Watch Pennsylvania RR Steam including a T1 Duplex work their way up Horseshoe Curve in Altoona PA around 1945. Sorry there's no sound, footage was converted from 16mm film
I have this footage in a VHS train video called "Big blue in the alleghenies" It is preceded by this type of exact footage, it was dubbed with Glen Miller's Pennsylvania 6-5000 What really defined what i saw was at 0:24-0:40 and at 1:55-2:08 "Pennsylvania 6-5-O-O-O!" Perfectly timed with the passing of the steam locomotive
It must have been an incredibly wonderful experience t sit track side and see such a show. It was better than any railfan event you can think of today.
This place is still amazing, and to know it now one can still "smell" the smoke and cinders, and see the results imbedded in the hillside across the tracks. It is only 3 tracks now, and the diesels run frequently. The Curve is still a feat to this old Florida boy, and I would trade this whole state for about 1/2 acre on the hill that overlooks the spot! I run Pennsy on my toy train layout, and I didn't know the Duplex was anything more than experimental, and those other engines just give a rush.
this footage, and all the vintage footage I've posted, was obtained from the studio that converted it from 16mm film from the personal collection of Leroy & Geo Sprague, both RR men. Leroy worked for the B&O, Geo was an engineer for DLW. Leroy did the filming for all the other videos in their collection. Whether the Spragues obtained this footage or shot it themselves I don't know, but I do know they would have obtained it many years ago as both men died in the 1960s.
If only we could time travel and bring back with us the trains, cars, morals, patriotism, and (especially) prices from a better time, while retaining our computers, Nintendo, etc.
@cektito87 It is hard to believe that 52 were built and not one was saved, especially since this locomotive was one of the fastest steamers, easily exceeding 100mph. How sad!
+Todd Hein , I agree. I could very well do without Twitter, reality TV, and smartphone applications if it meant living during the golden age of steam locomotives.
I'm honestly sad that the T1 was never preserved. It looked so sleek and ahead of its time. A proper product of the art-deco period. I'm also sad that they never saved the S1 prototype.
While Southern Pacific ran flangers and spreaders to clear the tracks of snow, the Pennsy ran them to clear the tracks of cinders! I can't imagine what the ground must've been like with large numbers of coal burning steam engines running this line for a hundred years with each up-hill engine laying down it's share of cinders. I wish I could've experienced this firsthand.
@nclemens I've got lots of nice Lackawanna (both Steam and Diesel) footage from Elmira to Scranton across Nicholson Bridge, some to Buffalo too and some Addison & Galeton RR I plan to post in the future
that might be the timken 1111 you're referring to or the pennsy 7002, the real one and not 8063. 1111 was selected for future preservation, but it was scrapped before NP or timken could find a suitable area. pennsy wanted to present 7002 at the '49 NY world's fair, but the loco was scrapped awhile before, so they disguised the 8063.
Yes, It is sad that no T1's or Q2's were preserved. Remember that the failure of the duplex drive program was considered a financial and P.R. disaster for the Pennsy at the time. The duplex drives received wide coverage in both the trade press, and in in Forbes and Business Week, and proved to be a major embarassment to Pennsy when they did not work out.
@jlebaron1 Where did you get the footage?, I'm always looking for original footage 16 as well as 8mm to use in our DVDs Ron at main line motion pictures dot com
Why were no T1's saved? Was the locomotive worth THAT much in scrap value? Or was it an oversight. Somewhere I learned of a locomotive meant to be preserved was accidentally scrapped.
While the poppet gear drive WAS unreliable, the T1 itself, when properly maintained, and a crew that knew what they were doing, was a very capable engine. It definitely did NOT deserve the widespread disdain it recvd at the time. Had it been developed earlier, and with the usual PRR attention new designs normally went thru, I think things could have been much different for it and the Q2s.
