What it means to be movin' like a freight train.

"Grindintosecond" (Grindintosecond) 12/31/2014 at 13:56 • Filed to: trainlopnik

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There's fast trains. There's big trains. To be pretty big AND fast is a defining position. Movin' like a freight train is to be an unstoppable force, taking all the bumps, be a perfectly oiled machine that won't ever quit. This is the UP-844. It weighs 500,000 pounds by itself. It's doing 75mph. (on 80 inch wheels for scale) The only car I've ever been in that was close to feeling like this was my dad's old W126 Mercedes 300 turbo-diesel set at 80mph....and I'm sure it wasn't even close.

Below is a slightly slower, but much bigger version of the true freight train concept. The Challenger. Only moving at 60mph or so but it weighs twice as much. A million pounds. (The main wheels are 69 inches tall-for scale, it was built for torque pulling miles of coal cars.)

About four more years to go and the big-boy will be out of restoration. I plan to go watch that one on it's big post-restoration tour.

These aren't the fastest. They're just the most impressive demonstration of the concept.

Slave2anMG > Grindintosecond 12/31/2014 at 14:16

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844 is just...gorgeous. I've paced N&W 611, 1218 and Southern 4501 - 1218 was magnificent....

That vid of 844, I've posted it here in the past. Still one of my favorites on Youtube. No plunkin' along, no mindless runby whistling...just all business like she was meant to be used.

leicester > Grindintosecond 12/31/2014 at 14:16

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Grew up on the UP mainline east of Cheyenne, so we had plenty of opportunities to hear/see 8444 (As it was denoted at the time) as it headed out or back for whatever event. Yes, the 844 at speed is epic.

Oh yes, and torque (Challenger 3985 climbing Archer Hill, Wyo with 140+ cars)

The folks went to see the 'new' unrestored Challenger get pulled into Cheyenne - looks like that will be a couple years project to bring that one up to speed. Those things are massive. And lots of plumbing...

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Grindintosecond 12/31/2014 at 14:19

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So...what are the diesel locomotives behind it doing?

camaroboy68ss > Grindintosecond 12/31/2014 at 14:20

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love those big old steam engines, I can't wait to see the big boy out of restoration and under its own power! My favorite train though to watch is the SP 4449 it's just a beautiful locomotive.

doodon2whls > Grindintosecond 12/31/2014 at 14:30

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Incredible machines. I'm trying to think about how many pounds of coal per second the conveyors are delivering to the boiler while these guys are 'full steam ahead'...

I had the opportunity to ride a steam engined train that lolligagged at maybe 20 mph on a 45 minute ride. The experience is like nothing else on earth. The sounds, smells, and movement of these beasts is something to behold. I stood there in the rail yard and watched them pushing and connecting cars in amazement of the mechanical wizardry at work - it's all out there in the open for you to see... Not like those diesel electric locos that hide everything behind panels and enclosures - not that big diesel engines and generators are that exciting to see unless they are spewing fire anyway. ;-) They are rolling and hardworking works of engineering art.

ly2v8-Brian > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 12/31/2014 at 14:32

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more Powah!!! That's why.

RallyWrench > camaroboy68ss 12/31/2014 at 14:32

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I remember that beauty! It rolled through San Luis Obispo in the 80's, and I was just obsessed. My dad engraved me a silver belt buckle of it, I should grab a pic & share it with you guys.

ly2v8-Brian > doodon2whls 12/31/2014 at 14:41

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no shoveling required, these examples burn fuel oil. Like the boiler in an old building.

camaroboy68ss > RallyWrench 12/31/2014 at 14:44

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luckily it's local to me at a rail museum in Portland Oregon, she's currently down for some boiler work. Not very many active stean locomotives in the NW that I know of.

RallyWrench > camaroboy68ss 12/31/2014 at 14:45

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I'll have to come pay her a visit next time I'm up that way. Fond memories.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Grindintosecond 12/31/2014 at 14:49

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Where is this and how do I find out when one is running?

JGrabowMSt > Grindintosecond 12/31/2014 at 15:04

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A beautiful combination of torque and horsepower.

doodon2whls > ly2v8-Brian 12/31/2014 at 15:06

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TIL: 'modern steam locomotives' burn oil in the boilers. Makes perfect sense! Thanks, Brian!

ly2v8-Brian > doodon2whls 12/31/2014 at 15:15

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no problem, but I don't have an answer for how much coal would be needed. I'd imagine it would involve knowing the average energy of burning coal and the energy to superheat the water in the boiler.

Grindintosecond > camaroboy68ss 12/31/2014 at 15:53

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Oh i hope you watched the movie ,"tough guys"....awesome film of that train.

wafflesnfalafel > Grindintosecond 01/08/2015 at 22:02

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My uncle and I chased the the SP 4449 over Steven Pass as a kid - amazing stuff. That 844 is just awesome. You gotta see it in person - the combination of huge size, mechanical complexity and speed. It's amazing to think some of these had operating speeds in excess of 100mph. It must have been amazing racing Milwaukee Hiawathas, NYC Hudsons, big NP or SP&S Challengers, etc...