December 14, 2006, (Thursday) Photos

[3rdrail]

It's Thursday again, time to share some prototype photos. Here are some that are 40 years old, two from the Maryland & Pennsylvania operating the ex-Reading Co. shop goat, and one of the Shade Gap Electric Rwy. showing why it was called Shade Gap.

 



Next week, off to the Everett Railroad of 40 years ago.

[Erik W]

This is one of the Rio Grande's powerfull 3-cylinder locomotives, M-75 class #1607 shown heading through Mack, Colorado on May 9, 1939.


D&RGW M-75 class #1606 seen in Grand Junction, Colorado on January 1, 1942, with Elesco feed water heater.


A good view of Rio Grande M-75 #1602's third cylinder can be seen here (directly under the boiler face), along with Worthington feed water heater hardware, April 4, 1938, Grand Junction, Colorado.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Wow, a 3 cyl? I knew they existed, but I had always thought they were always just test machines.

I wonder how that all worked. I bet it'd have been crazy to see in action.

[Chris333]

In action the center cylinder movements would be hidden between the wheels, correct?

[3rdrail]

Wow, a 3 cyl? I knew they existed, but I had always thought they were always just test machines.

I wonder how that all worked. I bet it'd have been crazy to see in action.

It was fairly common in the mid-1920's. While Lima was going for "Super-Power" with four wheel trailing trucks, Alco and Baldwin were touting three-cylinder power. UP's 4-10-2's and 4-12-2's were both 3-cylinder designs, as was SP's 4-10-2 "Southern Pacific" type. Quite a few roads had 3-cylinder Mountain types. MP had a 3-cylinder Pacific, and IHB's 0-8-0's, the kind made by RivaRossi for Atlas and Con-Cor, were also 3-cylinder machines. The third cylinder drove a cranked axle, usually the main axle, but in some cases the axle in front of the main axle (UP 4-12-2's, for example). Baldwin's 60000, now at the Franklin Institute in Philly, was its 3-cylinder demonstrator.

[Lenny53]

     

[Ntrainz1]

From Monday @ CP Cove in Pennsauken. CSX 498 light coming off Delair Bridge



CSX 4452 crossing bridge over River Road


Bob.

[GonzoCRFan]

Nice to see some Souf' Joisey stuff, Bob. I really wish I had time to railfan when I do get to make it back to the Philly area...

[MrKLUKE]

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[Ed Kapuscinski]

This is one of "too many" covered hopper pictures I just recently took in
Brunswick, Maryland. Pretty rusted for the CSX tan scheme! The scenery
and colors remind me of Ed's layout...

Jeff (MrKLUKE)

Well thats a good thing because, you know, I AM trying to model December  ;D

[Erik W]

The 3-cylinder was a pretty complicated machine.  D&RGW's Mountains were also larger than most locomotives of that wheel configuration. There are drawings in an issue of The Prospector, The Rio Grande Modeling and Historical Society's magazine of the 3-cylinder linkage.  Indeed, aside from the front of the third cylinder, all the other hardware wasn't readily visible.  Rio Grande's 3-cylinder locomotives had 75,000 pounds of tractive effort.  They were strong enough for the high speed, dual service role they were purchased for but had the unfortunate consequence of beating the hell out of the track, which they were notorious for.  Because of this, all locomotives of the M-75 class were relegated to the slow speed helper role in the mountainous areas and ultimately all were retired in 1948 and 1949 rather than the mid '50s like other Rio Grande steam locomotives built around the same time.


Here is M-75 class #1607 during happier days near Louviers, Colorado on August 12, 1928 making speed with the 14 car Scenic Limited.

Erik

[Ian MacMillan]

Westbound through Madbury, NH