Large Scale Central

The Geared Locomotive

General Discussion
#1

A pretty good but general video of the history and development of the geared locomotive, concentrating on the Shay.
Good clear and pretty concise information. The things that bothered me were; Showing pictures of Climax and Heisler locomotives while talking about Shay’s and the reverse negatives showing Shay’s with left hand drive trains, granted there were a few built that way but not the ones shown.

But over all pretty good and not loaded with AI crap.
Take a look.

Oh, and that lead photo is total AI crap.

#2

Geeze, I guess so. Gears that pass through the plane of the wheel and driven by air pump looking devices! Those of us that are familiar spot this junk right away, but someone with no knowledge of how they looked would just accept it. Just another step in the dumbing down of the population.

#3

More AI RUBBISH!

Shays were not the “default” locomotive on logging lines even though they made up the largest percentage of geared locomotives sold.

Climax, Heisler, Dunkirk, AG Price and others were also in the mix… (AG Price arguably building the last “Heisler” in the world - which still exists at McLean’s Island in New Zealand - https://www.steamscene.co.nz/)

And the AI generated image with impossible gears driven by an air pump(?) just adds to the farce…

And as for dangers from the exposed gears - doesn’t seem to have been a real issue any more than overall hazards in the industry if you actually research the subject!

Read a few properly researched books or talk to the crew at Roaring Camp, Yosemite Mountain, Cass and others who run Shays.

As Jon said - just another step in dumbing down knowledge.

Those who create this stuff are only doing it as click bait to get us to help generate revenue for them…

#4

Rick;

Thanks for posting the video. AI controversy aside, I am sorry the Dunkirk didn’t even get a mention. With those opposed piston cylinders under the cab, I’m sure the locomotive shook its crew’s wisdom teeth loose. The HLW Big John is loosely based on the Dunkirk, and I consider it my best pulling electric powered model.

BigJohn
BigJohn800×600 302 KB

Regards, David Meashey

#5

Hi David,

Depending on the angle of the crank opposing cylinders will not shake a locomotive to bits - the Dunkirk had it’s crank set at 45 and the primary difference between it and Heisler’s version was moving the cylinders out of the cab. (Heisler left Dunkirk and went to Stearns Manufacturing Company with his designs)

By all contemporary accounts this arrangement (ie: V twin on the Heisler) was smoother than the arrangement on the Climax…

Major design problem with the Dunkirk was having the engine in the cab! Probably akin to the A Class Climax for heat and noise…

Bit like South Australia’s narrow gauge Steam Motor Coach #1 (aka the Coffee Pot which runs at the Pichi Richi Railway) and #2 both of which had the Westinghouse pump in the cab in front of the driver when delivered.

They didn’t last long there and soon got moved to outside of the cab!