Here are my photos from the curve today on a wet foggy Monday. It was a pretty good sized crowd at the park today.
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Very nice. I really wanted to be there but work would not allow.
I feel the excitment.
Thank you for the terrific photos
Nice pictures Brad, thanks for posting.
John
Does anyone have an answer to the big question- how many pop valves (corrected my ignorance thanks to Hot Water) did they get to sing!?!?!?
Does 765 have a booster engine?
Originally Posted by Southern6482:
Does anyone have an answer to the big question- how many poppet valves did they get to sing!?!?!?
I have been wondering the same thing all day!
Originally Posted by CarGuyZM10:
Originally Posted by Southern6482:
Does anyone have an answer to the big question- how many poppet valves did they get to sing!?!?!?
I have been wondering the same thing all day!
Poppet valves would be in the valve gear, such as the famous PRR T-1, which had poppet valves by Franklin Railway Supply.
Your question about "pop valves", more correctly called Safety Valves, is a good one however.
Originally Posted by Wowak:
Does 765 have a booster engine?
No.
Finally, the biggest question is, how much work, if any, did the NS NKP Heritage diesel #8100, have to do, if at all?
I saw this posted on You tube of 765's climb of the Horseshoe Curve on August 20th. toward the end of the video seems there was some slight wheel slippage, but corrected quickly.
Originally Posted by prrlionel:
I saw this posted on You tube of 765's climb of the Horseshoe Curve on August 20th. toward the end of the video seems there was some slight wheel slippage, but corrected quickly.
right at the 2:44 mark.
Originally Posted by Wowak:
Does 765 have a booster engine?
yes but rich said in this post; https://ogrforum.com/d...7031337836024/page/2
"The 765 will be taxed to her absolute maximum limit on this climb and I may even have to use that diesel a little to maintain speed."
I wasn't referring to the diseasel behind the canteen, I meant a steam powered booster engine on the trailing truck as some late steam had. I know that Reading T-1s and C&O J3s had them, wasn't sure if the Lime Berks did or not.
oh in that case hotwater answered. but someone else might want to know about the diesel.
Yeah I too am curious if Rich had to cut in the diesel at all. I didn't here it wind up but I'm not sure you would over the beautiful cacophony 765 was making. I'm also curious what the procedure is to get a slip under control. Quickly backing of the throttle and shoving it open before you stall the train? Apply engine brakes to slow the wheels without losing power? Mysterious adjustment of the Johnson bar? Voodoo magic?
There was another slip before the beginning of the video. The way it sounded from the Curve, 8100 was being used until just before the approach to the Curve. Then 765 seemed to be on her own.
Very impressive to say the least! I heard the PRR whistle coming through Greensburg at about 3 today, but I was working and unable to see it... 
As far as correcting wheel slip- I seem to remember (someone correct me if I'm wrong) that the procedure is to quickly close the throttle until the wheels stop slipping, then get right back after it. If you open it too soon, it will just keep slipping. Too late, and you lose speed and momentum.
I'm hoping that the partnership between NS and the FWRHS continues beyond the anniversary celebration. 
Found on YouTube...the best view and sound so far !!
When they went by me just before the Gallitzin tunnel the diesel was working pretty good and the 765 did not sound very loud. A good show just the same!
(I have a video at track level about 50 seconds long with sound, but it would not upload.
It's an AVI... whatever that is.)
TRIPOD! Thanks Dave!
Steve definitely had one pop lifted when they came by Kittanning Point Station but it reseated before they got into the curve.
8100 was online but didn't seem to be providing any assistance (Rich will have to verify that). When Rich and Co. came by us the throttle was to the roof and his smile was ear to ear (as was mine)!
Originally Posted by Hartman:
When they went by me just before the Gallitzin tunnel the diesel was working pretty good and the 765 did not sound very loud. A good show just the same!
Its called "let try not to asphyxiate the CEO and the rest of the crew" 
Awesome pictures and videos everybody!
That is just too cool! Loved the stack talk on that awesome engine! I hope she comes back next year for a revenue run.
Too bad they couldn't get both safety valves to pop! Oh well maybe next time! 
Although I couldn't be there today, the 765 made me very proud and lucky to serve on her crew! Rich and Steve had her "locked in" and talking!
The latest video posted the best so far ! Nice job by Rich and crew as I only heard two minor wheel slips from all the videos I have viewed so far. Definitely worth it for those who could make the trip today to see history being made. I look forward to seeing more video and hopefully some in-cab showing Rich working the throttle, sand, and rail washers !!
Here are two of mine from the park. Didn't think I would ever see this. I can die now.
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That was great....
Lima....nuff said.
A couple more from today. My 9-year old wanted to bring "Big Bunny" up to see 765. Turns out Big Bunny was a great place holder along the fence.
The sound show was amazing. I last saw 765 in the '90's out of Orrville, Oh.. The hair stood on the back of my neck as she passed under the signal bridge.
