Technically, the diesel locomotive is still superior to the steam locomotive overall, that's why railroads still use them. Steamers weren't replaced for power reasons, they were replaced for economical reasons. Diesels are easier and cheaper to maintain and operate, multiple units can be controlled by a single crew and they don't require as much maintenance as steamers. That doesn't mean steamers are useless, they are still capable of getting the job done, UP 3985 proved it in 1990.
Those are rotary dump cars. When they unload the coal they rotate the entire car upside down. To do this one coupler has to rotate 360 degrees. The other coupler is fixed and does not spin. So you need to make sure a rotating coupler is attached to a non rotating coupler when two cars are coupled together. The colored end of the car is the end with the rotating coupler. You should never have two cars with end colors facing each other. Here is a video of the dump process. th-cam.com/video/a0EWZimPzNw/w-d-xo.html
Atmospheric diesels engines loose power at altitude when the density of the air gets lower. Steam engines are not dependent of air density also known as density altitude in aviation terms because they run on compressed overheated steam. Adding turbines to diesel engines will increase the power at altitude because turbines compress the air making it richer, for the same reason as it has been done on piston warbirds like the P38 Lightning. The advantage of diesels is that they do not need to be heated up- or maintained to remain on working pressure, nor do they use coal and water and can be handled by one driver. I must admit that the sight of a huge steam engine pulling a large train is extraordinay and very imposing!
Thanks Tom another good video. So question i have Why is steam engine more powerful going up this grade ? I dont know much about these things that iz why i ask .
@@DomAZWhich I find funny because most diesels have higher tractive effort than most steam locomotives, so diesels are capable of at least getting the train rolling. But most steamers do tend to have higher horsepower, which helps them keep up to speed once on the move, I mean, look at the C&O Alleghenies, one can max out like 7,498 drawbar horsepower, so once they get a train rolling and keep it rolling, keeping it up to speed shouldn't be a too much of a hassle. And then there's the UP Challenger. UP 3985, despite having a tractive effort of just 97,350 lbs, managed a 7,657 ton intermodal train from Cheyenne-North Platte solo, going up Archer Hill at 34-35 mph and even hit 60-70 mph somewhere along the route, so it pays to have a good amount of HP as well, my guess is she has around 5,000 HP. I mean, the route was relatively easy overall, but it's still impressive for a single locomotive with under 100,000 lbs of tractive effort. There's a thing I like to say; Steamers are better higher speed pullers and diesels are better lower speed pullers. Edit: Edited my quote a bit so it makes some more sense.
There is two reasons. One is wheel size the other is the weight on the wheels. Modern diesels have small wheels which is like gears in a car. They are very powerful starting but loose half their tractive effort after 15 MPH. Steam engines have very big wheels which make them weak (it would be like starting a car in 5th gear) when starting but they gradually gain power until around 40 mph. Diesel locomotives can have all the power in the world but with out the weight the wheels will just spin. That is why this train is so slow despite having a 40MPH speed limit. The Allegheny once pulled a 14,083 ton coal train, up a grade, at 45MPH! Now that is some serious power.
Great photography with beautiful scenery and sky. And the train........ . Job well done. Thank you.
Technically, the diesel locomotive is still superior to the steam locomotive overall, that's why railroads still use them. Steamers weren't replaced for power reasons, they were replaced for economical reasons. Diesels are easier and cheaper to maintain and operate, multiple units can be controlled by a single crew and they don't require as much maintenance as steamers. That doesn't mean steamers are useless, they are still capable of getting the job done, UP 3985 proved it in 1990.
Beautiful, great video and coal train. Is it your RV parked on the side of the road?
Oh I wish I had a RV! No there is a new RV park just down the road.
Great start to my day.....very calming video.....proves there is no need to rush!!
What do the coloured triangles on the end of each car signify?
Those are rotary dump cars. When they unload the coal they rotate the entire car upside down. To do this one coupler has to rotate 360 degrees. The other coupler is fixed and does not spin. So you need to make sure a rotating coupler is attached to a non rotating coupler when two cars are coupled together. The colored end of the car is the end with the rotating coupler. You should never have two cars with end colors facing each other. Here is a video of the dump process. th-cam.com/video/a0EWZimPzNw/w-d-xo.html
@@travelingtom923 That's brilliant Tom, thank you. Yes I did notice that the coloured triangle was on the left of EVERY car.
Atmospheric diesels engines loose power at altitude when the density of the air gets lower. Steam engines are not dependent of air density also known as density altitude in aviation terms because they run on compressed overheated steam.
Adding turbines to diesel engines will increase the power at altitude because turbines compress the air making it richer, for the same reason as it has been done on piston warbirds like the P38 Lightning.
The advantage of diesels is that they do not need to be heated up- or maintained to remain on working pressure, nor do they use coal and water and can be handled by one driver.
I must admit that the sight of a huge steam engine pulling a large train is extraordinay and very imposing!
Where was this taken?
Thanks Tom another good video. So question i have Why is steam engine more powerful going up this grade ? I dont know much about these things that iz why i ask .
I'm not an expert but I think the steam locomotive has higher HP and tonnage, that the reason is more powerful.
@@DomAZWhich I find funny because most diesels have higher tractive effort than most steam locomotives, so diesels are capable of at least getting the train rolling. But most steamers do tend to have higher horsepower, which helps them keep up to speed once on the move, I mean, look at the C&O Alleghenies, one can max out like 7,498 drawbar horsepower, so once they get a train rolling and keep it rolling, keeping it up to speed shouldn't be a too much of a hassle. And then there's the UP Challenger. UP 3985, despite having a tractive effort of just 97,350 lbs, managed a 7,657 ton intermodal train from Cheyenne-North Platte solo, going up Archer Hill at 34-35 mph and even hit 60-70 mph somewhere along the route, so it pays to have a good amount of HP as well, my guess is she has around 5,000 HP. I mean, the route was relatively easy overall, but it's still impressive for a single locomotive with under 100,000 lbs of tractive effort. There's a thing I like to say; Steamers are better higher speed pullers and diesels are better lower speed pullers.
Edit: Edited my quote a bit so it makes some more sense.
@@09JDCTrainMan Thanks for the info.
@@DomAZ You're welcome.
There is two reasons. One is wheel size the other is the weight on the wheels. Modern diesels have small wheels which is like gears in a car. They are very powerful starting but loose half their tractive effort after 15 MPH. Steam engines have very big wheels which make them weak (it would be like starting a car in 5th gear) when starting but they gradually gain power until around 40 mph. Diesel locomotives can have all the power in the world but with out the weight the wheels will just spin. That is why this train is so slow despite having a 40MPH speed limit. The Allegheny once pulled a 14,083 ton coal train, up a grade, at 45MPH! Now that is some serious power.
Great Video!! Thats the longest train of emptys i have ever seen !!!👍
Those are full.
you need glasses.
Nice video!!
Bring back the steamers