petehoovie
Well-known member
Am I not mistaken in that diesels don't pull the trains but rather they drive generators that supply electricity to electric motors that pull the train? Lots of torque in those electric motors...
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Union Pacific Big Boy
- Thread starter cjshaker
- Start date
nelsb01
Well-known member
It is all about putting pulling power to the rails. Traction power.
Steam lost its spot due to maintenance and economics. Steam could run every 80 miles before water or coal was needed to complete another 80 miles. And then like the 4014 will be doing in Steamtown, being down for 11 days for maintenance. With the water towers and coal loading docks gone now, that was one of the reasons 4014 was converted to oil (besides it runs cleaner for the environment). Diesels are more cost effective even though they need multiple engines (including mid-section and tail). But, when linked together, they can move vastly more cars and tonnage (trains now average about a mile in length).
If you want to find out more, check out Jay Leno's Garage -- a special 1 hour show on 4014. Yes, Jay even gets to pull the whistle.
https://www.bing.com/videos/rivervi...=CF902221FCA34A97806294A77F816AFA&FORM=VAMGZC
Also look up Ed Dickens, Union Pacific Heritage Manager for more information.
Steam lost its spot due to maintenance and economics. Steam could run every 80 miles before water or coal was needed to complete another 80 miles. And then like the 4014 will be doing in Steamtown, being down for 11 days for maintenance. With the water towers and coal loading docks gone now, that was one of the reasons 4014 was converted to oil (besides it runs cleaner for the environment). Diesels are more cost effective even though they need multiple engines (including mid-section and tail). But, when linked together, they can move vastly more cars and tonnage (trains now average about a mile in length).
If you want to find out more, check out Jay Leno's Garage -- a special 1 hour show on 4014. Yes, Jay even gets to pull the whistle.
https://www.bing.com/videos/rivervi...=CF902221FCA34A97806294A77F816AFA&FORM=VAMGZC
Also look up Ed Dickens, Union Pacific Heritage Manager for more information.
SHORTDOOR
Junior Member
I got in to see it Monday morning. Very impressed with the size. Clean and grease every night? Also was able to go into the back restoration shops. I took a bus into the transportation center that is right in front of the tracks. It took an hour in the line to snake around the parking lots. I don't think they were prepared for the crowd. Once in my lifetime experience.
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