AlfaZagato Posted May 26, 2022 Share Posted May 26, 2022 Zeppelin? I'm assuming the GCR didn't have any propeller railcars, so I'm guessing it's the big side tank? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Michael Edge Posted May 26, 2022 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted May 26, 2022 I don't know but that's what they were known as - probably just the sheer bulk of them, 46ft long and 97 tons. They were built at the time Zeppelin raids were going on, another nickname was "crabs" but that was appropriated by a different railway later. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lochgorm Posted May 26, 2022 Share Posted May 26, 2022 2 hours ago, Michael Edge said: I don't know but that's what they were known as - probably just the sheer bulk of them, 46ft long and 97 tons. They were built at the time Zeppelin raids were going on, another nickname was "crabs" but that was appropriated by a different railway later. I always thought the nickname Zeppelin was applied to the Robinson 9N 4-6-2 Passenger tanks because of their bulk. The 2-6-4 tanks were indeed known as crabs or more fully ‘Neasden Crabs’. Charlie Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard i Posted May 26, 2022 Share Posted May 26, 2022 The gcr 4-6-2 tanks were normally called the coronation tanks. From when this country had to crown new monarchs as they only lasted 10 - 25 years on the throne. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Popular Post Michael Edge Posted June 9, 2022 Author RMweb Premium Popular Post Share Posted June 9, 2022 Two locos finished this week. The Dave Andrews GCR 1B "Zeppelin" looks amight beast now it's all together. This will be painted by Ian Rathbone in the original GCR lined black livery as No.272. One of our 200hp Brush 0-4-0DEs, I've painted this one myself. It's powered with 15mm square motor on a High Level RoadRunner+, just enough room in there for a Digitrax DN136 chip as well. The Kadee couplers, even though at HO height, look quite appropriate on this industrial loco. 35 1 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Popular Post Michael Edge Posted July 5, 2022 Author RMweb Premium Popular Post Share Posted July 5, 2022 The workshop has been very quiet for the last few weeks - the reason being hat we finally got to go on our long awaited trip across the USA with Great Rail Journeys (originally booked for June 2020). A few photos to show where we went, I know next to nothing about US railways so any caption comments would be welcome. First leg was a day train from New York to Washington, this was our loco on arrival at Union station. The performance was terrific, the ride was at times abominable (but at least the seats are comfortable) - I had a chat with the driver (engineer?) here to ask how fast we were going - mostly 125mph until Baltimore where there was a speed restriction for excessive heat (it was nearly 100F when we got off the train in DC) and his opinion of the track was about the same as mine. I can't imagine what it feels like in the 140mph Acelas on the same track. Our hotel in Washington was right by the railway, this is one of the Acelas moving off to the depot. There is a path/cycle track all along the line here giving a good view of the main line and metro trains, this Amtrak switcher was shunting trains in Union station just off to the right. This is the day stock we travelled on, it's getting a bit long in the tooth now but still good - it's the track that's bad. Next leg was a sleeper train to Chicago. There were plenty of these local trains about as we left Washington. Leaving the train at Chicago, Judith and some others of our group. We only had one of these Amtrak diesels on this train, the others later had two, the Amtrak superliners are also rather old but still comfortable but basic sleeping accommodation is a bit cramped. We spent the night skipping round endless freight trains, all the line is signalled bi-directional with crossovers at intervals - these aren't exactly high speed geometry so every so often there would be a lot of banging, crashing and lurching to wake us up (there are straps clipped to the ceiling to stop one flying out of the bunk...). In daylight we could see that the last loco on a freight (longest one we counted was 130 coal cars) had only just cleared a crossover before we lurched over it to get to the other track and not long before another huge freight came down the track we had just left. More tomorrow if anyone is following. 37 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlfaZagato Posted July 5, 2022 Share Posted July 5, 2022 You weren't all too far from me at points. I live not too far outside Chicago. The rail lines around here get hectic. Especially on UP metals, which it doesn't sound like you rode. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Michael Edge Posted July 5, 2022 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted July 5, 2022 We were on UP later on but more on that when I get to it. So far I think it was mostly Pennsylvania. Nice to see some new readers following, more info about what I photographed would be welcome. