No more steam trains? (rumor)

[Voxel]

Rachel at Opryland was a 0-4-0T Steam Locomotive, Elizabeth was built as a Diesel Hydraulic (Like HKDL) in fact she looks exactly like the HKDL locomotives so they may be from the same builder. If you look at pictures there is no vapor seen around Elizabeth at any time.

Thanks for the information. My knowledge on some rail lines are limited, I am more knowledge and the technical operation of locomotives.

 

[ford91exploder]

Thanks for the information. My knowledge on some rail lines are limited, I am more knowledge and the technical operation of locomotives.

Of all my obsessions Trains are the oldest, I still have some of my first trainset, my father has the rest. We need to meet in the RW some day, I'd really like to hear about operating a trolley, I know how to run GE 44 ton switchers and old school EMD's Want more time than I have at the 'Johnson Bar' though

 

[CDavid]

We had steam engines awhile ago at Opryland USA. They converted one of the engines to run on diesel instead of steam. No one could tell the difference when either of them chugged by..... And they both were able to use their air powered whistles.

Opryland, probably 30 years ago or longer, had both steam and diesel ('fake' steam appearance) locomotives. I only remember seeing the steamer out once, and didn't even notice it until we were on the train. As soon as we were moving, the difference was obvious.

I pray tell that this is sarcasm, because I really don't want to go into the discussion of how a steam locomotive is a controlled bomb.. And I have seen a diesel go chug chug. That noise is caused by the intake of air to the firebox and other component and the release of air through piston. This could be replicate with a diesel if done right and for the right price.

A boiler explosion is not really a reasonable concern. Sure, in theory it could happen, but you have a much better chance of winning the lottery or being struck by lightning on a clear day. And diesels catch fire all the time - electric locomotives do too.

 

[ford91exploder]

I pray tell that this is sarcasm, because I really don't want to go into the discussion of how a steam locomotive is a controlled bomb.. And I have seen a diesel go chug chug. That noise is caused by the intake of air to the firebox and other component and the release of air through piston. This could be replicate with a diesel if done right and for the right price.

When a Diesel is going chug-chug and blowing white smoke there is usually a hole in one of the pistons and the parts department at EMD/GE/MILW is going to be doing their happy dance...

 

[CDavid]

When a Diesel is going chug-chug and blowing white smoke there is usually a hole in one of the pistons and the parts department at EMD/GE/MILW is going to be doing their happy dance...

Maybe we could rebuild an old Alco...under the right conditions, they were certainly capable of producing a plume of black smoke...

 

[ford91exploder]

Maybe we could rebuild an old Alco...under the right conditions, they were certainly capable of producing a plume of black smoke...

Like this D&H PA A-A pair

 

[Voxel]

Of all my obsessions Trains are the oldest, I still have some of my first trainset, my father has the rest. We need to meet in the RW some day, I'd really like to hear about operating a trolley, I know how to run GE 44 ton switchers and old school EMD's Want more time than I have at the 'Johnson Bar' though

This is the first model I got to operate Trolley wise. Its actually very stress free (for the most part). Its a gas motor will a simple throttle and brake. What's nice about it is that it was responsive and easy to operate. Part of the reason I enjoyed it so much, you enjoyed the ride while operating it. And incase your wonder the trolly bell is located on the floor and is operated with you foot.
I started to learn the electric Trolley but the line was never completed in Savannah but I believe that that should be changing in a few years.

I never got to operate a 44, but I got operate this bad boy I don't remember the model I know its a GE.

and this old beauty:

I also helped my father replace the diesel motor of a Davenport but thats a different story.

When a Diesel is going chug-chug and blowing white smoke there is usually a hole in one of the pistons and the parts department at EMD/GE/MILW is going to be doing their happy dance...

Correct but if you spend enough money you can replicate the air intake and other natural sounds (out side of the diesel) to get a realistic sound though it won't be exactly the sound but its not cheap and really not worth it.

A boiler explosion is not really a reasonable concern. Sure, in theory it could happen, but you have a much better chance of winning the lottery or being struck by lightning on a clear day. And diesels catch fire all the time - electric locomotives do too.

Boiler explosion wasn't where I was going with this. I was hinting at the hours of up start up time and shut down time to guarantee safe operation. While yes they are safe there is a level of caution that you don't have to put in a diesel. Take a diesel prime the fuel, check the batteries and crank the ignition a lot less to go wrong.
Don't take this as me siding for diesel there is nothing like operating a steam locomotive watching flames shoot out of the firebox at you every time it intakes air. Also nothing like a corn on the cob cooked by a steam locomotive.

