Belgium's completely overkill engine - Quadraplex
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- Опубликовано: 2 авг 2024
- In today's video, we take a look at the time Belgium built the worlds biggest steam locomotive.
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Building an engine so big, what were they thinking? It's metallic madness I tell you!
the difference between the Erie Triplex and this quadruplex is that, unlike dumb american engineers who just thing "AdD MoRe DrIvErS" and thats it, the belgians actually thought to make the boilers powerful enough to turn all those wheels.
😂😂🔥🔥 too cool
Hence your choice of background music being Metallic Madness from the Japanese and European releases of Sonic CD
It Stun's me that the Big Boy Locomotives are still Bigger despite them only being a Duplex and the Fact there Where Gonna go even Bigger with a HexaPlex Down the Line.
Why would we Belgium people not built such a locomotive? I mean if we had exported it to America I think it would have been a pretty epic design there.
but also we just built it because we could!
Your engineers were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, that they didn't stop to think if they should.
That pretty much describes engineers, yes.
@@andrewchapman2039engineers plus time on their hands plus money to burn equals things like this…
thats how you know they had fun doing it, never once did they think what it would do, just how it would do it
Not me with my pay lol
Railways.. uhhh.. find a way…
It was designed by italians engineers that needed some power for alps freight trains, but only the belgian approved the prototype for being built
Italians engineers going off the deep end is not surprising, Belgian railways enabling their madness is much more unexpected.
so in a way similar to SBB Ae 8/14
for the underlying thought
The Franco crosti boiler gave it away for me. That design was most used on Italian steam locomotives during that era so it would make sense that this locomotive has Italian origins
Also explains the fixation on the number of driving wheels. What alpine inclines do to a mf.
Last time I was in Belgium I never saw any Alps.
Normal locos: limited by traction or tractive effort
This Chad: *limited by coupler strength*
Weak European couplers "0With sixty-seven inch drivers and over 110,000 pounds of tractive effort an Allegheny could move 5,000 tons at an incredible 45 mph although they were commonly asked to haul twice this tonnage (around 10,000 lugging freights at about 15 mph)"
That's fairly common. A Stretch of the Northern Gotthard Ramp in Switzerland is known as "Coupler Graveyard" because it is so steep while Trains also must accelerate there. Swiss Electric Locomotives could easily break Couplers since the 1930ies.
The Erie P-1. Uberchad triplex locomotive, the largest tank engine ever built, its fatal flaw being its chadliness. If only they'd made it articulated :(
Belgians minds when designing a train: MOAR WHEELS MEANS MORE POWER
no thats an american designing a train, belgians actually take what would be needed to POWER said many wheels into account. unlike the triplex, which could barely reach 5 mph and did not have the coal or water or boiler pressure capacity to do so.
Belgium had a lot of engine manifacturers back in the day, some engines even ending up in brazil, africa and asia. we had engineers like Egide walschaerts, we had enough engineers.
@@yeoldeseawitch What about steam turbine locomotives from the U.S.? They seemed to usually think that they needed alot of power to drive the wheels but didn't work, so then Belgians designing a train thinking that more wheels would mean more power (tractive effort) to move the locomotive in both directions would most likely be the case.
Imagine seeing this giant loco in action. That would be a sight to see
enginering crazy/fun factor is of the scale with this one.
Time for an international crowdfund and rebuild program for a modern improved replica.
Engineer: "We need money to build this quadruplex steam engine"
Official: _stops writing at desk_ "What-why the Hell would you want to build something like that?"
Engineer: "Shits and giggles"
Official:
Engineer:
Official:
Engineer:
Official: "Ok"
It was proposed by italians for goods trains on the swiss alps but only the belgians allowed them
this is what you get when you have a drunk engineer who is somehow the smartest in this feild, and let him go wild.
"We're going to build a steam locomotive, Morty..."
Thank you for not saying what part of Belgium this champion came from.
?
it's coming from Nivelles, Wallonia.
Sorry.
It was built by Les Atelier Métallurgiques de Tubize, located in Tubize
@@memesteel4399 it's a joke about the politics between the two halves of Belgium
@@bjarnitreinspotting8128 This thing was almost larger than Tubize. I guess the Forges de Clabecq being nearby for the necessary steel was a bonus.
“Hey we should make an engine with 2 fire..”
