Re: UP 844 in Magnolia

[Bill Lohman <844bill@gmail.com>]

P. S.

 

Wherever UP 844 stands on size and power, I can attest to the fact that two years ago I was chasing her on the wide open interstate from Cheyenne east toward North Platte Nebraska.  There was no chance to keep up with her and stay within the legal speed limit which is 80 mph in those parts.  She'll easily run over 100 mph for extended periods pulling a 12 car consist! 

 

Man, that was awesome.  UP 844 doesn't just smoothly roll.  It rocks and rolls like a huge four legged animal.  And the firebox is belching flames at that speed. And there's almost zero smoke because the crew has her trimmed out.  We're talking serious dynamics in play!   No wonder they lube her main rods every 50 miles or so.

 

And Lynn Nystrom, one of the 844 engineers told me she understeers.  On track this means when she goes around a curve the pilot wheels tend to ride up the track and then drop back down producing a jerking motion at high speeds in a curve.  No seat belts.  No air bags. Rock and Roll!

 

Bill

 

 

On Tue, Apr 13, 2010 at 6:09 PM, Bill Lohman <844bill@gmail.com> wrote:

I can't prove it but I think that when limiting the discussion to the 4-8-4 "Northern Class" locomotives -- the Santa Fe 2900 series were the largest.  Certainly they had much larger tenders than the UP versions.

 

As with so many comparisons, as you guys are discussing, it depends on lots of factors.

 

For example, the Northern Pacific Z5 Yellowstone 2-8-8-4 had more tractive effort than the UP Big Boys but was a few feet shorter.  It's firebox was so massive, bigger than the Big Boy's firebox that before the first Z5 was commissioned they had a dinner party for 16 notables in the fire box!. (Great idea for a restraunt in Austin? Have a hot time at Austin's newest restraunt, The Firebox!)

 

But, one thing we know for sure about UP 844 is that it is the one and only major class 1 locomotive in the US to be in continuous service since it was placed on the roster when built.  As many of you know, it's number was briefly changed to 8444 when the 800 class diesels came to the UP.  But, 844 outlasted them and got it's number back!! 

 

Bill

On Tue, Apr 13, 2010 at 5:30 PM, <aadelman@austin.rr.com> wrote:

This webpage has a lot of that:

http://www.steamlocomotive.com/

Go to Builders/Specs->Specifications->The Largest Steam for the specifics.

Allan

---- Edward Weltens <ed.weltens@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> How do you measure largest? (Length, weight, HP, etc?)
>
> I don't know about tonnage, but the UP 4-12-2 had the most non-articulated drive wheels.
>
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Michael Graziano <mgraziano@austin.rr.com>
> To: ttat-members@aoot.com
> Sent: Tue, April 13, 2010 1:40:09 PM
> Subject: RE: UP 844 in Magnolia
>
>
> Were the northerns/niagaras the
> largest of the non-articulated steam engines in the US?
>
> From:ttat-members-owner@aoot.com [mailto:ttat-members-owner@aoot.com] On Behalf
> Of Bill Lohman
> Sent: Tuesday, April 13, 2010 11:14 AM
> To: ttat-members@aoot.com
> Subject: UP 844 in Magnolia
>
> UP
> 844 moving south from Navasota and coming into Magnolia TX.

------
TTAT members reflector.