The R1s, and their twins on the Lehigh & Hudson River, are one of my top 5 favorite northeast steam locomotives. They have a striking and iconic look, were stronger than they seemed, and definitely should have been preserved.
The L&HR engine's should have been saved. All three were recently overhauled to prestine condition. They were put up for sale by the L&HR once they quickly dieselized by 1950. No other railroads wanted them and they were tragically scrapped. It was a damn shame.
I am biased in favor of the four Rutland 4-8-2's built by Alco in 1946. Ironically, these went into service about the same time the B&M was phasing out it's Mountain types. Though some of the ex-B&M Mountain types were still running on the B&O when the B&M was trading in it's F units for Geeps.
I remember going to North Station with my father and his friend to see the Bruins come back from a win, possibly in the 1946 playoffs. There was a tremendous crowd outside the Hotel Manger and around the side to where track 1 came in. I remember the locomotive was the Lily Pons was on the head end, and was blowing its whistle, joining in the festivities. I think this was a win for the Bruins in a semi-final game.
It would be worth noting that during WWII the Leheigh and Hudson River Railroad ordered 3 almost duplicate copies of the R1ds and they were successful in their brief duty for speeding up their freight movement on that bridge line. The 4-8-2 afforded a more affordable design whose tractive effort exceeded that of similar sized 4-8-4 but heavier engines (like UPs FEF class engines).
I had heard that those engines could have been saved. In 1950, when the L&HR suddenly dieselized, the three were put up for sale. They were only 6 years old, and had just had class 3 repairs done on them. Sadly, there were no buyers and they were scrapped.
Great video! I was patiently waiting for this video!😂 The 13 that were sold to the B&O served excellently leading frieghts up and over Sand Patch grade as well as becoming speedsters on time frieghts in Ohio, Indiana, and into Chicago. They ran with the B&O's homemade T-3 class mountains. Excellent steamers, all gone by 1960. 😢
Loved the series. Thank you for removing the watermarks like those used in the earlier videos, personally it makes the productions so much more enjoyable. Amazing series.
This is the one I’ve been waiting for! The R1D class is my favorite type of steam locomotive. I am glad to see so much footage of the mountains exists. Maybe as a follow up to this series the BMRRHS would consider making a full dvd along with more footage of each wheel arrangement? Until this, the only footage I’ve seen of the mountains was a short snippet of an R1D at North Station in B&M in the Four Seasons. I was starting to think any other footage of the mountains was non-existent.
Just about every year B&M railfan, photographer, and author, George Corey posts a picture of a 4100 on the Facebook B&M page. The picture was taken on 7 December 1941, and was a nearly new R1d.
You forgot to mention (most importantly for folks like me from NJ) that the L&HR also purchased three of these and their fate was more somber as all three were recently rebuilt to prestine brand new condition only to be scrapped shortly after.
The Boston & Maine rr R1 class were very handsome and attractive looking "Mountain" 4-8-2 type locomotives and were among some of the heaviest examples of Mountain type locomotives ever built. The R1d class locomotives were unique among this class being equipped with "centipede" tenders ; it's a true shame that none of the R1 class Mountain type engines were preserved for public display viewing as these were among the most popular types of steam power on the B&M steam roster.
At 2:30 you mention that exhaust pipes were cast integral with the saddle as a novel feature. I think you meant to say steam inlet pipes. These locomotives appear to have the inlets cast into the sides of the saddle to avoid having separate pipes routed diagonally downward from near the smokebox centerline into the steam chests. Reduced parts count, fewer leak-prone connections, and possibly lower heat loss to the atmosphere.
Great video! One question: After most of the mountains were sold in 1947, did the remaining locomotives stay in service into the 50s, or did they sit out of service/in storage for awhile before they were scrapped?
There are videos of the R1s opening in fast freight service on the B&O in Ohio where they are pulling long freights on the same routes that double heading B&O 4-8-2s are employed for the same service. They were among the last B&O steam engines to be scrapped departing in 1958..
Great video of an era I never experienced. The only drawback was the music at the beginning, it was awful in my opinion. but the content was very interesting.
The R1s, and their twins on the Lehigh & Hudson River, are one of my top 5 favorite northeast steam locomotives. They have a striking and iconic look, were stronger than they seemed, and definitely should have been preserved.
The L&HR engine's should have been saved. All three were recently overhauled to prestine condition. They were put up for sale by the L&HR once they quickly dieselized by 1950. No other railroads wanted them and they were tragically scrapped. It was a damn shame.
I am biased in favor of the four Rutland 4-8-2's built by Alco in 1946. Ironically, these went into service about the same time the B&M was phasing out it's Mountain types. Though some of the ex-B&M Mountain types were still running on the B&O when the B&M was trading in it's F units for Geeps.
