabby from a standing start!

 

The longest of long shots I will admit. But driven by the strong desire to see this "made flesh" drove me to be a contributor. I must have been mad. Hope, however, springs eternal.
It will not happen on someone else's money. You have to contribute. Exactly as the P2 project leaps forward.

 

Very well written! I`m too very excited about this project, and hopefully the "snowball" will run further(also in other countries) Maybe the next will be the legendary but lost S1b "Niagara" class

Knut

 

Very kind of you Knut.

Well, there is a new(ish) build Niagra ...... No.6019 at Stapleford Park. Only 101/4" gauge ..... but it proves someone has a set of drawings!
https://uk.video.search.yahoo.com/v...2qsr&age=1504821981&fr2=p:s,v:v&fr=crmas&tt=b

Seeing Southern Pacific Cab-in-front No.4294 back in harness would be quite a sight. Apparently, a restoration was mooted, but the prospect of a $1.5million bill rather put the mockers on the idea. AFAIK, the loco is the last of it's breed, so perhaps it's home in the https://www.californiarailroad.museum/visit/exhibits
is the best place for it.

 

My pleasure sir!

I think you would find some records of the Niagara class in this video:
I`m think the cab forward looks a bit odd to mee (don`t get me wrong I`m sure it would be a impressive sight!) What I would prefer then is one of the Allegheny`s!

kind regards

Knut

 

[QUOTE="240P15, post: 2090303, member: 27948"]My pleasure sir!

I think you would find some records of the Niagara class in this video:
I`m think the cab forward looks a bit odd to mee (don`t get me wrong I`m sure it would be a impressive sight!) What I would prefer then is one of the Allegheny`s!

kind regards

Knut[/QUOTE]
Superb clip. Couldn't help noticing the way diesel after diesel intersperced the steam shots with not a comment! At some points, the commentator's clipped delivery sounded almost like Bill Cosby.

OK..... you've convinced me the Niagras were very impressive locos! Poor Mr Kiefer ..... only a 15ft loading guage to play with and fans of La'al Ratty will be reassured to learn even the mighty NYC had issues with turntable lengths!

I wonder if any conspiracy theorists see anything sinister in the term "Skull and Disc" to decribe a flavour of loco wheel! Subliminal Illuminati influences maybe? (hums theme tune from "The Dark Side").

One thing I'd not previously appreciated was the evident volumes of parcels traffic carried on many US passenger workings .... and .... if a stonking great NYC 'pacific' could only shift 12 bogies, how ruddy heavy were those passenger cars?

Oh ... and for the record ... the Stapleford Miniature Railway fields a 'Berkley' 2-8-4 as well as the 'Niagra'. Pity it's only open to the great unwashed a couple of times a year these days.

That was 25mins very well spent. Cheers Knut.

 

I wonder if any conspiracy theorists see anything sinister in the term "Skull and Disc" to decribe a flavour of loco wheel! Subliminal Illuminati influences maybe? (hums theme tune from "The Dark Side").

[/QUOTE]
? He is referring to the Scullin wheels on some of the J3As as in Charles Sheeler's famous image of one of the Dreyfuss locos.

 

? He is referring to the Scullin wheels on some of the J3As as in Charles Sheeler's famous image of one of the Dreyfuss locos.[/QUOTE]
Didn't you know? That's the way the Illuminati work .... hiding in plain sight (continues humming theme from 'The Dark Side' and dons tinfoil hat).

 

.... and now, a more measured response to @huochemi's post :

I can't claim any level of knowledge about US design practices and remain fairly ignorant about the overwhelming majority of individual classes. Mention of boiler pressure reduction in the clip Knut posted to prevent buckling of con rods was completely new to me. It never occured that any sensible design parameters could result in this being an issue. Measures designed to combat this issue with the motion on the Niagras were complete news to me.

Regarding wheel design, I recall that in the UK at least, the more solid varieties were held to exacerbate the overheating of bearings, not to mention hindering access for inspection. How much of an issue this is with the adoption more modern construction methods favoured in the US is unclear to me.

Years before the advent of Boxpoc, Scullin or BFB pattern, the disc wheels fitted by Percy Spooner to FR Fairlie bogies were modified with access holes (as visible to this day). Subsequent design alterations necessitated stopping up of earlier holes, again visible on surviving wheelsets (including those from the original "James Spooner"). Of all the issues associated with OVSB's locos, I'm unaware of any associated with BFB wheelsets.

The overheating problem was never more clearly demonstrated than with WC&PR Manning Wardle 0-6-0st No.5, where Col.Stephens (part of whose training was at Neasden on the Metn. Rly) very deliberately specified solid disc drivers, apparently a measure to increase adhesive weight. Although the loco was notorious for ending journeys with smoke, if not actual flames, billowing from it's chassis, it served the line to the bitter end in May 1940. Crews, as they tended to on Stephens' lines, found various creative ad-hoc means of combatting the problem en- route.

 

There are two Alleghenies in museums. I wonder what would be required to restore one, - after demolishing the museum to extract it.