TRS Train nerds

[lil_Blue_Ford]

On the one hand, yes.

On the other hand, ranger tailgate tech talk becauae we literally couldnt drive anywhere remains one of the highlights of my summer so far. Wish JohnnyO was there for that bit.

I agree, that was a good time hanging out for sure

 

[JohnnyO]

On the one hand, yes.

On the other hand, ranger tailgate tech talk becauae we literally couldnt drive anywhere remains one of the highlights of my summer so far. Wish JohnnyO was there for that bit.

I was stuck a block or so behind you. If I knew it would be jammed that long I would have walked back.

 

[JohnnyO]

 

[Curious Hound]

 

[sgtsandman]

Here are some still shots while it was stopped in Leetsdale. The patriotic painted trains and the brown and green cars at the end of the train are Norfolk and Southern's. I suspect part of the agreement to allow Big Boy to do it's tour on Norfolk Southern's railways was to showcase their locomotives and cars while they are here. The grey and yellow rail cars and locomotive are the ones the Big Boy normally runs with. Since they upgraded the Big Boy with another generator (total of three) and they hid the electronics in the tender, I think the yellow diesel-electric locomotive is there more in case there is a break down rather than being able to communicate on the rail road traffic control system. I do know it has been stated that the Big Boy can run the rails on it's own now since the upgrade.

If I remember correctly, the two yellow cars immediately after the tender are for water. Other than maintenance stops to grease and lubricate things, water is the biggest limitation for these engines. Especially now that steam has all but gone away. Places to stop and refill the water tank(s) is extremley limited.

Also, the Big Boy was originally a coal fired engine. It was converted to burn oil because coal is harder to source than oil in the quantities needed. The side benefit is that it burns cleaner than coal does.

These are the Norfolk Southern cars. I'm told the executives use them for trips to various places.

 

[Curious Hound]

. I do know it has been stated that the Big Boy can run the rails on it's own now since the upgrade.

I believe the modern electronics safety and communications equipment is in the Big Boy itself. From everything I've read, the diesel units are there just for dynamic breaking. It gives better train control and reduces wear and tear on the Big Boy. That thing is really a great piece of engineering, even in todays world.

It was great that they included the Marco Polo. That's the green observation car that we saw at the tail end. President Roosevelt used that car when he was governor and as president. An awesome piece of history to be showcased like that.

 

[Curious Hound]

I've seen the Norfolk Southern executive train go through Columbia, SC on their way to the Masters Golf Tournement. They have a bunch more of those vintage rail cars and several different vintage diesels as part of that fleet. This is about how it looked when I saw it. I just happened to get stopped at a street crossing one day and there it was.

 

[pjtoledo]

awesome video.
the wiffie & I were able to get a great view on it's eastbound trip approaching Fostoria Ohio.
unfortunately on the stop there westbound the crowds were so big I couldn't get within a mile of it.