I guess CEO Moorman was in the cab today.
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rich posted some comments on the trainorders site that might answer some questions asked in this topic-jim
Originally Posted by Hartman:
When they went by me just before the Gallitzin tunnel the diesel was working pretty good and the 765 did not sound very loud. A good show just the same!
(I have a video at track level about 50 seconds long with sound, but it would not upload. I try again later.)
my understanding (from talking to the crew of the 3751) is the diesel is mainly to provide power to the coaches.
Hopefully Rich will correct me if I am wrong.
Originally Posted by mixerman:
rich posted some comments on the trainorders site that might answer some questions asked in this topic-jim
link?
Dave
Best shot yet. It really sets the stage of Horse Shoe Curve. People and all. Thanks for sharing. Nice shot.
Originally Posted by bigdodgetrain:
my understanding (from talking to the crew of the 3751) is the diesel is mainly to provide power to the coaches.
Hopefully Rich will correct me if I am wrong.
Well, on the 3751 Amtrak excursions, you are correct. However, on these NS/765 Employee trips, the passenger car consist has its own power generating car, which blends into the train quite nicely. The NS Heritage diesel, in this case NKP 8100, is there for dynamic brake support and POSSIBLE tractive power assist, if needed. The NS Heritage diesels provide absolutely no 480 volt, three phase HEP power for the passenger cars. They are regular freight diesels, albeit painted up in flashy Heritage color schemes.
On Amtrak excursions, an Amtrak diesel is indeed part of the consist for 3751, 4449, and 261 passenger excursions and does provide HEP 480 volt, three phase power for the trailing passenger cars.
ok.
I knew this info as posted by Rich but could not find it, so thanks Hot Water for your post and if I were able to post my video you could certainly hear it working up the hill behind the water tender. But alas, I failed.
Originally Posted by Hot Water:
Originally Posted by bigdodgetrain:
my understanding (from talking to the crew of the 3751) is the diesel is mainly to provide power to the coaches.
Hopefully Rich will correct me if I am wrong.
Well, on the 3751 Amtrak excursions, you are correct. However, on these NS/765 Employee trips, the passenger car consist has its own power generating car, which blends into the train quite nicely. The NS Heritage diesel, in this case NKP 8100, is there for dynamic brake support and POSSIBLE tractive power assist, if needed. The NS Heritage diesels provide absolutely no 480 volt, three phase HEP power for the passenger cars. They are regular freight diesels, albeit painted up in flashy Heritage color schemes.
On Amtrak excursions, an Amtrak diesel is indeed part of the consist for 3751, 4449, and 261 passenger excursions and does provide HEP 480 volt, three phase power for the trailing passenger cars.
Originally Posted by Hartman:
I knew this info as posted by Rich but could not find it, so thanks Hot Water for your post and if I were able to post my video you could certainly hear it working up the hill behind the water tender. But alas, I failed.
Hartman,
Just because "you could hear it working", doesn't actually mean that the Amtrak diesel is actually ASSISTING the steam locomotive. When in the "Head End Power" generating mode, the those Amtrak diesels ALWAYS stay in throttle 8 in order to provide the correct 480 volt, three phase @ 60 HZ electrical power for the passenger cars.
If and when the Engineer of the steam locomotive decides to use the trailing Amtrak diesel for additional tractive assistance, the speed of the diesel engine NEVER changes, no mater WHAT "pulling power" throttle notch it is being used in.
Most of the time with 4449 excursions under Amtrak, the trailing Amtrak diesel is only in run No. 1, but you would never now it by the sound coming from the big GE diesel engine!
Here's what Rich posted on another site. I'm sure he will chime in when time allows, hopefully with one of his great accounts of the day and experience:
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The battle was NOT being "lost" as we approached the curve. Norfolk Southern CEO Wick Moorman was sitting behind me. As we approached the curve he asked if I would slow down going around the curve, to make the "show" last a little longer for the folks gathered there. Needless to say, on that grade, slowing down was NOT a problem.
The 8100 was idling quietly as we ran around the curve...as promised.
Rich Melvin
NKP 765 Operations Manager,
765's Web Site
The 8100 was idling quietly as we ran around the curve...as promised.
Rich Melvin
NKP 765 Operations Manager,
765's Web Site
Great videos and pix everyone! Here's the video I shot, which includes some footage from later in the day as the 765 climbed Carney Hill just East of Greensburg, PA (my stomping grounds). Check out the smoke at the 2:31 mark for the wheel slip.
Andy
DaveSlie's repost of a YouTube video needs a couple footnotes: the regular NKP Berk whistle is heard at 4:00. The deeper, steamboat-sounding whistle is heard at 4:08 and it is from the East Altoona Roundhouse, demolished in 1961 and never blown since. In its time, the East Altoona Roundhouse was the World's Largest Roundhouse, a full circle with two tunnel tracks.