“HELL YEAH”
“…and more than 20 dri…”
“HELL YEAH”
“..but it’ll be too big for…”
“HELL YEAHHHHHHHH”
Didn't know that we built one of the biggest steam engines in the world!It's always cool to learn new things about my country's railway history 😄
Until Big Boy rolled around
@@ZackarySchejbalCODBO2RGM2 I’d give almost anything to see the two engines together.
Reminds me of the PRR's Big Liz electric prototype, a locomotive so strong that it would rip couplings.
Yep. Then they tried it in pusher service, where it proved even more desctructive when light cars would pop out of the tracks in the train.
Such a shame it isn't around today anymore as someone in Europe catching a glimpse at the Big Boy is a bit difficult in person so seeing this would have been amazing. Unlike the Triplex, this thing worked amazingly. Such advanced technology for the day, connecting all the segments together and making it so powerful it broke the coupling, but that just proves that it was good. I didn't know it was rebuilt into two smaller locomotives, but sadly even those didn't made it into preservation
I bet so much European industrial history was bombed in wars and scrapped in rebuilds. It's a real shame.
Great video on "Le Mastodont"! There is an article in EisenbahnJournal 2004 describing the loco which might help: The article explanied that it was built by Georg D.Wulf in Belgium with the Italian designers Attillo Franco and Piero Crosti to test their new preheating design using the "waste" from cylinders and funnel. That's why they placed a second boiler infront of the main boiler. It was tested successful, but the Italians changed the design to have the second boiler placed under the loco and the funnels at the cab, like German railways BR 50.40 or the FS 741, therefore eliminating the need for a lenghty articulated loco. It reduced the need for coal as the water was preheated, but the U-turn of the exhaust led to acid forming in the boiler tubes and costly replacements. It never caught on outside of Europe.
I was at a rail museum in PA and it finally struck me, these things are absolutely massive and were amazing creations as creative as any art. One had a top speed of 120MPH. Seeing how much mass and how many linkages, my mind can't register that. Just amazing.
And this is why the steam locomotives are even worshipped. No other human creation provides so much visual pleasure when it comes to movement if its parts and creating impression of speed at work. There were instances when a steam locomotive would slowly creap by its self from the yard (do mostly to leaking valves and reverse mechanism not set correctly), sort of like a horse doing its thing. One of the reasons for reffering to steam locomotives as "iron horses".
Belgium was actually quite good at building large and powerful designs, some were the largest engines of their type in Europe, like the type 12 4-4-2 Atlantic, type 5 2-8-2 Mikado and type 1 4-6-2 Pacific locomotives. The type 5 were flawed locomotives and only 5 were built, but still had 20 service years.
The type 1 at 212 tonnes/467,400lbs total weight , 44,000lbs of tractive effort and developing up to 3200hp was not much short in numbers from the PRR K4, one of the more famous classes of 4-6-2 in the US.
And the type 10, the first modern pacific in Europe.
And ugly ones like that one with recessed smokebox far behind the front of the engine.
@@maciekkra539hey hey hey, it ain’t ugly!😂
You’re forgetting the type 10!
@@gregoryvanderdonckt6028 Let's just say the designers of type 10 did not get the aestetics and proportions where they ought to be:D
3:19 *your local Hungarian actually getting heart attacks from looking at this here*
I'm Belgian and I always wanted to know more about this thing, marklin better make a model of this thing at some point ngl
There is a problem that most model railways are quite small because they need to fit into a house. At HO scale the locomotive would be 425mm (17") long. Not much room to add enough trucks to avoid the train looking silly.
I love how much emphasis you put on “ACTUALLY WORKED” near the end!
"Science isn't about why, its about why not"
Thats happens when the answer to your question is "Yes"
Bunch of people all caught the "Screw it, why not?" bug at the same time. A kind of madness if you will.
"HEY SMITH IM BORED WANNA BUILD A F*CKING UNIT"
"Why not John were on coffee break."
-How I imagine the conversation went.
As a Belgian train enthousiast it didn't know we build such a behemoth of an engine.
Very interesting, but, "of all places, Belgium"?! Don't forget Belgium gave us the Belpaire firebox, Walschaerts valve gear, many splendid beers and Eddy Merckx, to name but a few.
The next derail valley mod indeed thanks
This is like the second video on RUclips I’ve seen of this beast.
As a belgian I'm shook
You're not alone mate
That is a truely strange locomotive.
