First offical run of #3 Porter steam locomotive WMSTR

[nicholassmth1]

Now that is putting power to the ground.

[bcschmerker]

Excellent shot of what I'd consider the ideal post-boiler-maintenance test for this 0-4-0t Porter. The Union Pacific uses three General Motors SD-70's in full dynamic brake to load down the #844 Alco (a 4-8-4), and five to load down #3985 (a 4-6+6-4 single-expansion), during similar testing at the Cheyenne, WY, yard.

[dust478]

damn that little locomotive is load!!!

[stlgevo51]

How much tractive effort does this thing generate? Nice video!

[spencermcgrew]

@stlgevo51 The calculated figure is 16,500 pounds. Since a speed is not specified, it can be assumed that 16,500 pounds is figured from standstill. Maximum effort was exerted on the last few revolutions of the drivers (power strokes) before the locomotive broke traction and spun. (the train was hardly moving at this point) The developed effort of the locomotive was probably very close, but not exceeding the stated figure of 16,500 pounds.

[JohnsZX2]

That looks so cool!!

[raymondleeleggs]

Loud little loco. Looks like a docksider, even though its not. 

[alvintrain]

That little guy is boss!!!

[mbtech2003]

haha the little engine that could

[CGiordano464]

wow gosh a small porter is pulling all this

[DAKOTA56777]

You really can't see the larger locomotive helping.

[86tcc]

im from minnesota and a train fanatic please tell me where this is i want to learn do drive these trains

[Murphy98112]

You JUST missed this years show!

This is from the Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion (every Labor Day Weekend) in Rollag, MN - on MN 32 South of Hawley, MN. (US 10) between Fargo and Detroit Lakes. South on MN 32 - or NE of Barnesville MN (I-94) MN 34 exit East to MN 32, then North. Can't miss it. It's a town with two churches and one implement dealer and about 50 people. Search "WMSTR" or Rollag(dot)com

[trainlover479]

why is it backwards?

[anvil357]

Noisy but great.

[Bisbonian]

Was this the Porter that had been on display over in Fargo? Nice job getting her going...looks great.

[fernandogp40]

lindo de +++!!!

[Kleman09]

cool vid. hey i wanna run the steam locomotive...PLEASE!! lol i realy want to run a steam locomotive.

[spencermcgrew]

He was 16. Laws vary by state but in Minnesota a person can get a "hobby engineer license when they are 18 years old." They must be supervised by another licensed engineer at all times until that point. The hobby category was created for steam traction engine people but it turns out it is valid for steam locomotives. This is because the passengers do not pay for tickets and because the track is a closed circuit. If either of those conditions were true, our engineers would need FRA licensing.

[safetyvlv]

Spencermcgrew:

Awesome little engine. Who'd a thunk a slide valve,stephenson link,saturated saddle tanker would crack like that!

You are very fortunate to be a memeber of such an awesome club.

I live in Welland Ont Can and that engine would sound sweet climbing the Niagara Escarpment by the Welland Canal.

When running in reverse uphill how much water is in the water glass?

[spencermcgrew]

All present during the test were very impressed. I personally was amazed that it had so much power. Because safety trumps everything else we run at 3/4 of a glass. Hydrolock/priming is infinity more desirable than having a low water situation. My younger brother was the fireman on this run. The Porter had earned quite a reputation for being physically and mentally draining for a fireman. A new grate pattern and petticoat pipe helped, but I think my brother's unwillingness to give in was key.

[Kleman09]

how old is ur brother?

[donaldengine9]

If you ever have a Day Out with Thomas event, you could slap a face on the little engine and call it Percy!!! You'd have the first DOWT Percy in the US.

[420glass]

I help turn a similar saddle tanker in to

a Thomas the tank engine at the Strasburg RR

It is a 0-6-0 he's kinda cute for a costume make over he really work too

[ratecoudo]

but how did that little steam work i think it has to have that square tank on the back just to send water to the steam locomotive throught some wose and that one didn't have that square thank on the back how was that designed?

[spencermcgrew]

The smaller engine is a "tank engine" There is a large horseshoe shaped container that straddles the boiler. The tank serves the same purpose as the tender that is pulled by the other locomotive. Advantages of a tank engine include smaller size and higher adhesive weight. Disadvantages include smaller water capacity and water heating.

