Pennsy T1 Comeback?

Gary,

 

Yeah, I've seen an article or two in The Keystone, the quarterly publication of Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society.  And they are scheduled to speak at this year's annual meeting.

 

It's a very tall order.

 

George

I'm building a NYC hudson from scratch, send me some money and I'll send you a patch or T shirt or something.

 

I think if folks wanna donate money, donate it to one of the already well run steam programs, 765,611,1225 261 etc.

 

An awful lot can go wrong in 15 years...or just not go at all.

 

I find it interesting the website constantly changes. A year ago there was supposed photos on the website of related T1 engineers or something to that effect.

 

It seemed odd,I commented on it here and the photos were magically removed a day later.

People are free to donate money to almost anything.  There is a pizza parlor in Indiana that just got three quarters of a million dollars from folks who do not want pizzas. 

 

I heard of a guy who loved to walk to work - I think well meaning strangers got fifteen grand donated to buy him an unwanted car?

 

Locally, folks just put an ad in "GoFundMe" and the money pours in.  Doesn't make any difference why you are asking.

 

T1?  Maybe.  I seriously doubt it, even with ten million in the bank.

You should realize a few things:

 

1.  The T1 group has some VERY talented and respected steam folks, including some key members of the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society!

 

2.  When 765 was undergoing her major rebuild, the FWRHS did not have a place to run her lined up until after she was finished.  Yet, FWRHS still kept going.  Aren't you glad now that they did?

 

3.  It's ok to dream big - that's a good trait, and part of the great spirit of the USA

 

4.  Yes, send some money if you can to T1, FWRHS, etc.  Another way to help is to volunteer your time - that's always appreciated!  Groups like the FWRHS always need more hands, even if you are not a skilled machinist, boilermaker, or a welder.  There is always something you can do if you are willing to donate your time.   

 

Happy Easter!

Does this mean they have someone that knows how to drive it correctly?  It's also been noted by several on here that are in the know of such things that a skilled engineer didn't have issues with the wheels slipping.

I would suggest reading the interview.  It's more than just using experienced engineers and having to do with the ineffective spring equalization on the drivers. As they claim.

 

http://trn.trains.com/news/new...-t1-steam-locomotive

Drive? DRIVE? Aargh!

 

In the United States engineers don't "DRIVE" locomotives. That's what they do in Europe and England.

 

In the US of A engineers RUN locomotives.

Why Richard Melvin, you know you would LOVE to drive a lashup of TWO T1's!

 

 

Ed

So what would be the return on such a massive expenditure? I'm not sure there's anyone out there wealthy enough to fund something like this just because they love steam engines, so there must be some sort of hook to attract investors, and I would think those folks will want to see a return on their investment. Also, 15 years is a long time, how long did it take to build the first T-1?

 

bill in FtL

"...drive a lashup..."   Yikes. What did I do to deserve this?   

 

I'm afraid that by the time that T1 is ready for the road, I'll be ready for a nursing home.

I rather see them convert a GG1 that is rusting away out there with new electrical guts so it can run under present wires on the NE corridor or gut it completely and stick a diesel electric system in it. That may be a bit cheaper.

 

Lotsa luck with that, Rich.  Traditional US railroad terminology is all but gone on the youth-oriented train simulation forums, regardless of how I've offered insight on traditional US railroad terminology. No, the majority of younger US train enthusiasts refer to "driving" a train or the train "driver". Of course, the vast majority of European enthusiasts on those forums all refer to the US Engineers as "drivers" and "driving" the train, so our younger US enthusiasts emulate.

 

Globalization at work.

 

By the time you and I pull the pin even more of our railroading heritage will be lost.

 

 

No worries guys, I've been exposed to drivers, engineers, guards, conductors, switchmen, shunters etc.  I'll be OK 

 

 

I think the British Tornado project probably spawned a non-starter here and there, but with the right group anything is possible. That project saw the boiler built in Germany, where the shop had steam experience from the old East German railways running main-line steam into the 1980s. The forging and machining of wheels and rods etc., took non-continuous cash in the hundreds of thousands and a timeline of several years. 