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlfaZagato Posted July 5, 2022 Share Posted July 5, 2022 I know Metra better than Amtrak. Never rode Amtrak myself. Looks like you were mostly in and out of Chicago Union, which is now BNSF, Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, and Norfolk & Southern operated lines. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium St Enodoc Posted July 5, 2022 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 5, 2022 10 hours ago, Michael Edge said: More tomorrow if anyone is following. Yes please! I did NYC - Washington DC in 1977 on a Leeds University RUFC tour. I can't remember the type of train but it could well have been a Metroliner. Some of those on the return stages (stopping off at Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Trenton) certainly were, which I think is what we can see in photo 3. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Popular Post Michael Edge Posted July 6, 2022 Author RMweb Premium Popular Post Share Posted July 6, 2022 The highlight of the trip for was of course riding round on the EL in Chicago, I've been wanting to do this ever since ours closed in Liverpool way back when I was 9. Day ticket for all Chicago transport is very good value at $5, we used the subway and the buses as well. Not quite a grand union at one corner of the loop, view from a train. The curves are even sharper the the ones on the LOR, the cars are only a bit longer than the LOR trailers and rounded at the ends. Trackwork is remarkably similar to Liverpool's. View from underneath is remarkably similar as well, looks wider and higher though and in at this station at least there is a footbridge underneath like the one at Herculaneum. I think this is the opposite corner of the loop. Another viw of the almost grand union (one curve is missing), the corners look even sharper in this shot. There is a window at the side of the driver's cab which is excellent for photographs - some stock has much bigger windows here and there isn't always someone sitting there. Quite a few passengers still wearing masks even though it isn't enforced now. Close up of the track, the walkway is down the middle here, are the two rails outside it guard rails or what? They look to be a smaller section than the running rails. Very noticeable in the USA was the use of Pandrol clips, I've never seen these used outside the UK up to now. A lot on the main lines as well although every form of flat bottom track fixing can be seen and much of it is still simply spiked to wooden sleepers (ties) - not many concrete ones anywhere. Equally noticeable was neat ballasting, no stone over the sleepers as in current practice here. Platforms are quite similar to the LOR, wooden planking and mostly very narrow. On the bus tour the day before I had a slight disagreement with the local tour guide who proudly said that the EL was the first overhead electric railway in the world. He did say it opened in 1897 and was a bit startled when I told him that Liverpool's opened in 1893 but he got his own back by pointing out that Chicago's is still here... The photograph above shows why - this system isn't waterproof, just open to the sky and the rain falls through it, if the LOR had been built like this that might still be here as well. The last photo for today is scarcely believable to European eyes, our train has been stopped by a man with a red flag and another in the opposite direction has just started slowly away. The flagmen are standing on the walkway in the 6ft and two men are working on our track - and don't forget there's a 600v DC live rail in there as well. After the other train passed the men moved to the walkway and we were waved on our way. 30 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlfaZagato Posted July 6, 2022 Share Posted July 6, 2022 Yes, those two additional rails are guardrails. Still common (possibly legally required?) on most US rail bridges. Used there to minimize possibility of collision with the platform in case of derailment. Also helps protect worker's feet from the third rail. Only place in Chicagoland I've seen concrete ties was Metra trackage in and just outside Ogilvie Transportation Center, the other central Chicago station. I gather they're more common out west, on heavy UP & BNSF lines. