Most Streamlined Steam Loco Ever Built

Hal, You are aware that the first photo is actually the prototype T-1 right?

HEY JOHNNY,

No I wasn't aware of that, but I do know the designs were different.

Thanks for the education!

Bad Order Hal

No worries. Both are amazing machines. Both could be found running between Central Ohio and Chicago. The S-1 was mostly stored in an extended stall at the roundhouse in Crestline, Ohio. There was a wye next to the roundhouse to turn the beast because it was too big for the turntable! I guess that it would often derail and people would come out to watch them get it re-railed. They are 2 of my favorites.

You can just make out the S1 (lower left) in this shot of the Crestline facility:

I run dual monitors at work and happen to have the T-1 and S-1 as my background, one on each screen.  As much as I love the T-1 prototype, my favorite streamliner is the NYC Dreyfuss Hudson.

My favorite!

HEY SINCLAIR,

Ah yes, the Hudson!

Note the Boxpok Drivers and Roller Bearings on the side rods.

Ninety MPH, guaranteed any time!

Bad Order Hal

I believe those drive wheels are the Scullen Disc design.

HEY HW,

You're probably right!

(Man, you guys sure know your locomotives!)

Bad Order Hal

Hot Water is right, they are the Scullen drivers.  I just finished modding my MTH Dreyfuss to have them because I like the look more than the Boxpok (a spoked wheel) drivers.

What, if anything, is at Crestline today...probably little of that engine facility?

Like Chrysler Airflows and mid 1930's Hupmobiles, some efforts at streamlining

steam locomotives failed at gilding the lily, and are pretty ugly animals, IMO, and

might be credibly pictured in the "oddball engine" posting.

Despite efforts to the contrary, most of the remaining structure was demolished in 2008. The best source of info is: http://www.crestlineroundhouse.org/

Probably have to go outside the USA to find the "most streamlined steam locomotive ever built".  At least there was not limitation on that this was to be limited to USA locomotives only. 

This German 4-6-4 would get my vote as the entire wheel base is shrouded in addition to the boiler, cab and smoke box. 

The locomotives thus far shown such as the Dreyfuss do not have their wheel base covered and as such there will be some air resistance around the wheels. Granted, not a whole lot, but this thread was asking for the "most". 

That German Hudson is unique alright, and probably has less wind resistance than our masterpieces, but it just doesn't have that Leowy "Art Deco" touch!

I wonder if Albert Speer or Ferdinand Porsche had a hand in the design.....if it made its appearance between 1933 and 1939, I'm sure it was blessed by Adolf! 

Bad Order

PS:  You guys seem to know as much about Steam Locomotives as the chief design engineers at Alco, Baldwin, and Lima!

Along the line of "Bad Order Hal's" thinking, at first glance at that German loco, I

studied it wondering if that was armor plating?

HEY COLORADO,

Armor Plating?  Well, this was probably during the Nazi arms buildup of the '30's, so it could have been...

But a no-nonsense Armored Train was featured in the film "Dr. Zhivago", where Bolshevik leader Strelnikov outfitted himself with an all-red Armored steam loco, which pulled an Artillery Car behind it!

I like the scene where the refugee train had to divert to a siding, so Strelnikov's Red Bolshevik Special could thunder past!

Bad Order

look closely at the 464 photo and what do you think the diameter of the lead and engine wheels are? they look to be huge to me can I see or am I going blind?

HEY AVANTI,

I stand corrected and educated! 

Bad Order Hal

HEY ATERRI,

The Lead wheels look like they could almost be the size of the drivers! 

Bad Order

That wasn't armor plating, just streamlined to the max.  The name Borsig is sticking in my mind, something to do with it.  That engine did hold the world steam speed record for a little while, until the Mallard, a British A-4 Pacific, beat it. 

It is rather ugly in my opinion.

Well for my blood there is only one....

Although I have the PRR T1[ Altoona built version] from Lionel as well as the MTH Prototype version, I still love the Raymond Lowey streamlined k4s #3768!

The other streamlined k4 is not too bad either!

Here's one of the streamlined Atlantic types built for Milwaukee Road's Hiawatha service:

Bob

Not built, but:

Don't ask me how they expected to make this thing work...

Rusty

I'm with Chris.  The N&W J is the ultimate.

Ed

P.S.: This sounds like a topic I would see on the 3 rail forum.

This is pretty sleek. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Definitely the Pennsy S1 gets my vote!

Nice-looking examples of the Locomotive Stylist's Art!

My topic has sure generated a lot of responses!

Bad Order

Semi-response to Colorado HiRailer: I happened to be passing through the Crestline, OH area on business in about 1987 and drove west of town. Lo and behold, I came across an intact and enormous Pennsylvania roundhouse! There was a serious looking chain link fence protecting the site, but being an old railfan, things like that have never been a deterrent. I ventured in and saw that it was not being used as railroad facility, but, instead, a scrap separation and recycling operation......and then the biggest, meanest junk yard dog in possibly all of North America charged at me! I left at something approximating the speed of light! Alas, don't know the current Crestline situation.

Just had to add this old favorite to the list.

Colorado HiRailer: did a google map search and the image for Crestline revealed the roundhouse inspection pits and turntable pit still visible, but filled in. The power station walls seemed to be up plus a couple of other buildings, but sans roofs. The roundhouse walls, roof, etc were gone. A sad end to an enormous facility that was so much a projection of the power and strength of the Pennsylvania RR. 

psssst.....always photograph your steamers with the rods down.  it just looks more impressive.

bad order

Not sure if it's more impressive, or just the habit builders got into for uniformity.

Thanks for the info and the picture, that is pretty cool.

HEY POPSRR,

Who are you thanking...Bad Order or someone else?

Bad Order