This is a wonderful video! I rode behind 1218 from Atlanta to Toccoa in the fall of 1990. Also, I chased the 1522 extensively when she came to Atlanta for the 1994 NRHS convention.
Great stuff! I could never get into 1218's "hooter" whistle. I also noticed that 1522 always had a condensation water level line on her tender. It was the same way when she was running on the Wisconsin Central.
The whistle on the locomotive in this program was replaced in 2010 or 2011. Ironically, the whistle now on #844 was taken from Big Boy #4014 before it was donated and moved to California... the same #4014 now under restoration in Cheyenne.
@@DivergingClear So what whistle is on 4014 then? The one it had at the museum? It sounds much cleaner and more musical than the raspy one on 844 in recent years. One of the most impressive Hancocks I've heard actually.
Funnily enough Ex-Frisco 4-8-2 No. 1522 can be restored back to operation. It is just the fact that the Museum here in St. Louis doesn't have anywhere to run her anymore. And yes I live in the St. Louis area.
@@ITrooper089Productions From what I've heard from various sources, that's not entirely true (if these sources are correct). Parts are removed from the engine but they were apparently put in storage elsewhere. The overhaul was never completed so the engine inside is technically in a half repaired state. It's not impossible, but very expensive.
@@thunderbird1921 Indeed, I have heard similar. Her rear set of pistons have been removed, her flues and superheater tubes were never reinstalled, and I believe her grates are sitting in the tender. The inner firebox itself was in process of being replaced when NS terminated the Steam Program, so that work is not complete. Side sheets tack welded in place and no staybolts installed. In any case, though, all of that work would have to be done to bring 1218 back as part of her 1472 inspection, so one could argue that NS did all of the disassembly for whomever jumps in to realize the dream of firing up the Big A.
Remember seeing the 844 East of Kansas City back then in 1990! Second time I met my girlfriend’s (now wife’s) parents. Flew a small Cessna 150 into a grass strip and met them just to watch the 844 heading to St Louis. Wow! That’s been 30 years ago!
It's all about balance. The main driver (the driver set with the main rod and eccentric crank) has the most rotating and reciprocating force acting on it. Boxpok and other forms of disc drivers were easier to balance than spoke drivers. As a result, locomotives modified with disc main drivers were fairly common.
DivergingClearVideo Ah makes sense. Just never seen something like that before, gives 1522 a unique look when compared to other surviving steam locos. Thanks so much for the info.
@@blackbirdgaming8147 it is a Scullin disk driver, I live near the museum and if you look closely u can see Scullin on the disk driver, although the s is missing so it just says cullin, I have pictures of it. The wheel also has a counterweight, which is weird considering the NYC J class 4-6-4s that had the disk drivers didn't have the counterweight, the SLSF had an affinity for Scullin Disk Drivers though.
I live in the Fairfield, Wayne City and Mt. Vernon, Il area, If I had known back then that some steam locomotives still ran in the US I definitely would have made the short trip to go see 1218. I know the exact spots between Fairfield and Mt. Vernon she came through.
Kind of interesting, I don't know if they did it for safety reasons or not, but NS had three diesels on the front of the consist at 9:20 ish, yet 1218 ran it by itself for the rest of the trip
Simple reason. The grade out of the Louisville in Indiana features a stiff grade and tunnel. The diesels were there to get the train through the tunnel so 1218 wouldn't fill the place up with exhaust and gas the crew.
DivergingClearVideo Well I knew why the diesels were there, I was just curious as to why it took three of them when it only took one Class A to pull the train the rest of the way
@@NEAFarmKid4010 Simple way of putting it is that a diesel can start more train then it can pull at speed, but steam can pull more train at speed then it can start. The number of diesels was most likely to ensure that the excursion would get over the road in a timely fashion due in part to that little tidbit of railroad physics. I mean, the 1218, it's auxiliary water tender, tool car, and a 21 car excursion consist ain't something to take lightly.
This is a wonderful video! I rode behind 1218 from Atlanta to Toccoa in the fall of 1990. Also, I chased the 1522 extensively when she came to Atlanta for the 1994 NRHS convention.
1218 high speed action is my favorite part
Pablo Soriano mine too
yea I think I might get a 1218 O scale model one day. I only got the LionMaster 1234 got a nice hooter whistle though.
Why thank you
Great stuff! I could never get into 1218's "hooter" whistle. I also noticed that 1522 always had a condensation water level line on her tender. It was the same way when she was running on the Wisconsin Central.
NRHS = National Railroad Historical Society, for those who don't know.
Still waiting for the day 1218 returns to the rails.
That'll be the day
That ain't happening
Nothing is impossible my friend
If Big Boy could come back, never say never. 4014's triumphant return to life should give every 1218 fan a glimmer of hope.
@@thunderbird1921 So should 2926's, to keep it even more recent.
Dude 1218 is not going to return she already had her run
I like the smooth sounding whistle of the 844 unlike the different sounding one unless if it’s the same but sounds different due to change or age.
