Chineese steam in Iowa I cant get over that but Damn its cool to see I saw steam in China in 2009 I only wish I could have seen the QJs running over there all I saw was SYs(2-8-2)
It's nice to finally see more on this pair of locos. I followed the news when they arrived in Texas, up until they were videoed hauling a freight right before going into storage. It's good to see them working again.
Poor Firing - This train was being run as a Photographers Special so they were making smoke to make better photos.
Why only 50 seconds - At the time my internet connection was not that fast and 50 seconds seemed long enough.
Why not turn the camera - I was in a photo line with about 40 other people who would have been in the way for the going away shot. Those usually don't work with Photo Specials.
They were pulling revenue train. Almost 5,000 ft long. As they got closer to Council Bluffs they were using alot of water and ended up having to drop almost half the train. Still it was a great weekend. Hope they run again.
@robertgift Thanks for the info. Well any train has to be run with the aim of generating a profit, so some of the things the staff were doing appeared agaist that. Building up pressure they didn't need was a waste of money and fuel.
@robertgift um hey guy , guy listen , its called putting on a show for railfans , and real steam at work. and hey why not stop complaining buddy . its not your choice how he shoots trains.
@robertgift Any steam locomotive working on a grade will produce alot of smoke because unburnt coal is being dragged up the chimmney from the exhaust blast. Im a fireman on a steam loco and there isnt anything you can do on a grade other than let it smoke. The damper on the QJ would of been fully open and the fire burning white hot.
To clean the tubes you can just throw a shovel full of sand into the firebox while on the go and this clears the tubes abit, but the proper way is to open the smokebox and use a flue brush.
From what I believe the coal in the USA is different. I believe Chinese coal is softer. The harder US coal broke the stokers in both of these locomotives and they had to be hand fired.
Meaning that they had to be hand-fired using coal?! As in, a real fireman? Wow. I wondered if these had been converted to burning oil, like Challenger? But they are actually burning coal? I can imagine they'd burn coal in China. but they are burning coal here as well?
This was a Photographers Special. 40 people paid to be a part of this special event. Otherwise it would not have happened. I was fortunate enough to be one of the 40 people.
so in english pounds, around 350,000, all in all, not a bad price concider the flying scotsmans last overhaul cost £1.2 million ($2.5 million USD). Another thing, they work in pairs, they should remain pairs.
Actually Henry Posner III owner of Iowa Interstate and other railroads owns the locomotives. Purchase price I don't know, but they were bouught hoping a museum or whatever might buy them for use. I heard $750,000 might get you one. They definitely aren't going to scarp anytime soon.
Very Nice. Its a shame the Iowa Interstate is not running these engines this year. They are natural freight haulers. Why, I am sure one of those locos could have handled the train alone and some more.
Actually, one of them might not be able to handle that 88 car train.... Apparently the QJ's are really light on their axles, so that's why they needed to be doubleheaded. Besides, they were chartered, so I guess the people chartered both locomotives. In any case, it'd be a wasteful effort to make up two trains...
Man I like those steamers! They like to work hard
ACSCadillac 2 weeks ago
china is overflowing our walmarts, and now our railroads
hoppercar 6 months ago
wish i could see these. thankfuly their steam program is still young.
BNSF9250 7 months ago
thats how you move frieght! if it were diesel, they would have had 5 or six locomoitves hooked together! nice photo charter!
pennyf9 1 year ago
Chineese steam in Iowa I cant get over that but Damn its cool to see I saw steam in China in 2009 I only wish I could have seen the QJs running over there all I saw was SYs(2-8-2)
gaycowboy31 1 year ago
Super!!! A++
piktrains 1 year ago
Gawd, I was born at the wrong time ..... why do I love Steam locomotives so much!!!!!
Charaht 1 year ago
It's nice to finally see more on this pair of locos. I followed the news when they arrived in Texas, up until they were videoed hauling a freight right before going into storage. It's good to see them working again.
psycotria 1 year ago
Poor firing - too much smoke.
Or are they trying to build steam pressure since engines are working under load?
My great uncle, a fireman, later engineer on PRR would be displeased.
Why only 50 seconds and not whole train?
Why not turn camera and show them going away?
Nice location for working load.
Can you get grade crossings to hear lousy Chinese whistles?
robertgift 2 years ago
Reply
Poor Firing - This train was being run as a Photographers Special so they were making smoke to make better photos.
Why only 50 seconds - At the time my internet connection was not that fast and 50 seconds seemed long enough.
Why not turn the camera - I was in a photo line with about 40 other people who would have been in the way for the going away shot. Those usually don't work with Photo Specials.
Here is hoping that the QJ's will run in 2010
Keith
kschmidt626 2 years ago
Oh.
Thanks, Keith. Did not know there were people to your left.
Real revenue freight train or fake?
I wish they would show reality and none of thexaggerated smoke nonsense.
Yes. Hope they run and get American whistles. (My wife is from China. She say they do not care.) [about tuning whistles.]
robertgift 2 years ago
They were pulling revenue train. Almost 5,000 ft long. As they got closer to Council Bluffs they were using alot of water and ended up having to drop almost half the train. Still it was a great weekend. Hope they run again.
kschmidt626 2 years ago
@robertgift smoke from a steam train isnt nonscince. its what steam trains are about.
