STEAMday Sunday 8/4/2024 edition

Arnold, Thanks for getting the steam up this morning. That Reading Crusader is definitely a beautiful engine.
For this Sunday I went with one of the big guns in my roundhouse.
An MTH Premier PS1 Southern Pacific Cab Forward. The second video is mainly for the braking sounds  

The Pennsylvania Railroad designed its G5s 4-6-0 steam locomotives for rapid acceleration on commuter trains operating into the hilly suburbs around Pittsburgh. They were the heaviest and most powerful ten-wheelers ever built and also were used in Philadelphia, Chicago, Grand Rapids, Michigan, and on Long Island. They had 68-inch driving wheels, weighed 237,000 pounds, and produced 41,330 pounds of tractive effort at 205 pounds-per-square-inch boiler pressure.

The Juniata Works at Altoona, PA built 90 G5s locomotives for the PRR between 1923 and 1925 and 31 more for its Long Island Rail Road subsidiary between 1924 and 1929.  On Long Island, they initially hauled long distance express trains to Montauk at speeds up to 80 miles-per-hour. They remained in service until 1955 and were estimated to have covered 40-million miles on the LIRR.

As a youngster on Long Island, I used to see LIRR G5s #35, one of the last four in service there, when it was on display in Nassau County Park during the 1950s. At the time, I was unaware of the significance of the locomotive. Now I’m very interested in the G5s engines.

MTH released its Premier model (20-3031-1 with PS1, MSRP $699.95) of PRR G5s #5740 in 1999. It was followed by a model of Long Island Rail Road G5s #21 (20-3068-1 with PS2, MSRP $699.95) in 2001. LIRR #21 carries a keystone-shaped “Sunrise Special” logo on its tender. I bought duplicate copies of both of these models and have been running them, equipped with BCRs, on my layouts for almost 25 years. They have great steam sounds, especially when running fast, and are among my favorites.

I keep LIRR #21 and its K-Line passenger cars on my 12’-by-8’ layout at all times. The blue-scheme cars are painted for the “Cannonball,” a train that ran to the eastern end of Long Island. Observation car Jamaica is at the tail-end.

Since G5s locomotive #5741 also ran on Long Island in PRR livery, I sometimes run #5740 and #21 together – as I did last week. Photos and videos show #5740 with LIRR heavyweight passenger cars and observation car Montauk at the tail end.

MELGAR

Hello Steam Crazies and thanks, Arnold, for getting us rolling.  My theme for today is simply “steam at rest”.

John

@Steam Crazy posted:

Hello Steam Crazies and thanks, Arnold, for getting us rolling.  My theme for today is simply “steam at rest”.

John

Very nice John, a different approach showing your Steamers.

Gene

Thanks, Gene, I’m glad you liked my post!

John

I call this video the “excitement of Big Steam”. I saved it for today. It’s from last weekend at the Tractor Museum show…..

Have a great and safe week, folks!

Peter

As I said in another topic, I really like @MELGAR 's G5 post.  Nice photos, nice engines, nice layout.  His post got me to drag out my MTH G5 from storage. 

This engine also came out in 2001.  Bought it used, put in a BCR and it runs great.

@MELGAR Those are great pictures and video of all your G5s steamers. Thanks for sharing your memories and providing all the information about the PRR and LIRR G5s’.

In the transition era from steam to diesel.  Particularly F3s

= walt

@MELGAR posted:

MTH released its Premier model (20-3031-1 with PS1, MSRP $699.95) of PRR G5s #5740 in 1999. It was followed by a model of Long Island Rail Road G5s #21 (20-3068-1 with PS2, MSRP $699.95) in 2001. LIRR #21 carries a keystone-shaped “Sunrise Special” logo on its tender. I bought duplicate copies of both of these models and have been running them, equipped with BCRs, on my layouts for almost 25 years. They have great steam sounds, especially when running fast, and are among my favorites.

MELGAR

I was hoping that Lionel had purchase the tooling for the G5 as I would love to have a Legacy G5. One of the train clubs I was a member of the Delaware Seaside RR Club had the MTH version as a house engine. Always liked how it looked and ran, I think adding Legacy sounds to it would be a good thing. Hope Lionel is playing it cool with the tooling if they did purchase it from MTH.

JohnB

A short Daylight extra running during the holidays.

A low-quality video of a cab forward pulling the Daylight on the rare, electrified trackage north of the Bay Area.

