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10 replies

This is a couple for "Hot Water"

B BrandyOGR Forum Member

 I saw your answer to my" screaming across the bridge" statement, and didn't want to clutter up Chris's topic concerning the J611. When did they start limiting the speed for steam excursions on N/S?

Years ago I followed it down river from South Point Oh  bridge to Portsmouth. West end of Ironton, they have the speed trap from hell, and I slowed to 55mph, the train went out of site, and didn't see it again until Portsmouth Station. So I assumed they were running well over 60+ mph. I could see the smoke at times, but it was far off in the west.

 

2nd Question, sometime ago someone, asked a question concerning a notch up on the throttle or reverser, can't remember which. When you worked with the BC&G, did those engines use the tie off chain that you answered to on a previous post?  I remember years ago when my step dad was running steam on the Southern, and I can't remember which engine it was now, but riding in the cab of both the 4501, and the T&P 610 2-10-4, I would watch him making adj's on a big lever to his right side just in front of his seat, and it had notches on it/them!  Thanks in advance Jack for your answer, as you always give good informative info on this forum...................................................Thanks again Brandy

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HW Hot WaterOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBER
Originally Posted by Brandy:

 I saw your answer to my" screaming across the bridge" statement, and didn't want to clutter up Chris's topic concerning the J611. When did they start limiting the speed for steam excursions on N/S?

 

After the Dismal Swamp derailment, but I don't remember what year that was. It has been a pretty long time that steam operations on NS have been restricted to 40MPH.

 

Years ago I followed it down river from South Point Oh  bridge to Portsmouth. West end of Ironton, they have the speed trap from hell, and I slowed to 55mph, the train went out of site, and didn't see it again until Portsmouth Station. So I assumed they were running well over 60+ mph. I could see the smoke at times, but it was far off in the west.

 

2nd Question, sometime ago someone, asked a question concerning a notch up on the throttle or reverser,

 

That would have been the power reverse gear.

 

can't remember which. When you worked with the BC&G, did those engines use the tie off chain that you answered to on a previous post? 

 

I don't know what you mean by a "tie off chain".

 

I remember years ago when my step dad was running steam on the Southern, and I can't remember which engine it was now, but riding in the cab of both the 4501, and the T&P 610 2-10-4, I would watch him making adj's on a big lever to his right side just in front of his seat, and it had notches on it/them!

 

That would be the power reverse gear, that the Engineer adjusts to shorten the stroke of the valves as the locomotive accelerates, thus conserving steam/water consumption.

 

  Thanks in advance Jack for your answer, as you always give good informative info on this forum...................................................Thanks again Brandy

 

HW Hot WaterOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBER
Originally Posted by Brandy:

Tie off chain!  Jack I thought that what u answered to sometime back, concerning the notch up or down, that they used some sort of mounted chain to actually hold the reverser where they needed it, thus giving it a notch up or down in the chain. I assumed that was how it was on the very old steam locomotives like what U worked with, at the BC&G

 

Nope. Sorry but, I have never heard of a "tie off chain" for ANY steam locomotive equipped with power reverse gear, nor screw reverse gear. Besides, the BC&G steam locomotive were not really all THAT old, even though they were all hand fired, they still had power reverse gear.

 

I do know that both these engines that I got to ride in, their throttles and reverser's had a notched bar to maintain their adjustments while running.

 

The three BC&G locomotives had the same thing.   

 

B BrandyOGR Forum Member

I found it Jack, and my mistake the term was "Hook up", and not notch. Excuse, my bad!  Question back on 5/31/14 How to "Hook Up a Steam Locomotive" great answer you gave on this post, as well as what you answered for me.

 

You said that operation was used on the 1870's locomotives, I guess that's where the chain came in with the hook!

 

My personal knowledge on "Hook Up" came from drag racing, and that was years ago, as well!

 

 

Last edited by Brandy
HW Hot WaterOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBER
Originally Posted by Kelly Anderson:
Originally Posted by Hot Water:
 

 

After the Dismal Swamp derailment, but I don't remember what year that was. It has been a pretty long time that steam operations on NS have been restricted to 40MPH.

 

 

May 18th, 1986, the same day we ran double headed PRR steam to Philadelphia and back, a trip that was completely overshadowed in the foamer press by the #611 derailment.

Thanks. The even more sad fact was, the derailment had NOTHING to do with the 611, nor even that a steam locomotive was pulling a passenger train full of employees.

RK Robert KOGR Forum Member

Yes, and that was mentioned by CP's new CEO E. Hunter Harrison who is a steam hater like CSX. The three C railroads apparently allow no steam on their railroads now: CSX, CN and CP. Hunter is like David Goode formerly of NS who is all business and wants nothing to do with a steam excursion program on his railroad. To those men moving stack trains are more important that hauling the public around behind choo-choos just for fun. At least Wick Moorman at NS supports steam and brought it back. Goode wouldn't have done that if he remained in charge. And, Strasburg steam on the mainlines, how did you get away with steam and open window coaches on Amtrak back then? That probably would not be allowed today. The coaches were probably friction bearing like Reading and Northern's ex-Lackawanna steel open window commuter coaches. Friction bearings are a no-no on class 1 railroads today. NS uses all sealed window, roller bearing coaches on its new steam excursions now. Why did Strasburg stop off-line trips after those few runs to Harrisburg and Philly in 1985 and 1986? Now 1223 and 7002 are mothballed forever at the museum, and the ex-Lackawanna steel coaches were sold to a RR in Texas. BM&R in Berks County also stopped off-line trips on Conrail after 1988. 2102 went out of service indefinitely in October, 1991 after runs from Lansdale to Oreland on SEPTA. At least 425 is back. PA currently has no large operating steam locomotive unless you count #90 at Strasburg.

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