THANK YOU, that's exactly what I was thinking about the T1, they were never as bad as the idiot media claimed them to be, however; regarding the poppet valve gear, some forum members said the metallurgy wasn't strong enough to handle them and regarding the Q2s, even if PRR DID pay attention to them, they were still a wasted design because the only way they could prove themselves is putting them on 60 or 70 MPH fast freight trains and PRR fast freight went up to 50 MPH. oh and the Q2 reached 7987 hp at 57 MPH so on a real fast freight RR like the NKP they would've proven their usefulness. ( I know your comment is old, but I don't really care about that) before I forget, there's actually a T1 trust and their mission is like the A1SLT in Britain, to build the next loco in the class and the T1 # is 5550 and yes, they are legit because they were granted 501(c)3 charity status, I wonder what your thoughts are on this project? I want them to succeed so the T1 can prove the naysayers wrong.
hiawathabeast For some reason when it was posted I did not get your reply, so sorry also for this late comment. This current project is exciting, and I have no doubt will go the distance if they can tap into the right folks at the right time. As far as the poppet drive issues, here's the thing, in that era, a T1, like any other motive power, was expected to make the schedule with ANY given train regardless of crew, or prior care. I read that T1 mileage often actually exceeded ALL other motive power on the railroad, diesels included! Today? It would be a "cake walk"! She'll be given a daily level of loving care her older relation could only have wished for. And probably not be run over 60 mph. I guarantee you if it happens, I WILL be trackside gawking with the rest of you! LOL
I have this footage in a VHS train video called "Big blue in the alleghenies" It is preceded by this type of exact footage, it was dubbed with Glen Miller's Pennsylvania 6-5000
What really defined what i saw was at 0:24-0:40 and at 1:55-2:08 "Pennsylvania 6-5-O-O-O!" Perfectly timed with the passing of the steam locomotive
It must have been an incredibly wonderful experience t sit track side and see such a show. It was better than any railfan event you can think of today.
This place is still amazing, and to know it now one can still "smell" the smoke and cinders, and see the results imbedded in the hillside across the tracks. It is only 3 tracks now, and the diesels run frequently. The Curve is still a feat to this old Florida boy, and I would trade this whole state for about 1/2 acre on the hill that overlooks the spot! I run Pennsy on my toy train layout, and I didn't know the Duplex was anything more than experimental, and those other engines just give a rush.
I want to go back in time and stand between Tracks 1 and 2 when a T1 goes by like that!
Awesome stuff. No sound needed. Thanks for leaving it that way.
gotta love these old films, back before editing the author literally wrote the title of the film on a chalkboard and took a picture of it!
Thanks for the ride!
That's one new T1 snippet for this guy who can't get enough of the beauties.
this footage, and all the vintage footage I've posted, was obtained from the studio that converted it from 16mm film from the personal collection of Leroy & Geo Sprague, both RR men. Leroy worked for the B&O, Geo was an engineer for DLW. Leroy did the filming for all the other videos in their collection. Whether the Spragues obtained this footage or shot it themselves I don't know, but I do know they would have obtained it many years ago as both men died in the 1960s.
Very nice historical footage. Lovely locos. Thumbs up! :)
I didn't know that they put water in on the curve. Great vid, gives me the tingles! ^_^
I like the photo freight at 2:38 with two helper steamers and caboose.
You're welcome! I figured since there wasn't original sound, leave it vintage!
Awesome video
If only we could time travel and bring back with us the trains, cars, morals, patriotism, and (especially) prices from a better time, while retaining our computers, Nintendo, etc.
The T1...was really beautiful.
At least one deserved to be saved.
:'(
@cektito87 It is hard to believe that 52 were built and not one was saved, especially since this locomotive was one of the fastest steamers, easily exceeding 100mph. How sad!
This was originally shot on color 16mm film. You can see it on the DVD Pennsylvania Glory Vol 3 from Herron Rail Video.
I wish that I was around to see steamers.
