Lionel Lines at 75 (MPH that is)

Ha!  I like it. 

Mitch

Wow. All that weight and mass: 75 MPH. Amazing. The valve gear looks like an old sewing machine as it whirs at that speed!

Impressive!

Andre

Very nicely done, and fun to watch! I can just imagine how others on the highway, who are not train buffs, must have been amazed by that "Lionel Lines" on the tender.

@laming posted:

Wow. All that weight and mass: 75 MPH. Amazing. The valve gear looks like an old sewing machine as it whirs at that speed!

Impressive!

Andre

You should should see that at over 90 MPH!

@Hot Water posted:

You should should that at over 90 MPH!

I can't begin to imagine what that would be like. It would seem to me such an experience would define "power and majesty".

When I viewed the above video, I wondered if perhaps you were a crew member.

Andre

@laming posted:

I can't begin to imagine what that would be like. It would seem to me such an experience would define "power and majesty".

You got THAT right!!!!

When I viewed the above video, I wondered if perhaps you were a crew member.

I was, but that is not me firing on that leg. I took over after the photo run-by when the "guest Fireman" got into trouble.

Andre

This was back in the Steve Lee era, when they actually RAN the UP steamers.

Some of the smoothest pacing scenes I've ever seen. Nice job.

@Rich Melvin posted:

This was back in the Steve Lee era, when they actually RAN the UP steamers.

Some of the smoothest pacing scenes I've ever seen. Nice job.

Absolutely correct, Rich.

Although I was not on the trip involved in the following story, Steve, himself, related this to me:

Back when John Kennefick was the CEO of UP, and a huge supporter of the UP steam program, Mr. "K" invited Robert Claytor, CEO of N&W, out to Omaha for a return trip from Omaha, back to North Platte, NE and on to Cheyenne. Naturally, Mr. "K" had his business/office car on the rear of the passenger consist. After departing Council Bluff/Omaha and headed west, Steve stopped on the double track main line for a scheduled "running gear" inspection, at which point Mr. "K" brought Bob Claytor up to the cab of 8444, and instructed Steve to, "Let Bob run 'er a while." "Sure enough Boss!".

Once the mechanical inspection was completed, and the Mechanical Crew had re-boarded the crew car, Mr. Clator was given the high-ball to proceed westward. Steve told Mr. Claytor,  "We generally keep her at about 70 to 75 MPH.", and Mr. Claytor nodded agreement. As they continued to accelerate, 70 MPH came and went, as did 75 MPH, and then past 80 MPH. Steve, sitting behind Mr. Claytor, tapped him on the shoulder and pointed at the 75 mark on the speedometer, hoping Mr. Claytor would then slow down. Nope! Mr. Claytor just kept accelerating,,,,,,,,,,,,,85 MPH,,,,,,,,,,,,90 MPH, etc., etc., etc.! After some miles, they came upon a flashing yellow signal, then a yellow signal, so Mr. Claytor had to slow way down to below 35 MPH, being prepared to stop in the next town at a red signal.

During the stop in town, Mr. "K" came forward, and pretty much yelled at Mr. Claytor about running so "%*&$#^@% fast!!!!!". With that, Mr. Claytor said to Mr. "K", "But John, they won't let be run over 40 on my own railroad, so I just wanted to see how she would handle over 90!" With that, MR. "K" just smiled, shook his head and walking away, told Steve to, "Keep 'er under 80!"

Fun times with a big, powerful 4-8-4!  

@Rich Melvin posted:

This was back in the Steve Lee era, when they actually RAN the UP steamers.

Some of the smoothest pacing scenes I've ever seen. Nice job.

Rich - the helper diesel is not adding tractive force to the 844?

@Hot Water posted:

Absolutely correct, Rich.

Although I was not on the trip involved in the following story, Steve, himself, related this to me:

Great story, Jack.

@Mark V. Spadaro posted:

Rich - the helper diesel is not adding tractive force to the 844?

LOL...no!

The 844 needs no help to pull that train at 75 mph. At that speed all that diesel could do was follow the 844 and hang on. 

Watch this video...

I thought the diesel is added to provide electricity for the the coaches.

@TMack posted:

I thought the diesel is added to provide electricity for the the coaches.

No. The UP has NO DIESEL UNITS capable of providing ANY HEP (neither does BNSF) to passenger cars. Modern passenger equipment all require 480 volt, three phase AC, including Amtrak. The UP, as well as BNSF, have a number of "power cars" that provide HEP for the business cars. Thus, both UP and BNSF can simply assign any freight locomotives to handle their office car trains.

@CALNNC posted:

I hope all the Lionel folks have this video saved in their favorites:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?...TYNxtbnjI#t=4.726054   Note the name on the tender. Weythman gets some great pacing action on the 844.  Amazing to watch the spring action of the pilot truck and the front of the loco moving up and down, and the shake and wiggle of the tender.  Catch the lubricator ratcheting by the main rod linkage. Perfect fire, reverse link is almost in the middle meaning the steam admittance is just a wisp and he is conserving his steam and the fuel to heat it.   I think have posted this in other comments, but new folks come along and may appreciate it.

Guess the gear box must have been repaired……..lol

great video thanks for sharing

Everytime you watch, you see something new.  Towards the end, where there are 3 men on the fireman's side, watch the fellow just in front of the tender seeming to hold on for dear life.  He is really rocking and rolling.   The 'Big Dip' at the grade crossing at 4:34 in, and springing action.  To think, one time hundreds of these locos did this same thing every day, some at these same speeds, traveling many miles without a stop.

Two things:

1) THAT WAS THE BEST VIDEO I HAVE EVER SEEN OF A SERIOUSLY FAST STEAM LOCOMOTIVE IN REAL-LIFE ACTION!!!!! Thank you CALNNC

2) That was a seriously good video of comparing the performance of a diesel locomotive to a steam locomotive, Rich.....but who was the young man telling us about it??????

And that's all I have to say about that!!!! (Forest Gump)

Peter.....Buco Australia

Steam locos are absolutely amazing. One would think that at that speed the locomotive would break itself apart. Wonderful video. Thank you.

That Lionel Lines coal tender on a real train now justifies me running all my Lionel Lines tenders.  Now I can say my Lionel tenders are prototypical.

I actually had to hunt for a picture of a Lionel Lines coal tender on the layout.  Union Pacific, Pennsylvania and Santa Fe are more popular since I had decal sets for them.

Charlie

@Choo Choo Charlie posted:

That Lionel Lines coal tender on a real train

What "coal tender"?

now justifies me running all my Lionel Lines tenders.  Now I can say my Lionel tenders are prototypical.

Sure.

Charlie