Thanks so much Arnold for getting us rolling today!!  I agree, the Crusader locomotive is one of the most beautiful streamlined steam locomotives ever created!!  As a matter of fact IMHO the entire train set is beautiful too!  I would have loved to " take a ride on the Reading" ( re: Monopoly board game ) on that specific train!

My goodness extra great photos and info today everyone!!! I mean each week I see great photos on Steam Day Sunday but today's are extra great IMHO!!

For today's SDS ... I showed some similar photos on Switcher Saturday but not exactly these photos.

Two tired, but going strong, old war horses have just pushed a freight train up the hill and are now ready to be cut off.   Once the brakeman uncouples the lead loco from the caboose, the two loco consist will back down the hill and wait to lend a "helping coupler"  to the next freight going up the hill.  

Brakeman Snuffy Pugsley  signals the engineer of the lead engine to back away from the caboose.

It's a hot day in Patsburg with temps in the high 90's and extremely high humidity.  The inside of the locomotive cabs must be as hot as a pizza oven.  

@Putnam Division - Great video, the excitement of that young man watching the trains was wonderful!  I wish I could get even a fraction of that much excitement from my Aerodynamics Students at Baylor for the contents of my course! 

@MELGAR - Mel, while I was on vacation and away from my collection, you asked for some video's of clockwork trains running.  Well just to let you know, on Wed I tried...you would have laughed yourself silly had you been able to observe.  What I experienced, since I am alone, was a complete ......up!. I found, first you have to wind the loco with the brake set, then put it on the tracks and couple it up to the train, then you have to hold it down  with your hand and release the brake, then let it go, then if you are trying to take pictures you have to RUN to the other end of the layout, focus the camera, and take the video.  I was singularly unsuccessful at this process knocking lots of stuff off shelves and tripping over the stuff under the layout,  hence I got no video's of the train (I have some great shots of my knees, legs, hands, and the ceiling )  You or any other member of the forum, if in Central Texas,  are more than welcome to come to my house and with 2 people we will video my clockwork...but I am not sure I will try the "race with the engine" process again. 

@walt rapp - Hey Walt, great picture.  I also have that "Wabash" steamer but I only have one Santa Fe F-3  (at least only one Lionel, I do have 2 other Marx versions).  I really like your warm lighting effect, great picture.  

@Steam Crazy - Nice photo display and a neat idea, it really gave me a chance to concentrate on looking at the locomotives as in so many of our (mine included) video's the loco goes by so fast it is hard to see in detail.

OK, I have taken up too much space, how about my "STEAMday Sunday" post.  Well today I have selected a "new" acquisition for me...it is the Hornby clockwork # 50 GOODS locomotive in black enamel with the post nationalization tender (symbol - Lion and the Wheel).  This loco was first made available for sale by Mecanno in 1954 and stayed available (as new from Hornby) until 1961.  Typically paired with Type 50 freight wagons in the No 50 Goods Train set from 1957-1958 and in the No 55 Goods Train set from 1958-1961 .  I acquired this loco with a passenger set (which I now believe to be incorrect at least as far as standard offerings from Hornby) which would have more appropriately had a Type 51 loco in green; which it turns out,  I already had this #51 loco before purchasing this black loco so all is good.  Note in a touch of irony, I previously purchased the Type 51 green loco at a Train Show with a Goods train of No 50 freight wagons which would have been just as incorrect in so far as standard Hornby offerings as the black #50 with passenger cars.  So in fact, I purchased both correct locos and correct train sets ...EVENTUALLY...I just had to switch the loco's.   To make things just a little bit more confusing, all these components were also available as separate items for sale, so in fact a buyer at their local dealer could in fact make up whatever combination they wished.

So, without further adieu...here is the Hornby Type 50 clockwork 0-4-0 locomotive in black BR enamel available from 1954-1961.  She has both  a lever (note the controls projecting from the rear of the cab) and track actuated brake and reverse (although you need a special tracks for this which I don't have at this point).

All my best everyone, Hope your upcoming week goes well

Don

Just finished this up. It’s been lettered Rutland for a number of years. Biggest changes this time around. Were adding larger pilot wheels, water lines and getting the gap between engine and tender as close as possible by shortening the drawbar.

10 Yr old Premiere Dreyfuss

STEAMday Sunday PW Lionel switcher enjoy your day.

