I would like to see what odd ball trains you guys (and gals) like. I personally like the McKeen Motor Cars, but I have seen some other cool oddballs like a single truck Heisler.
A 2-2-0
a motor gryo-monorail coach.
and even a Indian motorcycle on a hand car.
So what are your favorites?
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Nothing immediately at hand, but I will say the first two you listed are critters I
have not seen before.
A few more that I like are...
a 6-2-0
an 0-6-6-0, notice the pistons...
another 2-2-0
Supposedly the first cab forward was a Southern Pacific Creation with a boat's steam engine and a tanks for oil and water (I guess.)
Last but not least, the only motorcycle (if you can call it that) I would ever want to own.
Well, there are the Pennsy's alien-looking S1 and T1's but those are already well known.
How about the Meigs Monorail?
The Italian Class 743, with its Franco-Crosti boiler:
And how can I forget this beast?
That's all I can think of for now.
Aaron
How about an 0-3-0 steam monorail?
Great topic.
Great topic.
The Heilmann steam-electric locomotive.
A McKeen Gas Weed Burner.
A 0-4-4-4-4-0?
Rotary 0-6-6-0 steam engine used in Switzerland.
Last one of my favorites, the 2-2-2 "Black Diamond".
I was trying to find a bicycle like one from Cass, no luck but I found a few different pictures of odd rail vechicles http://www.retronaut.com/2012/...icycle-railway-1892/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S...sey#Bicycle_railroad
I have a few favorites
But the winner is....
The Volks Electric Railway....yes this existed
I have a few favorites
But the winner is....
The Volks Electric Railway....yes this existed
This is my favourite. Travel in style! 
Not that much of an odd-ball, but I'd love to see some fireless steamers.
Not that much of an odd-ball, but I'd love to see some fireless steamers.
Your reply doesn't make much sense to me. Fireless steamers were in jules Verne novels?
Your reply doesn't make much sense to me. Fireless steamers were in jules Verne novels?
When all else fails, take your locomotive and go off-roading:
Rusty
When all else fails, take your locomotive and go off-roading:
Rusty
Your reply doesn't make much sense to me. Fireless steamers were in jules Verne novels?
But I made no comment or reference to your post about the McKeen car. I was talking about a steam locomotive that doesn't generate it's own steam. They are called fireless steamers. It's a big pressure vessel that gets pumped full of steam from a stationary boiler and then runs around until it gets low on steam. Then it gets recharged. They were used in places where it'd be too dangerous for open flame or to have fumes. I always thought they were kind of neat and wish someone would make one for O gauge.
Your reply doesn't make much sense to me. Fireless steamers were in jules Verne novels?
But I made no comment or reference to your post about the McKeen car. I was talking about a steam locomotive that doesn't generate it's own steam. They are called fireless steamers. It's a big pressure vessel that gets pumped full of steam from a stationary boiler and then runs around until it gets low on steam. Then it gets recharged. They were used in places where it'd be too dangerous for open flame or to have fumes. I always thought they were kind of neat and wish someone would make one for O gauge.
I am more familiar with them being used in areas where steam is abundant ie steel mills where generating steam off the heat is easy to do capture and the need for moving power high. I didn't think it was the fire risk but could be wrong.
Here's a picture of a fireless cooker that served Pennsylvania Power and Light (PP&L) Company. Not the best, but does illustrate the beast.
Here's a picture of a fireless cooker that served Pennsylvania Power and Light (PP&L) Company. Not the best, but does illustrate the beast.
A quick look in my 1938 copy of the Locomotive Cyclopedia shows that they are all over the place for pressure stats. A 0-6-0 Baldwin for AT&SF was 200psi storage and 65psi working. A 0-4-0 H.K. Porter Co. for The Mead Corp. was 250psi storage and 60psi working. There is even a compressed air 0-4-0 H.K. Porter Co. for H.C. Frick Coke Co. that was 800psi storage and 250psi working. It looks like a long hotdog on wheels.
How about the D&H #1403 the L.F. Loree, a triple-expansion, poppet-valve, four cylinder compound 4-8-0 with 500 PSI boiler, and three axle tender truck booster?
Stuart
My personal favorite odd ball.
an 0-6-6-0, notice the pistons...
Which railway was that engine built for? Looks more like a Meyer articulated than a Mallet; I am not familiar with any North American Meyers.
But I made no comment or reference to your post about the McKeen car. I was talking about a steam locomotive that doesn't generate it's own steam. They are called fireless steamers. It's a big pressure vessel that gets pumped full of steam from a stationary boiler and then runs around until it gets low on steam.
Actually, it was a little more complex. The loco was charged with a combination of steam and water. As the steam pressure went down, the water would convert to more steam, extending the length of time between chargings.
an 0-6-6-0, notice the pistons...
Which railway was that engine built for? Looks more like a Meyer articulated than a Mallet; I am not familiar with any North American Meyers.
Canadian Pacific. Classic Trains had an article on it recently.
Rusty
WHAT?? Of course they're steam engines. The machinery runs on steam, and is operated exactly like any other steam engine. The only difference is that the locomotive does not create its own steam.
WHAT?? Of course they're steam engines. The machinery runs on steam, and is operated exactly like any other steam engine. The only difference is that the locomotive does not create its own steam.
"Locomotive" is defined as a self-propelled verhicle able to move independently from place to place. So the fireless engines are still considered "locomotives."
It might be better to call them "unconventional" steam locomotives, as opposed to conventional steam locomotives that use a firebox and boiler to create their own steam pressure.
"Locomotive" is defined as a self-propelled verhicle able to move independently from place to place. So the fireless engines are still considered "locomotives."
It might be better to call them "unconventional" steam locomotives, as opposed to conventional steam locomotives that use a firebox and boiler to create their own steam pressure.
Here's a picture of a fireless cooker that served Pennsylvania Power and Light (PP&L) Company. Not the best, but does illustrate the beast.
Believe that the picture was taken at Shamokin Dam. Locomotive now sits rusting away just off Rte. 15 north of Lewisburg. BTW, the Shamokin Dam power station has been shuttered.
Poppyl
fmbugman makes good points. Fireless cookers were used to eliminate sparks, fumes, and other potentially hazardous products of fuel burning in fireboxes. But, he adds, they were also used where steam and hot water were available to charge them. They ranged from tiny 0-4-0's to a big streamlined 0-8-0 built by Heisler and now displayed in The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania at Strasburg.
I heard that if a connection failed during charging, the steam and water roaring out of the pressure vessel could turn over a small 0-4-0.
I bet this would go like heck, IF it ever stopped slipping!
A few more that I like are...
a 6-2-0
Kirkman,
This is a very outstanding, interesting and enjoyable post.
Thank you,
Ralph
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