It seems to me that maybe a better return on a steamer investment would be seen by supporting and maintaining existing preserved/restored steam. 

Just my inexperienced 0.02 or less.

I agree.  We need a new boiler for the Harriman ten-wheeler.  That, with a huge pile of money, is quite doable.  Casting drivers, cylinder blocks, and huge main frames - those things are a bit beyond the huge pile of money idea - they are simply not done any more. Well, maybe the 786 got a new cylinder casting, but it still doesn't run.

 

What do you call folks who operate large equipment?  Who cares?  In aviation it used to be pilot, but now it can be "you got the ship?" (Don't let the FAA hear you say that).

I recall reading the T1 driver slippage was fixed on the original outside of changing the wheel arrangement.

 

Honestly I rather see a rebuild of a a proven successes that died like a New York Central Hudson, any version. The T1 was part of what lead to the finical decline of the PRR, I think a private organization would struggle far more.

 

When it came to building the Tornado a Peppercorn Pacific it was easier given the United Kingdom has a strong history of steam locomotive preservation, like the Blue Bell railway. And a scrap yard, the name eludes me at the moment, that deliberately did not scrap steam engines for decades, saving many of them. The tornado also is compared to a T1 a rather simple locomotive.

 

I might add i grew up with both English and American terminology, which differs from main land Europe.

I would personally vote for an NYC Hudson replica! 

This won't be easy or cheap, but it is certainly possible.  Sure there will be pitfalls along the way...but this is actually going to be cheaper and more doable than fixing a GG1, in any of several of the proposed scenarios.  Good people with right attitude will make it work, be it N&W 611 or a new steam project.

As for the Hudson replica, which one to do will be a major stumbling block as no two Central freeks can agree on anything !  

Hey, I take offense to that.  LOL

 

I'd rather have a Niagara

"...or gut it completely and stick a diesel electric system in it."

 

So, "Thomas the GG1"? No thank you.

I think the post-war deindustrialization of the territory served by the PRR coupled with the forced continuation of unprofitable passenger service, especially commuter service,  had more to do with the decline and fall of the railroad than 100 or so duplex locomotives of dubious utility.

How about a comeback of the N&W Y6a......after it comes back to Roanoke......

Sad but true. When the RR industry promotes people to the position of Trainmaster and those same people have never worked the ground, something is seriously wrong.

 

It seems that many young people today have no desire to learn the RIGHT way to do things, just as long as they know SOME way to do it, they're fine...even if it's outright wrong.

 

The dumbing down of America continues. 

Personally, I'd say that the two greatest challenges with this T1 build would be the money, especially in the beginning.  And then putting it all together.  The trust has, or is in the process of getting the entire library of prints, and then will convert this info to CAD.   Even if Atchison can't do the entire frame in one pour, it can be done in two sections and joined up.  The assembly will be the true test. OTOH, any large steamer is going to offer many of the same challenges in a scratch build scenario. 

Rich,

 

Goosfraba, Goosfraba.

 

Larry

 

I admit I would love to see a Hudson, GG1 and T1 alive and running someday, but it's not the end of the world if they don't come to fruition.  Besides, I have a GG1 and Hudson that I can see operate anytime I want, way far from their home rails!  (The T1 is a little out of my price range.)  That is one of the benefits of owning models.

Locomotive drivers?  Yeah, I know locomotive drivers:  Those are those things on the lower side of a steam engine that go around and around!  (And they are relatively permanently "lashed" to the frame of the engine.)

 

Paul Fischer

As a fan of steam locomotives, it is pretty darn awesome to see a group of dedicated people teaming up to bring back the classic Pennsylvania T1 4-4-4-4 Duplex. The odds are against them (mostly in terms of $$$), but I have confidence that one day their efforts will pay off and the mighty PRR T1 will once again ride the rails. 

 

I wish them the best in their efforts, and hopefully 15-20 years from now I will be riding on one of the passenger cars that the finished T1 will be pulling as I watch the countryside flash past.