I’m sorry, but WHAT?! What on earth is that monstrosity?! Fascinating.
They must of been high when designing it. They locked themselves in the drawing office with a big bag of coke and said "we're not getting out of this room until its all gone!"
This was the result!
Or maybe the western wind carried some interesting aroma from Amsterdam:)
Someone PLEASE MAKE A MODEL OF THIS
Belgium had strong railway engineering and construction history, until the two wars came along. Cockerill went over from England and opened a factory.
I so wish this one was preserved
Or at least one half.
it would probably be preserved if it stayed in Belgium. but it went to Poland, where most historical engines are scrapped even to this day. if you want any examples for that, google these engines: Ol49-111, Ol49-99, Ty2-1086, Ol49-23, and some diesel and electric ones: SU46-053, SU46-024, ET22-001, SU46-047, ST43-02, ED73-001
me too 😮💨
@@staszekzagrobelny46031 There are a lot of polish locomotives just on sidings, rotting away. Also they still ran steam in the 2020's
@@nielsleenknegt5839 I live in Poland and I know what I say. There is only one steam engine left in regular service and this one is Pt47-65.
Please do the less known LNER locomotives
there's many I have not even heard off
This is quite interesting. Some commenters point out that the design was intended for alpine use, which makes sense.
This happens when you deliver a truckload of Duvel to Belgian Engineers and let them go mad.
it was probably amazing to have seen this engine in action
It’s like they took a Duplex, and mixed it with a Fairlie at either end, with a Flexi-boiler for good measure
It reminds me of the triplex, but if it actually worked
Absolutely bonkers engine!
The fact that the Belgian Quadruplex actually worked compared to the shorter Erie and Virginian Triplexes and PRR Duplexes makes me believe that weird train designs only work when built in Belgium.
I betcha the designers saw the Triplex & decided to fix the flaws
Wild! I have never heard of this thing.
I know of museum railways though that already consider a Meyer locomotive to be too complex with its four cylinders.
Belgium: builds biggest engine at a time
Rest of the world: Why?
Belgium: Yes
Might it have been to pull larger loads like railway guns? Those were popular concepts at the time, and might have been on the minds of industrial planners given belgiums experience in wwi
One point hardly mentioned; look at the diagrams in 1:20 of the firing positions. To one side of the opposite boiler, with air and light from only one side (no through cab) and out of touch with the driver. They must have got unbearably hot, like Bulleid's Leader 0-6-6-0. Quite surprised that they found firemen who would work them and that the unions didn't object. I suppose you save one driver (but no firemen) compared to two separate locos.
Wow! I've seen a lot of unusual locomotive designs but this is the first I've ever heard of this one, that I can recall. It's cool to know that unlike most unusual locos, this one actually worked and worked well. But I'm sure maintaining it would have been costly.
Belgium government: So.. you made this engine because you could?
the inventor: *Y E S*
Nice video! Yes, Douglas Self has some interesting locomotives and pictures on his website.
An absolute behemoth of an engine
Good video, like !
This loco shouldn't exist, and yet it does.............
And I love how batshit crazy it is
Why not is as good of a reason as any. The history of it really intrigues me especially the parts of when it fell under Nazi and Soviet forces. Can you imagine in an alternate timeline that this engine, and potentially more like it, would be used by the axis forces into the Cold War. Very unlikely, yes, but its fun to think about.
Thanks cobber, cheers mate.
I think it should be “Belgium’s” not just “Belgium” in the title.
I was looking for that loco for sooooo long
I am from belgium and the only knowledge I have of Belgium steam are those wierd streamlined 4-4-2 (i think) and older German designs. "Prussian" I think they were called. How did we even made this? What?
It’s beautiful.
In America at least there were a number of locomotives prior to the Big Boy that were longer than the 2096. The C&O T1, PRR J1, and N&W Class A come to mind right off, and probably also the Union Pacific Challengers as well.
Such a cool locomotive
Cool Steam Engines And Really Big Too I'm Impressed 😮
Its pretty much a mix between a Garrett, a double Fairly and a Mallet.
The fact the Belgian twelve is already too big for modern rails gives that engine no chance on our current tracks.
On American Standards, Yep It would fit perfectly.
Given that it was Belgium, it was probably done to be a work of art.
Absolutely digging the use of Metallic Madness Zone (Past) from Sonic CD (JP/EU)
They were thinking like Jeremy Clarkson. "POWAAAAAAH!"