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Barry O Posted July 7, 2022 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 7, 2022 Lovely track weathering.. we might have got the weatgering on the LOR right .. Baz 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Popular Post Michael Edge Posted July 8, 2022 Author RMweb Premium Popular Post Share Posted July 8, 2022 We left Chicago on the Californian Zephyr, not all the way - just 26 hours to Grand Junction. Not at all sure what this is, seen on the way out of Chicago. Some of the Amtrak locos which power most of the long distance trains, usually in pairs. We were on the upper level of the Superliner this time and it was much more difficult to get into the top bunk because of the way the profile turns in at cantrail level. This time we had a full meal service with a diner/kitchen car, food and service is excellent on these trains. No photos from the rest of this leg or at Grand Junction where we changed to bus transport for a while. First destination was Silverton for the steam train to Durango - some of our fellow travellers thought this was our train and were extremely disappointed to find a diesel. Steam whistles in the distance heralded the appearance of this though. Our train had arrived behind two of these but one was sufficient for the mostly downhill run to Durango. These were coal fired until recently but after a huge lineside fire they have gone over to oil firing. In a scene reminiscent of the Talyllyn and the Bodmin & Wadebridge there was a water stop in the middle of nowhere. The open sided gondolas give a great view of this spectacular railway and make photography along the train very easy. 28 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlfaZagato Posted July 8, 2022 Share Posted July 8, 2022 Your mystery loco is a Siemens SC-44, apparently. We don't get Amtrak through West Chicago, so I've not seen one. The long-distance locos are GE Genesis P42DC's. Amtrak has nearly 200, and some are filtering out to Metra service. The diesel everyone was afraid of was built by Montreal Locomotive Works, Alco's Canadian partner, for the Yukon & White Pass. That railway was better known for their shovelnose diesels. Lastly, you were able to ride behind a K-27. I'm kind of jealous. I've never been farther west than the middle of Iowa. If you ever come back, base out of Chicago. There's enough railway museums in this area to make a week of it. Especially if you come on Labor Day. Most of the museums have special events on Labor Day, with less used equipment making runs. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Legend Posted July 8, 2022 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 8, 2022 Brings back a lot of memories . I did that trip back in 2008 . Thoroughly enjoyed it . NY- Washington - Chicago-Denver- Grand Junction - Flagstaff - LA -San Francisco . Great trip , thoroughly enjoyed it . I had thought the sleeper accommodation would be great and was looking forward to it (I think i was imagining the accommodation seen on a James Bond film) , but I found it very cramped . The top bunk was like being in a coffin with the ceiling directly above you . I'm a bit claustrophobic so didnt like it at all . From memory there were three nights on the train and I remember only lasting 2 hours on the last night then going into the lounge car to watch the sun come up over the Californian desert on the way into LA . Magical . Everyone thinks deserts are yellow or brown - but it was very colourful as some came up , pinks , blues . Washington was the revelation to me . Everyone said there was lots of crime but I didnt see any . The old station was nicely restored and we went down close to the river using the metro (cant remember the name of the place now ), nice meal down by river . Lots of nice little street and alleys . Met some great people in the group and some fellow travelers on the train . Excellent holiday . Attempted to do Vietnam/ Cambodia with Great Railway Journeys but regrettably Covid happened , and even though the trip went ahead in March 2020, wrongly in my view , we elected to stay put as we thought a lock down was coming . One of my better decisions . I often wonder how that trip got on and how they got back Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Bucoops Posted July 8, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 8, 2022 Looks like you had a great time. The only regular train I have been on in the US was between DC and Phikadelphia. Certainly wasn't anything exotic. We have ridden thr Strasburg Railroad a number of times and another that I forget the name of that ran a doodlebug. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Asterix2012 Posted July 8, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 8, 2022 1 hour ago, Bucoops said: Looks like you had a great time. The only regular train I have been on in the US was between DC and Phikadelphia. Certainly wasn't anything exotic. We have ridden thr Strasburg Railroad a number of times and another that I forget the name of that ran a doodlebug. Bucoops, if you don’t mind me asking, what is a doodlebug? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Bucoops Posted July 8, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 8, 2022 1 hour ago, Asterix2012 said: Bucoops, if you don’t mind me asking, what is a doodlebug? Not at all :) I found the railroad we went to and it was this one we rode on - https://www.wwrr.com/ride/equipment/doodlebug.aspx 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Michael Edge Posted August 12, 2022 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted August 12, 2022 The photos from our American trip were interrupted by another holiday (we've just got back from a month in France), Continuing from where I left off, next was the Grand Canyon railway from Williams. These locos are I think ex Amtrak, seem more than powerful enough but the train trundles very slowly all the way there and back. The train waiting to return to Williams, before we set off from there we had been treated to a wild west show at the end of the platform... On the way back we were met by the four "cowboys" on horseback, the train stopped and they staged a robbery - at least they said the money was going to charity..... On the way back past the depot there was a varied range of stock and locos, I have no idea what this one is but it looks interesting. According to the publicity they do occasionally run steam but the only loco in evidence (possibly the only one they have?) was parked very much out of use in the station at Williams. I can't remember where this was now but the bus made a detour somewhere between Flagstaff and Las Vegas for us to look at this 4-8-4 plinthed in a park. Close up of the motion with its divided drive to the crankpins, common in large US steam locos but only done once in the UK - on Bulleid's 500hp 0-6-0DM 11001. From Los Angeles to San Francisco we were day passengers on the Coast Starlight to Seattle, locos seen here on one of the stops where we are allowed out for a few minutes. Not long after this we were glad were not sleeper passengers this time, there was a serious fire in the kitchen car and meals were cancelled. The Amtrak crew dealt with the situation with good humour, promised the passengers they would get fed somehow - breakfast would be like Christmas morning, you'll get a parcel. you won't know what's in it but you will enjoy it! Next stop after we got off in Oakland was going to be the Amtrak depot to cut out the damaged car. Much of the route is along the coast - and very close to it - but towards San Francisco it climbs over the mountains on this impressive spiral. looking back a few minutes later I think this plinthed switcher is at Salinas, we had left LA in 30+ heat, shorts and T shirts, got off here at 14 and shivering. Does it ever get warm around san Francisco? We didn't have a lot of free time in San Francisco but here was time for a cable car ride. No time to ride on the heritage trams though - all the ones we saw were PCC cars. We flew back to LHR from here after a great trip, even though we had had to wait two years to actually do it. 18 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold chris p bacon Posted August 12, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 12, 2022 55 minutes ago, Michael Edge said: On the way back we were met by the four "cowboys" on horseback, the train stopped and they staged a robbery - at least they said the money was going to charity..... Did they have 'Trump 2024' badges ? 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Bucoops Posted August 12, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 12, 2022 Superb :) It wasn't particularly warm in San Fran when we went - but we seemed to take the weather on holiday with us - there was snow in the grand canyon and it was raining in death valley! Although I see the other day that death valley is currently flooded so it could have been worse. Looks like you had a grea time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Michael Edge Posted August 12, 2022 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted August 12, 2022 That was San Francisco in early July, even when it was sunny it wasn't exactly warm. We got more than enough heat in France though but amazingly it was warmer back in Barnsley than where we were 3500ft up in the Auvergne at the time. 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlfaZagato Posted August 12, 2022 Share Posted August 12, 2022 Your steeds for the Grand Canyon trip are of mixed lineage. They're both F40FH's, similar to what was on Metra in Chicago. 237 is ex-Amtrak, while the second loco, 4128, is ex-NJ Transit. Your mystery loco marked BM&LP is a GE E60CF from the Black Mesa & Lake Powell Railroad. BM&LP was an isolated line strung at 50kAC. Ran coal between a dedicated mine and a power station. The line was closed in 2019 with the power station. The E60CF is interesting. Big, beastly thing showing when the American loading gauge is used for a freight electric. Comparably recent, as well. They were built between 1973 & 1976. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Michael Edge Posted August 12, 2022 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted August 12, 2022 Thanks for the information, always nice to know what I'm looking at. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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