The whistle on the locomotive in this program was replaced in 2010 or 2011. Ironically, the whistle now on #844 was taken from Big Boy #4014 before it was donated and moved to California... the same #4014 now under restoration in Cheyenne.
@@DivergingClear So what whistle is on 4014 then? The one it had at the museum? It sounds much cleaner and more musical than the raspy one on 844 in recent years. One of the most impressive Hancocks I've heard actually.
Well this is certainly a surprise. Normally you don't video publishers posting their entire video to RUclips for free.
Beautiful! :)
After all of this only one of these locomotives is still operational (UP 844). Cotten Belt 819 is being restored to operation though.
Funnily enough Ex-Frisco 4-8-2 No. 1522 can be restored back to operation. It is just the fact that the Museum here in St. Louis doesn't have anywhere to run her anymore. And yes I live in the St. Louis area.
@@VirtualRailfanProductions hopefully she will steam again one day everyone
And 1218 is missing parts
@@ITrooper089Productions From what I've heard from various sources, that's not entirely true (if these sources are correct). Parts are removed from the engine but they were apparently put in storage elsewhere. The overhaul was never completed so the engine inside is technically in a half repaired state. It's not impossible, but very expensive.
@@thunderbird1921
Indeed, I have heard similar. Her rear set of pistons have been removed, her flues and superheater tubes were never reinstalled, and I believe her grates are sitting in the tender. The inner firebox itself was in process of being replaced when NS terminated the Steam Program, so that work is not complete. Side sheets tack welded in place and no staybolts installed. In any case, though, all of that work would have to be done to bring 1218 back as part of her 1472 inspection, so one could argue that NS did all of the disassembly for whomever jumps in to realize the dream of firing up the Big A.
theres talk of maybe restoring 819! and to get her running again!
Remember seeing the 844 East of Kansas City back then in 1990! Second time I met my girlfriend’s (now wife’s) parents. Flew a small Cessna 150 into a grass strip and met them just to watch the 844 heading to St Louis. Wow! That’s been 30 years ago!
Sp 4449's 2013 Whistle sound like This ssw 819
Thank you
1218 you are hunky
So That Means The R.o.S. H.I.X. Pulled by 2 or More Diesels Like 3 4 or 5 of Them! Lashed 2 gether!
8:25-8:42
N&W EMD GP35 206 has a Leslie S5T which is almost as melodic as 1218's homemade hooter!
It’s interesting that 1522 seems to have spoked drivers except for boxpok drivers on the axle with the eccentric crank. I wonder why that is.
It's all about balance. The main driver (the driver set with the main rod and eccentric crank) has the most rotating and reciprocating force acting on it. Boxpok and other forms of disc drivers were easier to balance than spoke drivers. As a result, locomotives modified with disc main drivers were fairly common.
DivergingClearVideo Ah makes sense. Just never seen something like that before, gives 1522 a unique look when compared to other surviving steam locos. Thanks so much for the info.
thats a Scullin disk driver
@@cnwproductions It looks like it is, but I have heard plenty otherwise.
@@blackbirdgaming8147 it is a Scullin disk driver, I live near the museum and if you look closely u can see Scullin on the disk driver, although the s is missing so it just says cullin, I have pictures of it. The wheel also has a counterweight, which is weird considering the NYC J class 4-6-4s that had the disk drivers didn't have the counterweight, the SLSF had an affinity for Scullin Disk Drivers though.
I live in the Fairfield, Wayne City and Mt. Vernon, Il area, If I had known back then that some steam locomotives still ran in the US I definitely would have made the short trip to go see 1218. I know the exact spots between Fairfield and Mt. Vernon she came through.
The engineer's don't wave from the trains anymore, not like they did back in 195trackside, keep watching for me CHRIS
Didn’t this event include a triple header between 844, 1218 and 1522?
Is this the full dvd????????
Kind of interesting, I don't know if they did it for safety reasons or not, but NS had three diesels on the front of the consist at 9:20 ish, yet 1218 ran it by itself for the rest of the trip
Simple reason. The grade out of the Louisville in Indiana features a stiff grade and tunnel. The diesels were there to get the train through the tunnel so 1218 wouldn't fill the place up with exhaust and gas the crew.
DivergingClearVideo Well I knew why the diesels were there, I was just curious as to why it took three of them when it only took one Class A to pull the train the rest of the way
@@NEAFarmKid4010 Simple way of putting it is that a diesel can start more train then it can pull at speed, but steam can pull more train at speed then it can start. The number of diesels was most likely to ensure that the excursion would get over the road in a timely fashion due in part to that little tidbit of railroad physics. I mean, the 1218, it's auxiliary water tender, tool car, and a 21 car excursion consist ain't something to take lightly.
@@justahillbilly7777 Yessir, I've learned that over the years lol. I didn't understand as much about diesels back then lol.
Georgous train!
At 1:02:46 she runs like the wind.
0:39
33:00
19:30