 

[Voxel]

I think Disney should switch over to Kalamazoos

 

[CDavid]

Like this D&H PA A-A pair

That'll do. Put it in a narrow-gauge carbody and ship it to the MK. Wonder what Bob Iger, who wants to be all "green", would think of the smoke from the diesel powered trains he insisted on for the park.

 

[ford91exploder]

If winter would end there is a Kalamazoo meet up here when the rails reopen after winter

I think Disney should switch over to Kalamazoos

 

[Voxel]

If winter would end there is a Kalamazoo meet up here when the rails reopen after winter

I love Kalamazoo meet ups they are so much fun. Last time I went to one we ran them through a ten mile span in the appalachian mountains

 

[ford91exploder]

I love Kalamazoo meet ups they are so much fun. Last time I went to one we ran them through a ten mile span in the appalachian mountains

There is also a caboose club up here, Thought about buying and restoring one however DW threatened to beat me senseless unless I came to senses...

 

[Voxel]

There is also a caboose club up here, Thought about buying and restoring one however DW threatened to beat me senseless unless I came to senses...

I would love to restore one into an office. The way the space is laid out is amazing.

 

[Goofyernmost]

That'll do. Put it in a narrow-gauge carbody and ship it to the MK. Wonder what Bob Iger, who wants to be all "green", would think of the smoke from the diesel powered trains he insisted on for the park.

That's one of the dangers of living in the past. Diesel engines no longer billow smoke like that, in fact, they are, in many cases cleaner then whatever car one might be driving. Today's Diesels have more environmental attachments then imaginable. However, as stated, a diesel conversion is a simple one because diesel is used as a heat source to boil the water to create the steam. Something that I understand is the way they have been doing it in Disney for a number of years now. Whatever conversion is being instituted now, will mostly involve the fact that there probably won't be steam coming out the vents anymore, nor the need for water, but, the whistle is an easy little accessory to add to the train to produce enough steam to operate that. I hate to see them go in a way due to the historic value of the trains, but, I can also understand that the operating costs must be gigantic, just in labor alone.

 

[ford91exploder]

That's one of the dangers of living in the past. Diesel engines no longer billow smoke like that, in fact, they are, in many cases cleaner then whatever car one might be driving. Today's Diesels have more environmental attachments then imaginable. However, as stated, a diesel conversion is a simple one because diesel is used as a heat source to boil the water to create the steam. Something that I understand is the way they have been doing it in Disney for a number of years now. Whatever conversion is being instituted now, will mostly involve the fact that there probably won't be steam coming out the vents anymore, nor the need for water, but, the whistle is an easy little accessory to add to the train to produce enough steam to operate that. I hate to see them go in a way due to the historic value of the trains, but, I can also understand that the operating costs must be gigantic, just in labor alone.

One small correction MODERN diesel locomotives don't smoke like that but the older ones STILL do, Especially Alco's and their Montreal Locomotive Works progeny. The EMD's with 567 engines were pretty clean all along.

 

[lazyboy97o]

That's one of the dangers of living in the past. Diesel engines no longer billow smoke like that, in fact, they are, in many cases cleaner then whatever car one might be driving. Today's Diesels have more environmental attachments then imaginable. However, as stated, a diesel conversion is a simple one because diesel is used as a heat source to boil the water to create the steam. Something that I understand is the way they have been doing it in Disney for a number of years now. Whatever conversion is being instituted now, will mostly involve the fact that there probably won't be steam coming out the vents anymore, nor the need for water, but, the whistle is an easy little accessory to add to the train to produce enough steam to operate that. I hate to see them go in a way due to the historic value of the trains, but, I can also understand that the operating costs must be gigantic, just in labor alone.

Show is supposed to come before Efficiency.

 

[CDavid]

That's one of the dangers of living in the past. Diesel engines no longer billow smoke like that, in fact, they are, in many cases cleaner then whatever car one might be driving. Today's Diesels have more environmental attachments then imaginable. .

Yes, we know that. It was a joke about Bob Iger supposedly insisting on a conversion to diesel powered trains for environmental reasons. Alco is an old locomotive with a deserved reputation for producing thick black smoke. As you note, we don't want to lose the authentic MK steam operation. Hence, the joke that if Bob really wants diesel, this is the one we should give him.

 

[Voxel]

Show is supposed to come before Efficiency.

But if you can do both win win.

 

[lazyboy97o]

But if you can do both win win.

Except that authenticity was once considered an important aspect of Show. It is not supposed to all be fakery. That's why Walt had two immaculate steam trains built for Disneyland. It is why Imagineers buy antiques as set pieces. Authentic pieces create the reality that makes the fantasy more believable.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Show is supposed to come before Efficiency.

That's probably back when efficiency was a lot cheaper.