Working rail roads and their tracks.

[California]

Read about one of the steam trains touring the country... it might have been the bicentennial?

Once the logistics of water was addressed the next was adding modern locomotives for generation and/or assist.

Thing is the steam locomotive surprised many by not needing any assist... steam just that powerful and the weight optimizes traction...

I've read the diesels that accompany these exhibition trains aren't needed for horsepower.

The helper diesels are needed for modern requirements re signalling, electricity generation that matches passenger cars behind, (there are several 'standards') and most important, engine braking and reliable air for train braking.

 

[Hay Dude]

In '75 and '76 they had the Freedom Train touring the country. It was a Northern type if I remember correctly. I got to see it in Indiana and in Florida. I used to have a couple of smashed out pennies I put on the track for it to run over, but I lost them on the move when we built this house.

The 1975 - 1976 American Freedom Train

Thats really cool.

 

[ArlyA]

I've read the diesels that accompany these exhibition trains aren't needed for horsepower.

The helper diesels are needed for modern requirements re signalling, electricity generation that matches passenger cars behind, (there are several 'standards') and most important, engine braking and reliable air for train braking.

I watched the video where the chief engineer said the electric/desiel engine was need to keep the big boys brakes pads from wearing out. He said there was no longer the necessary under car pits to service them and hoped to get home on the same set.

 

[MossRoad]

In '75 and '76 they had the Freedom Train touring the country. It was a Northern type if I remember correctly. I got to see it in Indiana and in Florida. I used to have a couple of smashed out pennies I put on the track for it to run over, but I lost them on the move when we built this house.

The 1975 - 1976 American Freedom Train

It came to South Bend in 1975. They parked it next to where the old St. Joe High School was at the time. That's the spur that leads from Holy Cross Junior College south into the northeast side of downtown where the city had a coal yard, and Rose Brick was located.

It was neat. Lots of displays inside the cars.

 

[ultrarunner]

It’s Oakland stop was so popular some never did get to go inside…

The story of restoring the engine was on PBS…

Not sure if it had been in a public park for kids to clump or not?

Freedom Train - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Southern Pacific 4449 - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Reading Class T-1 - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

2-10-4 - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[MossRoad]

Reading No. 2101

The Reading 2101 is a 4-8-4 "Northern" type steam locomotive, originally built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works. In 1923, the Baldwin Locomotive Works built 2101 as a 2-8-0 type steam locomotive, numbered 2021. During WWII, the United States Railroad Administration, which had control over every...

locomotive.fandom.com

 

[MossRoad]

 

[ArlyA]

A BNSF switch crew ran into a hiccup today while switching the General Mills elevators on Rice's Point in Duluth MN. Wednesday, 11/8/23. Thanks for keeping this thread about RR's.

 

[dodge man]

Couple floor jacks and just slide it back on the tracks?

 

[gstrom99]

... but where's the Port-A-Potty car?