blueovalz Posted February 4, 2004 Share Posted February 4, 2004 For those that can appreciate the number 4-6-6-4 in regards to the old locomotives, here is one rolling by on it's way North. The awesome size and sound of one of these beasts is indescribable. This was just about as big as they get. Even with my cheap wide-angle lense, I couldn't get it all in the frame unless I was a hundred yards away. 240,000 lbs of grunt here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest goldraven Posted February 4, 2004 Share Posted February 4, 2004 thats awesome man! i've got a chance to see one of those. congrats on getting a picture of it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruxGNZ Posted February 4, 2004 Share Posted February 4, 2004 Whoa baby! Wish I could have heard that. !M! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Synlubes Posted February 4, 2004 Share Posted February 4, 2004 Nice. I`ve never seen a working steam engine person. That one looks like a beast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave240Z Posted February 4, 2004 Share Posted February 4, 2004 My dad's a big RR fan. I actually saw this at the Sacramento train musuem a few years back. Wasn't steaming at the time (it was a 3 day event). I would have paid to hear that thing rumble by. Sweet!! Now if they can only get a 4-8-8-4 running that would be just plain sick. Check these specs...just mind blowing. "During the late 1930s, the Union Pacific often used helpers to move trains from Ogden to Wasatch. The UP wanted to simplify this move so they asked their "Department of Research and Mechanical Standards" to design a locomotive that could pull a 3600 ton train unassisted over the 1.14% grade of the Wasatch. The designers determined that to pull a 3600 ton train, a tractive effort of 135,000 lbs would be needed. Assuming a factor of adhesion of 4.0, the weight on drivers would have to be 4.0 * 135,000 = 540,000 lbs. Given an axle loading of 67,500 lbs each, this would require 8 drivers or an x-8-8-x wheel arrangement. The designers agreed upon the 4-8-8-4 design. Next, the horsepower and cylinder sizes were computed based on 300 psi boiler pressure. Although they weren't planning to pull these freight trains at 80 MPH, the DoRMS designed them for 80 MPH in order to have a sufficient factor of safety built into the design. What resulted is considered by many to be the most successful articulated steam locomotive ever built. 4000 was delivered to Omaha at 6PM, September 5, 1941." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BigWhyteDude Posted February 5, 2004 Share Posted February 5, 2004 My uncle rebuilds old farm equipment as a hoby and he just recently finished rebulding a very large steam powered tractor made by Case back in 1908. It is nowhere near as big as that train but it can still pull an ungodly load. I think he said it would pull between 18 and 24 bottom plows. Oh, if you have seen the movies "tremors 4" you have seen one of the other ones that old that is still in existance. The one in the movies is very similar if not identical to the one my uncle rebuilt. I was half asleep when i watched it so i dont really remember. Those things are a site to see. Andrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueovalz Posted February 5, 2004 Author Share Posted February 5, 2004 Dave240z, Nice bit of trivia there. The UP guys at the yard were talking about this very same locomotive (the 4-8-8-4) wondering where it was and what has happened to it. They called the the "big (something)". Couldn't remember what they called it now, but they were definitely talking about the same one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave240Z Posted February 5, 2004 Share Posted February 5, 2004 Dave240z' date='Nice bit of trivia there. The UP guys at the yard were talking about this very same locomotive (the 4-8-8-4) wondering where it was and what has happened to it. They called the the "big (something)". Couldn't remember what they called it now, but they were definitely talking about the same one.[/quote'] The 4-8-8-4 was called the "Big Boy" which seems appropriate enough given the specs. I'm not a huge train fan myself (more of a car guy if you know what I mean) but since my dad is almost obsessed with them I learned a bit over the years. I heard there was one that was undergoing a restoration, but it was slow progress due to lack of funds and finding a suitable boiler. 300Psi of steam pressure packs a pretty good punch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Carrman Posted February 5, 2004 Share Posted February 5, 2004 Ah yes, UP 3985. You were lucky to get to see the Challenger run my friend! Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruez Posted February 6, 2004 Share Posted February 6, 2004 Cool... I like the old big Steam trains... There are a few of the "Big Boys" still around.... http://www.steamlocomotive.com/bigboy/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsommer Posted February 6, 2004 Share Posted February 6, 2004 Terry did you snap that pic over in North Little Rock off Pike Ave? I used to live west of Pike on Crutcher, next to an elementry school back in 1991. Nice "hood" ds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.