I remember going to North Station with my father and his friend to see the Bruins come back from a win, possibly in the 1946 playoffs. There was a tremendous crowd outside the Hotel Manger and around the side to where track 1 came in. I remember the locomotive was the Lily Pons was on the head end, and was blowing its whistle, joining in the festivities. I think this was a win for the Bruins in a semi-final game.
As someone not from new England, I still enjoy this series immensely. As a life long opera lover the Lily Pons story was a huge bonus
It would be worth noting that during WWII the Leheigh and Hudson River Railroad ordered 3 almost duplicate copies of the R1ds and they were successful in their brief duty for speeding up their freight movement on that bridge line. The 4-8-2 afforded a more affordable design whose tractive effort exceeded that of similar sized 4-8-4 but heavier engines (like UPs FEF class engines).
I had heard that those engines could have been saved. In 1950, when the L&HR suddenly dieselized, the three were put up for sale. They were only 6 years old, and had just had class 3 repairs done on them. Sadly, there were no buyers and they were scrapped.
Great video! I was patiently waiting for this video!😂
The 13 that were sold to the B&O served excellently leading frieghts up and over Sand Patch grade as well as becoming speedsters on time frieghts in Ohio, Indiana, and into Chicago. They ran with the B&O's homemade T-3 class mountains. Excellent steamers, all gone by 1960. 😢
Am I the only one who wishes they saved more of their steam engines
Loved the series. Thank you for removing the watermarks like those used in the earlier videos, personally it makes the productions so much more enjoyable. Amazing series.
4115 was named after a famous railroad engineer who was killed in 1900 while saving many people from a nasty disaster
This is the one I’ve been waiting for! The R1D class is my favorite type of steam locomotive. I am glad to see so much footage of the mountains exists.
Maybe as a follow up to this series the BMRRHS would consider making a full dvd along with more footage of each wheel arrangement?
Until this, the only footage I’ve seen of the mountains was a short snippet of an R1D at North Station in B&M in the Four Seasons. I was starting to think any other footage of the mountains was non-existent.
More great content! Top notch value from the B&MRHS
Great video tonight thanks for sharing.
Those were beautiful locomotives. Such a pity that not a single one was preserved.
As a descendant of Hannah Duston, it’s cool to know that a locomotive was named after her.
Great video. It’s sad that not a single Mountain could have been spared for preservation.
Another ridiculously good video. Nice job guys.
Just about every year B&M railfan, photographer, and author, George Corey posts a picture of a 4100 on the Facebook B&M page. The picture was taken on 7 December 1941, and was a nearly new R1d.
I love these locomotives!
You forgot to mention (most importantly for folks like me from NJ) that the L&HR also purchased three of these and their fate was more somber as all three were recently rebuilt to prestine brand new condition only to be scrapped shortly after.
The Boston & Maine rr R1 class were very handsome and attractive looking "Mountain" 4-8-2 type locomotives and were among some of the heaviest examples of Mountain type locomotives ever built. The R1d class locomotives were unique among this class being equipped with "centipede" tenders ; it's a true shame that none of the R1 class Mountain type engines were preserved for public display viewing as these were among the most popular types of steam power on the B&M steam roster.
I cringe just imagining what would result from a modern railroad hosting a naming competition for its locomotives.
In the 1950s the Frisco named all their Texas Special E8s after race horses.
*place bets on the locos getting named either after memes or variations of the Amogus name*
“It’s the Pine Tree being pulled by Skibidi Toilet!”
But the names those kids chose back then were amazing.
The Pacific series loco names were great too.
Probably at least one to the effect of “Trainy McTrain-face”
At 2:30 you mention that exhaust pipes were cast integral with the saddle as a novel feature. I think you meant to say steam inlet pipes. These locomotives appear to have the inlets cast into the sides of the saddle to avoid having separate pipes routed diagonally downward from near the smokebox centerline into the steam chests. Reduced parts count, fewer leak-prone connections, and possibly lower heat loss to the atmosphere.
Thank you
nice video
Great video! One question: After most of the mountains were sold in 1947, did the remaining locomotives stay in service into the 50s, or did they sit out of service/in storage for awhile before they were scrapped?
There are videos of the R1s opening in fast freight service on the B&O in Ohio where they are pulling long freights on the same routes that double heading B&O 4-8-2s are employed for the same service. They were among the last B&O steam engines to be scrapped departing in 1958..
Another great video that ends way too soon...
Will there be an episode on the P4s?
The next episode, the series finale, will cover the P3, P4, and P5 Pacifics.
Great video of an era I never experienced. The only drawback was the music at the beginning, it was awful in my opinion. but the content was very interesting.
Just heartbreaking that the B&M could have saved just 1 of these. Progress, right?
THE BOSTON & MAINE