Some people commented "First"
Dude, you literally watch like few seconds of the video.
What are you doing?
we dutch often say the belgians are crazy, but we didn't think they were even capable of such a thing...
Austin Powers said you're both crazy.
@@MilwaukeeF40C you know what he's right. We all need to be a little bit crazy otherwise we would become crazy from each other
This beast could have been an absolute banker given its immense power and as it didn’t need to turn around.
First, find a hill in Belgium.
I don’t know if Belgium would be the right place. Even at low speed, I fear that type of strength might cause wagons to either get crushed or “pop” off the rail from compression
@@johnstonewall917the Ans hill near Liege, 3% incline. Initially used cables to pull trains up the incline and later banker locos were used.
I stand corrected. @@bjarnitreinspotting8128
🔥🔥🔥 the sonic cd ost goes hard af
It's just really cool
a online friend told me about this- and now there is a video- WOAH
Pure genius!
Amazing machine, even more amazing that it did work well ( even as speed was low ) This is the first time that i hear of this engine.... notwithstanding that I'am a native Belgian..
Hi my name is Jacob i love your videos
Actually it looks like a good hump switcher. Some of the largest U.S. steamers were put in that service as diesels replaced them on the mainline.
Can you please talk about the Val Gardena Railway in Italy please?
Love your videos
Its just a Big Boi of its own.
Oliver Bulleid on steroids. If it required two drivers and two firemen with two boilers it would be more practical to use two standard engines as a double header. The option of double heading when required and using each engine on different duties when needed seems a better option.
I wonder what André Chapelon would have thought about this creation?
Having a one-off loco, such as the British LNER Garret, and other similar types of engines, creates the problem of spare parts for maintenance and overhaul. How were the boiler tubes cleaned every couple of weeks, or so, if the length of the cleaning rods were unable to gain access to the front tube plate?
It's a pity it wasn't preserved for posterity.
Belgium: fuck it, L O N G B O I
Why do i feel like saying:
"Rebuild it and run it on the main line!"
_Hits blunt_
_Necks a shot of Everclear_
"A'ight, hear me out."
Fab!
I want to make one of these nowadays
I would love to see this in 00 gauge 😂
Being a Belgian myself, I consider this a prime example of the quality of Belgian politics: a total waste of recourses and nobody knows why and whodunit 😛
whodunit? You mean why not?
It's a human thing;) One famous climber was asked why he wants to climb Mount Everest, his response: "Because it's there!" :)
That's a beautiful engine. Bet it would work else where better like on a mountain railway in America or the open tracks with lojg runs.
The US had bigger and more powerful locomotives than just the Big Boy. N&W Y class, C&O H6 classes for example. Not to mention MUCH faster.
@@ffjsb I see
@@ffjsb Would've made a good helper or even a hefty branchline unit. All that power is one thing, but with also being a quadraplex? Hammer Blow from this thing might've been negligeble compared to most of the Mallets over here
I think Lionel or any other model train brands should make something like that for Ho scale or any other bigger scale.
For your next video can you do a video on Trojan ( the gwr 0-4-0) that only has like two siblings and only one of them survived? And also while for the joke maybe considered him being related to Percy? And ask for the thumbnail you can slap on a Percy face on Trojan :) Could be interesting to know. But this is just an idea from me.
Would you possibly do a vidso about the giant sncf 242 a1?
That isn‘t an Engine.
THAT IS A BATTLESHKP THAT RUNS ON RAILS.
That's a lot of freaking Wheels!!! 👍🏻🇺🇸
OMG i never see this engin in SNCB, the graetes, Big And stong 💪🚂
Belgium, man, Belgium!
UIC Wheel Arrangement for the win! Whyte-Notations was already outdate at least since the first non-steam engines emerged.
Alternative title: The Worlds Biggest Steam Locomotive You Never Heard Of.
You've not mentioned the thing, but yep, there are complicated articulated joints for fumes, and water, and steam between the main body and the two water-tender-heaters.
This thing is complete madness.
this is so big that I bet it can crush flying buffer beam or even united state 4-4-0 tender engine
I think it was built to haul really heavy trains on the Vennbahn Raeren St Vith .
I genuinely thought this was an AI generated design.
I'm convinced the golden age of railway innovation is over. This is amazing.... useless, but amazing lol