MTFCA Forum

Thought you might enjoy.

What a beautiful work of art. I would love to see one like that close up.

What a beast! Thanks for showing us you lucky dog.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLkkFDBiGpU

Here is the short video I made, too.

1.2 million lbs of railroad history. Do you know they are fueling that beast with used motor oil?

Eric, does that mean the stoker has to use a bucket rather than a shovel?

Allan from down under.

That's a big one, 4-10-4, if I'm not mistaken.
Very nice !!

Allan, LOL, that would be a little messy and it would have to be a big bucket. If it’s anything like 844, the fireman has a couple valves to feed it fuel. It uses steam pressure to atomize the oil and inject it into the firebox.
I dont think one stoker could have shoveled enough coal to power a big boy. Originally there was a corkscrew auger device controlled by the fireman that fed it coal.

4-8-8-4. 600 tons watered and fueled.

It's truly a magnificent piece of machinery. We saw it on it's first trip to Salt Lake City for the 150th anniversary of the golden spike.

Here in (Owosso), MI, we have the Pere Marquette 1225 and is a 2-8-4 Berkshire steam locomotive which was once part of the railroad's Class N. Its well known today for its role/inspiration in the movie Polar Express (12 25 get it? Dec 25th/Christmas). I always used to tell a story about climbing on a steam engine that was located on the MI State Fairgrounds in Detroit, located by the grand stands back in the early 70's. Just out in the open w/no limitations. Wherever you could squeeze into was allowed. Then one time I went back, it was gone. For years everyone I told this story to, thought I was nuts and never believed me that there was a locomotive at the Fairgrounds. Me and the family took a ride on the 1225 a couple of years ago in a 40's? era passenger car (caboose was more money) and what an experience! Majestic. While riding the 1225, I told one of the staff about the great mystery train I played on year after year when I was a kid and boy was I surprised and happy to hear when he told me that was the sister locomotive to the 1225. It's designation was the Pere Marquette 1223. After retirement, 1223 was moved to New Buffalo, Michigan to be scrapped. However she was repainted and moved in 1960 for display at the state fairgrounds in Detroit. The money for that was provided by the donations collected by school children around the Detroit Area. In 1980, Michigan state fair officials wanted to expand the grandstands but 1223 stood in the way. The city of Grand Haven won the bidding process. With the help of the Michigan National Guard as well as Grand Trunk Western and Chessie System railroads, 1223 was moved to Grand Haven. The 180 mile trip took place on September 1, 1981 and is on permanent display there. And nope, can't climb on it like I did as a kid. Never would have guessed as a kid, while playing on that locomotive, that I would one day be riding in it's sister loco. How cool. (My wife still thinks I am nuts)

Beautiful machine! The thing that I am always in awe of it the way these huge machines were designed! Thinking of the design teams that labored long and hard at the drafting table to draw the plans for every single part, no matter how big or small, that all had to fit together and work together for it to function! Then the master craftsmen who cast, and machined each part! Just so impressive! And no computers, cad cam, or anything, just paper and pencils!

I've been watching 4014 on youtube videos lately. Absolutely mesmerizing watching it go down the track at (I'm guessing) 60-70 MPH. Some of the videos have 844 running in tandem with it. Now that's a show!!!! Dave