Thanks to members Alan Lott and Larry Jackson for pointing out this YouTube video…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52D1xs_hc_k&feature=share
For fans [like me and Larry] of ‘The Lady of Portland’ - SP&S Northern #700 - this is one of the last times she was ever to ride the rails in revenue service…for a while.
No use in turning up the sound - there ain’t none. But it IS in ‘Fuzzycolor’ of the day.
Enjoy!
tac, ig & The North Shore Boys
Now that’s a cool video Tac.
Cool! I wonder why they ran that Challenger in reverse so much?
Nowhere to run it around at that time - the Vancouver Y had not been built, I’m told, and the Spokane Y was a good ways away, ask Steve Fetherkile - he’s a Spokane boy.
tac, ig & The English Pit boys
That, and there wasn’t a 130 + foot turntable in the neighborhood. I think the TT’s in Spokane would accommodate a a Northern, but not a Challenger. There was nothing in either Portland or Vancouver that could accommodate a Challenger.
There is/was a balloon track around the TT for the NP in Spokane, but I think it was too tight for a Challenger.
JB, can you back me up here?
Ray Dunakin said:I belong to a Yahoo Group dedicated to the SP&S (SPSRY). Someone asked the same question about the Challenger going backwards, and this is the posted answer:
Cool! I wonder why they ran that Challenger in reverse so much?
“Jerry; What you saw was the Scribner Turn almost half there work was backing up, it was 3rd Sub Job Parkwater to Scribner, but they were bulletined to go to South Cheney. Bax…”
I don’t know exactly where Parkwater and Scribner are, but from the South Cheney comment, I suspect that they are somewhere southwest of Spokane, WA.
Steam locomotives ran backwards all the time, especially on shortlines, or branch lines. Hell, some of the Lenora Mt Sicker locomotives had cowcatchers, headlights, and a second set of seats.
Bob McCown said:That must be why the steamers had a Johnson bar... :P
Steam locomotives ran backwards all the time, especially on shortlines, or branch lines. Hell, some of the Lenora Mt Sicker locomotives had cowcatchers, headlights, and a second set of seats.
The Wanamaker, Kempton & Southern had no means to turn their locomotives. When I volunteered as a locomotive engineer and fireman (mid-1970s), all locomotives faced south. We had to back up for half of the trip, so I spent as much time running the locomotive with my right hand as I did with my left. Good experience. Now I can say I’m an ambidexterous hogger! :lol:
Best,
David Meashey
P. S. Bob McCowen, let me know if this is that “noise” you were writing about. I’m not trying to cause trouble, just thought it would be fun to share my own experience with the real thing.
On my Heritage railway we do have a turntable: it is sited at an intermediate station on the seven mile line where the main engineering workshops are also sited.
The locos used mostly are 2-8-0T types and 4-6-0 tender locomotives. The 2-8-0T are designed to run in either direction, however, the 4-6-0’s are never tuned during regular passenger service; running tender first in the return (UP in British railway parlance, as opposed to DOWN).
All locos are turned periodically to even wheel wear.
All visiting tender locos are turned prior to their return journeys to which ever part of England they came from. The turntable can accommodate all British tender locos excepting for the ex LMS Pacifics. Extension pieces are fitted when they visit the line enabling them to be turned.
Alan Lott said:I'd be interested in hearing about/seeing those 'extension pieces' to allow a larger locomotive on a turntable. Sounds interesting.
All visiting tender locos are turned prior to their return journeys to which ever part of England they came from. The turntable can accommodate all British tender locos excepting for the ex LMS Pacifics. Extension pieces are fitted when they visit the line enabling them to be turned.
Google answers my own question:
(http://www.columbusrailroads.com/photogallery/v-don-5-PRR-5022-CLMB.jpg)
Learn something new everyday. That is differant
That sure beats having to build a new TT
It did Bob. 
The only difference today is that they paint 'em yeller. 
Alan Lott said:What did, and what got painted yellow?????
It did Bob. :) The only difference today is that they paint 'em yeller. ;)
Thankfully, the turntable at Brooklyn Yard [where 700, '49 and a connie are stored] will be re-sited at the new OMSI facilities so that they can be turned to face the correct direction when running NW.
Can’t wait to see it, us.
tac, ig & The Wishram Runaround Loop Boys
The extension pieces are painted hi-vis yeller for H&S reasons.
tac, ig & The Dart Valley Railway Boys
I stumbled on this, looking for something else. I wonder just how one would model this extension piece, and how long it could be without failing?
(http://www.columbusrailroads.com/photogallery/v-don-5-PRR-5022-CLMB.jpg)
