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14 replies

Y6b history needed

ericstrains.comericstrains.comOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBERFORUM SPONSOR

Hey Fellas,

 

I'm wrapping up my video review of the new Lionel Y6b, but I'm a little short on the history section of the video. Surprisingly, there's no wikipedia page or any page I could find that is devoted to just the Y6b. The closest I could find was a page on the 2156 (which I think is actually a Y6a)...which has some facts but not everything I'd like. There's also a page on the 2-8-8-2 locomotive, but it's not specific to the Y6b.

 

Anyway, I was hoping I could get some help from some forum members on this one.

 

I would very much appreciate one or both of the following:

 

1) The URL of a website(s) that has a good history of the Y6b

 

and/or

 

2) A brief summation of the history of Y6b in your own words. I don't need anything crazy specific...like how many rivets were used in its construction, just some general history that I can use in about a 2 or 3 minute section of the video. 

 

Here are the few facts I have so far:

-Y6b's began in 1948

-Built in N&W's Roanoke shops

-Last of the Y's

-It looks like there were 29 built (correct me if I'm wrong, please)

-Big coal hauler, of course.

-The last ones ran in 1961, when the N&W finally went to the all diesels...after everyone else.

-2156 is the closest thing to a Y6b that still exists today

 

I would very much appreciate someone filling in the blanks. If there was any specific history to #2171 that would be the icing on the cake.

 

Anyway, if someone contributes some good info and I decide to use it, I'll give you a mention in the video.

 

Thanks,

Eric Siegel

 

 

 

 

Last edited by ericstrains.com
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Mikado 4501Mikado 4501OGR Forum Member

If this helps, Eric, to quote from TM's Great MTH Layouts Part 1 video:

 

"Norfolk & Western coal trains, loaded with coal from the Pocahontas coal reigon, and headed by giant Y6b articulated steam engines, would travel through the hills of West Virginia. Then back to Roanoke, and finally switch crews for the final run for Norfolk, Virginia, where the coal would be unloaded, and loaded on other trains and ocean going freighters to be taken to all parts of the world.

 

Sometimes the loaded coal trains would require 5 Y6b's to negotiate the grades between Blue Field and Norfolk: Two pullers, two pushers, and one in the middle!"

p51p51OGR Forum Member
Originally Posted by Mikado 4501:

Sometimes the loaded coal trains would require 5 Y6b's to negotiate the grades between Blue Field and Norfolk: Two pullers, two pushers, and one in the middle!"

My Uncle was a teen in Virginia coal country for a couple of years and he told me when I was a kid he used to watch them triple-heading out of the town with one or two pushers.

Gilly@N&WGilly@N&WOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER
Originally Posted by ericstrains.com:

 

-Y6b's began in 1948 Cab #2171 4/48 thru Cab#2200 4/52

-Built in N&W's Roanoke shops

-Last of the Y's

-It looks like there were 29 built 30

-Big coal hauler, of course. 2200 was the last mainline steam locomotive built in the United States

-The last ones ran in 1961, when the N&W finally went to the all diesels...after everyone else. Last was scrapped9/60 oops

-2156 is the closest thing to a Y6b that still exists today  2156 is a Y6a. 

 

2197 was modified with a booster valve and was used in an evaluation against an EMD F7 ABBA consist.

 

I would very much appreciate someone filling in the blanks. If there was any specific history to #2171 that would be the icing on the cake. 2171 was scrapped 5/70. It "almost" made it into the class of the "Lost Engines of Roanoke".

 

 

Last edited by Gilly@N&W
Big JimBig JimOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

 

quote:
Thats just about all Eric needs.

Thank you Rick. I'm sure everyone here appreciates you speaking for them. So, I'll add a little more just in case. Let me know if there is anything else that you don't want to know.

Mark down May 7, 1960 as the last day of steam on the N&W. early on that morning the fires were dropped on S1a #291 and Y6b #2190. 

 

Y6 #2143 and Y6b #2174 survived into 1976 at United Iron and Metal in Roanoke, Va. They started torching 2174 on Monday February 16, 1976. Y6 #2143 had gone to the torch a couple of weeks before.

 

United had kept Y6b #2189 until sometime in 1967.

 

Lionel's Y6b represents sheathing covering a lagged smokebox . Y6b's 2189-2200 were built new with lagging. 2171-2176 and 2178-2187 were built without lagging , but, lagging was applied at a later date. 2177 and 2188 never got lagging. So, all of Lionel's Y6b's are correct in having the sheathed smokebox.

 

Lionel's presents the Y6b at a time after it received the "External Reducing Valve/Booster Valve". At this time they were referred to as "Improved".

 

Last edited by Big Jim
RickORickOOGR Forum Member
Originally Posted by Big Jim:

 

quote:
Thats just about all Eric needs.

Thank you Rick. I'm sure everyone here appreciates you speaking for them. So, I'll add a little more just in case. Let me know if there is anything else that you don't want to know.

 

Ok Jim post deleted.  Boy it sure is hard to post around here with more and more folks taking offense and having some smart*** comment.

 

I guess thats why alot of good members don't participate much anymore.

 

Have a nice holiday weekend Jim, hope I didn't ruin it. Maybe go take another lesson in reading and comprehension and reread my statement.

 

Your not a big fan of Erics anyway.... remember when he reviewed the Pocahontas set?

 

Originally posted by : Big Jim

 

"Eric missed a lot!

But, in my opinion, this was not an unbiased review. It was more of a long-winded infomercial for Legacy Station."

Last edited by RickO
Big JimBig JimOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

 

quote:
Thats just about all Eric needs.

I'd say you were the one with the smart*** comment.

As for Eric, he asked for help. If there is anything else that he wants to know, I will be more than glad to help.

Yes, I remember when he reviewed the Pocahontas set. My opinion was of that review, not of Eric, as you would want to have people believe by your immature mention of the fact.

Last edited by Big Jim
CJ CNJ JimOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER
Originally Posted by Randy_B:

I'm really looking forward to this one! Keep 'em coming Eric.

 

Me, too.

 

Once again, one of Eric's reviews will have some influence on my purchase decision.

 

Hoping to see if it handles the smaller curves/switches in the yard.

 

 
 
Originally Posted by ericstrains.com:

Thanks to Gilly@N&W for filling in some of the gaps. That info will come in handy.

 

-Eric Siegel

 

Yea .... Gilly's a good guy.

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