150 CASE Road Locomotive pulling 44 bottom John Deere plow - new record!
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That’s awesome!
My father was a railroad locomotive engineer during the steam/diesel transition. When you could catch him in the mood to talk, it was fascinating to hear about the old railroad days. A few key things-
When the diesel transition began, all the engineers were pissed. The diesel engines wouldn't pull anywhere close to what the steam ones would, and they hated the diesels.
He was on the Silver Meteor for several years, first as a fireman, later an engineer. His run was Raleigh to Columbia, on schedule it was 4 hrs 12 min. In that period, the fireman would shovel between 12-14 tons of coal.
To stay on schedule, they had to average about 68 mph. That included a stop in Southern Pines for water. This meant running in the mid 80's most of the way. Back then, if an engineer was late a couple of times with no reason, he wouldn't be on a passenger train long, he would be pulling a load of pulpwood out of McBee. the schedule was serious business. He said most of the engines would run over 100, the good ones about 105-107. To pull out of Raleigh a few minutes late, run over 100 to Southern Pines, fill up, and then 100+ to Columbia was routine business. He called it "putting her past the dollar mark".
The point of all this is that steam power was very impressive. Diesel offered less of everything.....except cost.
When the diesel transition began, all the engineers were pissed. The diesel engines wouldn't pull anywhere close to what the steam ones would, and they hated the diesels.
He was on the Silver Meteor for several years, first as a fireman, later an engineer. His run was Raleigh to Columbia, on schedule it was 4 hrs 12 min. In that period, the fireman would shovel between 12-14 tons of coal.
To stay on schedule, they had to average about 68 mph. That included a stop in Southern Pines for water. This meant running in the mid 80's most of the way. Back then, if an engineer was late a couple of times with no reason, he wouldn't be on a passenger train long, he would be pulling a load of pulpwood out of McBee. the schedule was serious business. He said most of the engines would run over 100, the good ones about 105-107. To pull out of Raleigh a few minutes late, run over 100 to Southern Pines, fill up, and then 100+ to Columbia was routine business. He called it "putting her past the dollar mark".
The point of all this is that steam power was very impressive. Diesel offered less of everything.....except cost.
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Heck of a machine.
Thanks for uploading.
Thanks for uploading.
All that pollution, where’s Joe Biden?
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Asleep!