[ratecoudo]

thank you spencermcgrew for helping me out with now i got it anyway can you drive steam locomotives?

[OSCALETRAINGUY]

Fantastic video...A+ A+

love Steve

[dutchtrainmanserie22]

Awesome David and Goliath steam locomotive consist.

[Ctowngoalie]

i just got back from wmstr it was awsom

[anvil357]

Noisy and yet all the power. not bad at all for a small engine.

[KenMacMillan]

There's a company in England that wants to build modern steam locomotives. Google "21st Century Steam - The 5AT Project"

[Inuyasha4lif]

Going upgrad with minimum cut-off=High speed for level grades lol

[tweetsie12190]

i saw 2 weel slips those are cool

[nax1345]

how much track is on the land?

[spencermcgrew]

I think it is about 2 miles

[nax1345]

is it like a historical society or like the Rough and tumble?

[spencermcgrew]

Yes it is a non profit organization dedicated to the preservation of agricultural and industrial equipment. We have large stationary steam engines, stationary gas engines, steam traction engines, and gasoline tractors. There is something for everyone at our show!

[nax1345]

thanks realy neat

[AttiK]

What a fantastic sight those two make! I'd love to see them in person some day.

[spencermcgrew]

We hope you can make the "pilgrimage" one day soon!

[steamlocodriver]

In Australia it is called shunter not switcher. I think it makes more sence cause it is called shunting, and loco shunt. Switcher sounds like the locos are albe to change switch's lol.

But never the less a fantastic video clip.

[spencermcgrew]

Yeah in America they are switch engines for switching in railroad yards. I suppose they call them switchers they do often change switches to move cars around. Interesting point though- it really doesn't make sense to call them "switchers"

[JimPrower]

Primarily Because the word "Shunt" isn't a part of American Vocabulary, and "Bumper" or "Pusher" doesn't make much sense.

[ptcfan]

Very nice. ABout how much water can the porter hold? I love #353's whistle!

[recordcrazy23]

was that a ford model "T" you passed?

[philbert124]

Thanks for the video - very nice to see a Porter in action. Good job of showing the rod action, and really neat that you caught the wheel slip!

[TrainmasterCurt]

Is 353 an ex Southern Railway 0-6-0 "Painted Lady"?

[spencermcgrew]

no, she is a former Soo Line switcher. If you check out my other movies, all the cool stats are posted there. Any more questions feel free to ask

[strokedmustang66]

That was pretty cool. I run a 1889 0-4-0 porter, and that porter has to work its butt off compared to mine.

[longhairwayne]

Again,the steamer is a switcher engine.The tank over the boiler holds water.The bunker on the back holds coal.These engines were extreamly sucessful because there was no coal car to lug around,were compact,and quite powerful for their size.And the quiz question would be#2.

[Sher481]

Cool!! What would happen if he little hing ran out of steam? 1.Exploed 2.Jus drift in till it stoped. 3.Pull out his cell phone and call his big bro. 4.Nothing realey.

[spencermcgrew]

well that young man in yellow would be on top of that. He is my younger brother and he is a pretty good fireman. At the beginning of this clip the steam pressure was 190 psi, at the end it was down to about 150 if i remember correctly. The coal used is small and the draft produced by the exhaust literally lifted up the coal off the grates and sucked it out the stack! any more questions just ask

[Sher481]

They used coal on that thing?Dont thay fill it up with steam from that larger loco or a generator and that they did not run on there own steam.

[spencermcgrew]

Its live steam made in the boiler of the tank locomotive (porter). the locomotive behind it (the 353) was just there for "help" like when the wheels slipped it gave it a nudge.

[Sher481]

Wow it creates its own steam how fast would you run out of coal.

[spencermcgrew]

it will go around the track 5 laps or so before they start thinking about putting coal in the on board bunker

[dmbodeen]

Where was this ole girl running? Great job pacing the steamer.

[invalidinvalid]

Rollag, MN, Western Minnesota Steam Thresher's Reunion. Great to see the little Porter running, amazing to see it pulling the entire train up the big grade!

[ShingleCreek]

Great video!