"Trains and Locomotives"

doh!! didn't get to watch this one yet...Slightly spoiler'd!!

 

Just finished watching the one on the NW 1218 and 611.  My favorite episode by far of the ones I've seen.  The 1218 just looked majestic!!

Yes, I totally agree with you on the 1218. I saw it the 1st year of it's operation. I was working day sft at the Ashland Oil Refinery in Catlettsburg, Ky. One of the old Shift formen I was working with, hollerd at me on the 2 way, said he's pick me up at the front gate.  Then we were off to Kenova, Wva. We met up with the 1218 and her train near Nova Mont Chemical Plant just out side of Kenova, Wva. We passed along side her until we got to FT.Gay. I must say it was majestic to watch. Who ever the Engineer was, left without slipping a wheel, and was to 50mph in very short order. Then moved on from there. I just never got used to that "Hooter" Whistle. Wiished they would have traded it for something of the Multi Chimmed Passenger Whistle, but I guess it just wouldn't have been the "1218", with out the "HOOTER"!....Brandy   

I won't say any spoilers, but last night's episode was really good.  It was great to see a locomotive that isn't always seen, and how a community embraced it.

 

Don't get me wrong, I love seeing all sorts of steam locomotives, but sometimes too much is shown of 1218, 611, 844 and 3985.  This was a nice change.

Eddie, I like all of them. From pictures,static displays, and on to the ones that have been restored, for operation! 

 

They are part of our history and culture, and I wished all Major railroads would sponsor their operation! I know all of the reasons that they don't, but just someone at the CEO level liking steam, then all of the rest of the "Boot Polisher's", will also like "Steam Locomotives", and support their operation.."............... Brandy

May God keep blessing the steam engine loving "CEO"!!!!!!!!!!!

I would love that job of being on the inside of the boiler when they are doing the two man riveting from both sides.  That looks like fun.

 

Great episode.  Very informative.  The Pacific may be my favorite style of steam engine.  It looks so well balanced and classy.  Great whistle on that beauty too. 

Too much of 611?...Blasphemy! 

 

Yes last nights was very good.  What an amazing story with a great outcome. 

I found it interesting and much better looking that the Elesco feedwater heater was mounted under the smokebox on the pilot deck instead of way up high on top of the smokebox. 

Seeing we're not talking about Colonel Mustard in the inspection pit with an Alamite gun, but Pacific's with Elesco's on pilots, this must be the chooch:

 

 

I'm pretty sure the Santa Fe was the only railroad to routinely mount the Elesco feedwater heater tank on the pilot.

 

Rusty

Indeed it is.

Yes I saw that, and couldn't figure out if it was BFW heater or air tk. My eyes are too old anymore, and couldn't tell.

 

My favorite is on top of the smoke box, with all exposed piping, and flying front air pumps/compressors. C&O Style!.....Makes em look like, well like, the Mastiff's of  "Steam Locomotives"....... ...............................Brandy!

The 79" white walls don't hurt either.  Pretty classy ' chooch'.

The white walls and the white edges on the running boards have a certain American Flyer look to them...!

 

I watched the show just now and the amount of skilled work to rebuild such an engine is impressive.  You'd worry that there's a "dying art" aspect to this, as there must not be very many folks still around who know how to perform the specific rebuilding tasks like riveting the boiler back together with real, white-hot rivets...

I don't know how to apply for that riveting gig, but that looks like my kinda party.  There is definitely some serious wrenching going on to build these machines. 

It's a slow work day, I think I'll watch that again.  And this week's edition of All American Cowgirl Chicks as well.  I'm hooked now.  I was so inspired I almost ordered a case of horsefly spray from one of their sponsors.  I don't have a horse of course.

The network itself is actually pretty good!  I'll see some of the shows listed and wonder how interesting they could possibly be, but then I end up liking some of them!

 

But my gateway drugs for RFD-TV were "Trains and Locomotives" and "The Marty Stuart Show".  Great trains and great music!

 

But back to topic, this episode was really great in that you got to see a type of locomotive that isn't highlighted much, as well as being able to see how these folks tackled the restoration.  It's always nice to see how different groups will restore their locomotives.

 

The cab on this one reminds me a little of my Fleischmann HO pacific.  It just has that design to it, almost a German influence.

Just watched this weeks episode on the Pennsy doubleheader steamers.  I love those high stepping 440-442, I think that is my favorite engine type..
Did anyone notice at .40 minutes #90 backed up to the passenger train over a switch turned the wrong way?  No anti derailing needed on the real deal I guess.  I did find that interesting.
Of course, my interest was piqued in part, because I had to watch the women's pro rodeo show and All American Cowgirl Chicks first.  I record them all now.  As a guy who grew up in a Chicago suburb this is a whole new world, this RFD TV.  With a bit of buyers remorse, after my second week in, somehow I ended up with a belt buckle the size of a license plate and an ornately embroidered cowboy hat I would never, ever wear in public.  Cheers - Yee ha!

I saw them run through the switch, but a lot of hand through switches are designed to trail through without stopping, I hope that was one of them. On the Santa Fe/bnsf we called them "floppers" When they are forced apart by the flanges, they snap over to the opposite position, and stay like that until lined by hand, or run through again from the other track. They do require some maintenance and lube, and when I retired, they we were no longer being allowed to trail then anymore. At Emporia years ago, one failed on the lead at the west end, and was replaced with a rigid switch. (the only one) I pulled out to double my train over, trailed through it out onto the lead, go a stop, then back up signal, and ended up with three SD40-2's going three different directions at the same time. The points didn't snap over of course, they just bent, and gapped for our back up move. Brownies for all on that one.

It was a great show on the 3415. That was one I wasn't aware of. They did a great job.

Strasburg uses spring switches on their passing sidings- they return to their original position after being "run through".  A "flop switch" is also designed to be run through, but does not return to the original position after it's "flopped" over.

I enjoyed the last two shows very much, the Santa Fe rebuild and PRR double headers. Nice break from the 10 second clips of run bys with whistles and horns constantly sounding that they have been showing for the past few months.

 

Pete