@Arnold D. Cribari, Wow, you have a great turnout today, lots of great pictures, snd cool videos, Have a great day everyone…(See Captain Will Porath, (Will2926) pictured in the smoke of our Big Boys)

As we near the end of Steam Day Sunday; the Cab Forward comes to rest between Two Electrics.

@Dave_C posted:

Just finished this up. It’s been lettered Rutland for a number of years. Biggest changes this time around. Were adding larger pilot wheels, water lines and getting the gap between engine and tender as close as possible by shortening the drawbar.

Dave - terrific job on the detailing and weathering of this locomotive!!!  I especially love the close coupling and the water connection.  I also love the bottom photo with the little guy sitting on the shoulders of his father ( I presume) Overall gorgeous job!!!!

Something just occurred to me that is very funny.

I got so swept away while on vacation today having the time of my life that I forgot I already started this thread. So, I panicked a few minutes ago and thought, OMG I forgot to start STEAMday Sunday today.

Needless to say, I was so relieved when I discovered that, in fact, I did start this thread in the wee hours of this Sunday which will become Monday in about 45 minutes.

Here’s another video of mine showing my Royal Blue MTH Railking B&O steamer hauling Williams passenger cars:

Arnold

@Don McErlean posted:

@MELGAR - Mel, while I was on vacation and away from my collection, you asked for some video's of clockwork trains running.  Well just to let you know, on Wed I tried...you would have laughed yourself silly had you been able to observe.  What I experienced, since I am alone, was a complete ......up!. I found, first you have to wind the loco with the brake set, then put it on the tracks and couple it up to the train, then you have to hold it down  with your hand and release the brake, then let it go, then if you are trying to take pictures you have to RUN to the other end of the layout, focus the camera, and take the video.  I was singularly unsuccessful at this process knocking lots of stuff off shelves and tripping over the stuff under the layout,  hence I got no video's of the train (I have some great shots of my knees, legs, hands, and the ceiling )  You or any other member of the forum, if in Central Texas,  are more than welcome to come to my house and with 2 people we will video my clockwork...but I am not sure I will try the "race with the engine" process again. 

'''''''''''

All my best everyone, Hope your upcoming week goes well

Don

Don,

No need to apologize. I know exactly what you're talking about. You may notice that I never have whistle sounds or switching maneuvers in the videos I post online because it takes two hands to hold the camera and start/stop the video recording, so transformer control while recording is impossible for me...

MELGAR

@MELGAR posted:

Don,

No need to apologize. I know exactly what you're talking about. You may notice that I never have whistle sounds or switching maneuvers in the videos I post online because it takes two hands to hold the camera and start/stop the video recording, so transformer control while recording is impossible for me...

MELGAR

@Don McErean  @Melgar; I have solved part of that problem with a selfie stick that has a tripod, and a Bluetooth button. I set it up where I want the scene; take a photo to check it out. Then I switch to video and have the button with me at the control stand. I set the train in motion and can use the whistle and bell at will. One press on the remote and I’m recording. Another press stops it.  Now if I could just find a way to merge videos without paying an exorbitant monthly fee I could be Cecil D Bob!

The stick is on Amazon for about $20  

@MELGAR- Hey mate!  Thanks for understanding my plight.  @pennsyfan - Hey! that is a great idea, I may try that yet.

Best Wishes everyone

Don

@pennsyfan posted:

@Don McErean  @Melgar; I have solved part of that problem with a selfie stick that has a tripod, and a Bluetooth button. I set it up where I want the scene; take a photo to check it out. Then I switch to video and have the button with me at the control stand. I set the train in motion and can use the whistle and bell at will. One press on the remote and I’m recording. Another press stops it.  Now if I could just find a way to merge videos without paying an exorbitant monthly fee I could be Cecil D Bob!

The stick is on Amazon for about $20  

Might be something I could try, but I like to stick to low-tech solutions... I've thought about a tripod just to improve the videos. I record videos while standing in one place (usually not near the transformer) and following the train around the layout with the camera - a two-handed operation for me. But thanks for the info.

MELGAR

@pennsyfan posted:

  Now if I could just find a way to merge videos without paying an exorbitant monthly fee I could be Cecil D Bob!

I use a program called Openshot. No need to pay those high monthly fees!

@Darrell posted:

I use a program called Openshot. No need to pay those high monthly fees!

Thanks!