+Todd Hein , I agree. I could very well do without Twitter, reality TV, and smartphone applications if it meant living during the golden age of steam locomotives.
Great video.
I'm honestly sad that the T1 was never preserved. It looked so sleek and ahead of its time. A proper product of the art-deco period. I'm also sad that they never saved the S1 prototype.
Really cool.
While Southern Pacific ran flangers and spreaders to clear the tracks of snow, the Pennsy ran them to clear the tracks of cinders! I can't imagine what the ground must've been like with large numbers of coal burning steam engines running this line for a hundred years with each up-hill engine laying down it's share of cinders. I wish I could've experienced this firsthand.
@nclemens I've got lots of nice Lackawanna (both Steam and Diesel) footage from Elmira to Scranton across Nicholson Bridge, some to Buffalo too and some Addison & Galeton RR I plan to post in the future
that might be the timken 1111 you're referring to or the pennsy 7002, the real one and not 8063. 1111 was selected for future preservation, but it was scrapped before NP or timken could find a suitable area. pennsy wanted to present 7002 at the '49 NY world's fair, but the loco was scrapped awhile before, so they disguised the 8063.
Yes, It is sad that no T1's or Q2's were preserved. Remember that the failure of the duplex drive program was considered a financial and P.R. disaster for the Pennsy at the time. The duplex drives received wide coverage in both the trade press, and in in Forbes and Business Week, and proved to be a major embarassment to Pennsy when they did not work out.
@jlebaron1
Where did you get the footage?, I'm always looking for original footage 16 as well as 8mm to use in our DVDs
Ron at main line motion pictures dot com
Why were no T1's saved? Was the locomotive worth THAT much in scrap value?
Or was it an oversight.
Somewhere I learned of a locomotive meant to be preserved was accidentally scrapped.
You got this from the DVD didn't you?
Ah me too. I wish they would have saved a Q2 as well.
Wow now im gonna pay TS2015
because it has a replica of Horseshoe curve, its great
They ran them at over 100 MPH between Van Wert, Ohio and Fort Wayne..
@cektito87 well the reality is they were a dying breed with costly needs and no one wanted to take care of one at a museum sad really
While the poppet gear drive WAS unreliable, the T1 itself, when properly maintained, and a crew that knew what they were doing, was a very capable engine. It definitely did NOT deserve the widespread disdain it recvd at the time. Had it been developed earlier, and with the usual PRR attention new designs normally went thru, I think things could have been much different for it and the Q2s.
THANK YOU, that's exactly what I was thinking about the T1, they were never as bad as the idiot media claimed them to be, however; regarding the poppet valve gear, some forum members said the metallurgy wasn't strong enough to handle them and regarding the Q2s, even if PRR DID pay attention to them, they were still a wasted design because the only way they could prove themselves is putting them on 60 or 70 MPH fast freight trains and PRR fast freight went up to 50 MPH. oh and the Q2 reached 7987 hp at 57 MPH so on a real fast freight RR like the NKP they would've proven their usefulness. ( I know your comment is old, but I don't really care about that)
before I forget, there's actually a T1 trust and their mission is like the A1SLT in Britain, to build the next loco in the class and the T1 # is 5550 and yes, they are legit because they were granted 501(c)3 charity status, I wonder what your thoughts are on this project? I want them to succeed so the T1 can prove the naysayers wrong.
hiawathabeast For some reason when it was posted I did not get your reply, so sorry also for this late comment. This current project is exciting, and I have no doubt will go the distance if they can tap into the right folks at the right time. As far as the poppet drive issues, here's the thing, in that era, a T1, like any other motive power, was expected to make the schedule with ANY given train regardless of crew, or prior care. I read that T1 mileage often actually exceeded ALL other motive power on the railroad, diesels included!
Today? It would be a "cake walk"! She'll be given a daily level of loving care her older relation could only have wished for. And probably not be run over 60 mph. I guarantee you if it happens, I WILL be trackside gawking with the rest of you! LOL