Large Scale Central

NP #765 over the Rockville Bridge (NS Heritage Days)

Prototypes
#1

Got a heads up yesterday from Ralph Berg that this unit was doing runs from Enola to Harrisburg. I knew it was in town this week but didn’t bother trying to see it as Enola is rather difficult to railfan without a good camera and zoom which I have neither (but I should). So Dave “Hollywood” Marconi ,my son and myself went too see it. I have a friend that lives at the base of the bridge so we headed there and a good thing for that as there was NO WHERE else to get a good glimpse due to the spectators and security. Pictures do this no justice as the sound of that thing huffing and chuffing along with the echo of the whistle was simply incredible. Made me dream a little on how that bridge would have really looked and sounded back in the heyday of steam with it’s 4 track main…just incredible. (sorry some are blurry but I really need to consider a better camera)

#2

nice shots, son…

#3

David;

Thank you for sharing those photos. The Nickle Plate Heritage unit added some nice frosting to that “cake.” The Rockville bridge is still incredible, although a bit more “leafy” than I remember it as a child (over 50 years ago).

Best,
David Meashey

#4

Nice! Is that the bridge over the Susquehanna just north of Enola ? I did some rail-fanning there once from some kind of a club on the West side, South of the bridge. They were working on the building and said it was OK for me to hang out and take pictures. I waited over and hour and not one train :frowning: This was a great catch!

Edit to add that Google Maps says my place was the Bridgeview Bed & Breakfast.

#5

Sweet Rooster :slight_smile:
You had an excellent view. It sure is nice to have friends in the right places !
I saw a photo of Casey Thompson(NS photographer) standing waist high in the water. I don’t think he had any better vantage point than you did :wink:

The Bridgeview B&B is a pretty famous railfan spot. I bet it was packed.

The first three pictures are pretty darn good. 5 & 6 too.
With my cheap camera, I never use the zoom anymore. I crop the picture.
Ralph

#6

Ya done good, Rooster! Great shots, had to be impressive.

#7

Great pictures but what is that Black and Orange thing behind the engine, oh that is the test wieght! Neat bridge, they don’t build them that way out west!

Paul

#8
E. Paul Austin said:
Great pictures but what is that Black and Orange thing behind the engine

Paul


That’s the battery car

#9
Bob McCown said:
That's the battery car
Zing!

:smiley:

#10
Bob McCown said:
E. Paul Austin said:
Great pictures but what is that Black and Orange thing behind the engine

Paul


That’s the battery car

Must be some awfully big batteries to power that huge sound system and smoke generator. And where do they get the black smoke fluid ???

#11

I have often wonder if it would be possible to have a steam locomotive that uses alternators attached to the tender axles generate power to heat water and charge batteries to run on while idling. However, there is no smell I like more than coal smoke; now that is a perfume I would buy for the wife.

#12
Jon Radder said:
Bob McCown said:
E. Paul Austin said:
Great pictures but what is that Black and Orange thing behind the engine

Paul


That’s the battery car

Must be some awfully big batteries to power that huge sound system and smoke generator. And where do they get the black smoke fluid ???

Diesel Fuel? Or was it Kerosene? Here kitty, kitty, kitty…

#13

Kerosene…

#14

Hey Rooster,

Shouldn’t that be “NPR” for Nickel Plate Road? When I saw the “NP” I got all excited thinking you had some pictures of an old Northern Pacific steam engine. Those are still some great pictures.

Chuck

#15
Chuck Inlow said:
Hey Rooster,

Shouldn’t that be “NPR” for Nickel Plate Road? When I saw the “NP” I got all excited thinking you had some pictures of an old Northern Pacific steam engine. Those are still some great pictures.

Chuck


Chuck,
We use all the tricks we can to get you left coasties to read our posts :wink:
Ralph

#16
Ralph Berg said:
Chuck Inlow said:
Hey Rooster,

Shouldn’t that be “NPR” for Nickel Plate Road? When I saw the “NP” I got all excited thinking you had some pictures of an old Northern Pacific steam engine. Those are still some great pictures.

Chuck


Chuck,
We use all the tricks we can to get you left coasties to read our posts :wink:
Ralph

Actually it should be “NKP” as that was the reporting marks for the New York, Chicago, & St Louis RR

#17
Bart Salmons said:
Ralph Berg said:
Chuck Inlow said:
Hey Rooster,

Shouldn’t that be “NPR” for Nickel Plate Road? When I saw the “NP” I got all excited thinking you had some pictures of an old Northern Pacific steam engine. Those are still some great pictures.

Chuck


Chuck,
We use all the tricks we can to get you left coasties to read our posts :wink:
Ralph

Actually it should be “NKP” as that was the reporting marks for the New York, Chicago, & St Louis RR

Now, how did they get “NKP” out of “New York, Chicago, & St Louis RR?” No wonder its a Fallen Flag! Where’s the K and the P?

Running for cover! :stuck_out_tongue:

#18

Since I haven’t seen the answer to what the “battery car” is - that is the auxiliary tender so they can haul enough water to get from one water hole to the next. Most of the old watering holes are gone now. Ratio on those engines was about 3 loads of water to one of coal (or oil).

#19

Steve W. the battery car they refer to is the Heritage unit in NKP livery behind the aux.tender

#20

Anyway,
The NP mistake started with me. I wasn’t thinking about reporting marks when I sent Rooster the heads up.
As slow as I type, I just didn’t want to type out Nickle Plate :wink:

As for the dismal, I think it only supplies power when needed. Every video I’ve seen, you can hear the engine at idle as it passes.
If they set up the controls as they did on the Southern 630, they control the diesel from the steam locomotive.
ralph