BNSF9250 7 months ago
@robertgift Thanks for the info. Well any train has to be run with the aim of generating a profit, so some of the things the staff were doing appeared agaist that. Building up pressure they didn't need was a waste of money and fuel.
Isochest 1 year ago
@robertgift um hey guy , guy listen , its called putting on a show for railfans , and real steam at work. and hey why not stop complaining buddy . its not your choice how he shoots trains.
BNSF9250 7 months ago
@robertgift Any steam locomotive working on a grade will produce alot of smoke because unburnt coal is being dragged up the chimmney from the exhaust blast. Im a fireman on a steam loco and there isnt anything you can do on a grade other than let it smoke. The damper on the QJ would of been fully open and the fire burning white hot.
fodenscania2 6 months ago
@fodenscania2 Congratulations on being a steam fireman. Wow!
Thanks for the explanation. Still seems like too much smoke. My great uncle used to complain and say he'd be fired for such wasteful firing.
Can you clean the flues (tubes) coated with soot after such runs?
I always thought it would be good if they had a wiper inside each tube which could rotate and clean it withe draft pulling the soot out.
robertgift 6 months ago
@robertgift Thanks!
To clean the tubes you can just throw a shovel full of sand into the firebox while on the go and this clears the tubes abit, but the proper way is to open the smokebox and use a flue brush.
fodenscania2 6 months ago
@fodenscania2 I am a tophat & tailed chimney sweep. Would be nice if they can clean while moving.
Knew abouthe sand but uncle said it was somewhat worthless. What is your experience withe sand? Any noticeable difference?
robertgift 6 months ago
@robertgift The sand works quite well but after a run you have to sweep all the tubes out which takes ages
fodenscania2 6 months ago
Comment removed
truesouthcorn 2 years ago
These things have a very distinct chuf compared to american locomotives. Better valve timing?
SteamingObe 2 years ago
what is the economic incentive to use steam?
are coals cheaper in iowa?
truenorthcorn 2 years ago
no real incentive. This was a steam train chartered for a group of photographers.
kschmidt626 2 years ago
Hey they've still got the Chinese rail symbols on them :)
wenjilu 2 years ago
im from casey just 7 mi away from adair and i remember watching that trian go by
cole2012 3 years ago
Its not every day u get 2 c a steam train pull double stacks.
ohiosouthern 3 years ago
now thats how ya move a train!
WhyAyeMann 3 years ago
Those locos that I hawe shown in China, don´t pass so black smoke. Is the coal in USA different than in China?. Or do the chinese
use a different cutoff when driwing their
engines?
juhanisaloranta 4 years ago
From what I believe the coal in the USA is different. I believe Chinese coal is softer. The harder US coal broke the stokers in both of these locomotives and they had to be hand fired.
kschmidt626 4 years ago
Ok. I Use Anthrasite in my 2-10-0 "Russian Decabod" in scale 1-1/2". I precrush the coal for the stoker of engine, otherwise the auger
gets jammed.
juhanisaloranta 4 years ago
Meaning that they had to be hand-fired using coal?! As in, a real fireman? Wow. I wondered if these had been converted to burning oil, like Challenger? But they are actually burning coal? I can imagine they'd burn coal in China. but they are burning coal here as well?
Cyclist051 2 years ago
They're burning coal alright. Admittedly though, the firemen aren't doing a very good job of stoking it. Waaaay too much black smoke.
JT42CWRM 2 years ago
Amazing! I just love the sound of double-header steam!
patana07 4 years ago
Any reason why they're using steam locomotives for main line freight?
SergioLeoneFan 4 years ago
This was a Photographers Special. 40 people paid to be a part of this special event. Otherwise it would not have happened. I was fortunate enough to be one of the 40 people.
kschmidt626 4 years ago
For fun for fun! If I have money to throw away, I would offer the main lines folk the same service!
patana07 4 years ago
Gee they put a good fire on that front engine!! If that smoke had steps you could climb up it.
boundryrider 4 years ago
so in english pounds, around 350,000, all in all, not a bad price concider the flying scotsmans last overhaul cost £1.2 million ($2.5 million USD). Another thing, they work in pairs, they should remain pairs.
radeakins 4 years ago
Hoe much did the Iwoa Interstate pay for the piar?
Because if they are being sold as scrap, i'd buy one.
radeakins 4 years ago
Actually Henry Posner III owner of Iowa Interstate and other railroads owns the locomotives. Purchase price I don't know, but they were bouught hoping a museum or whatever might buy them for use. I heard $750,000 might get you one. They definitely aren't going to scarp anytime soon.
kschmidt626 4 years ago
What is the unit numbers?
cnwlover 4 years ago
I believe the lead steamer was #7081 and trailing was #6988.
kschmidt626 4 years ago
Steam hauling stacks! How cool is that??
Superedit 4 years ago
Actually the video above was shot June 9, 2007 just two weeks ago on the Iowa Interstate.
Keith
kschmidt626 4 years ago
Very Nice. Its a shame the Iowa Interstate is not running these engines this year. They are natural freight haulers. Why, I am sure one of those locos could have handled the train alone and some more.
back10506 4 years ago
Actually, one of them might not be able to handle that 88 car train.... Apparently the QJ's are really light on their axles, so that's why they needed to be doubleheaded. Besides, they were chartered, so I guess the people chartered both locomotives. In any case, it'd be a wasteful effort to make up two trains...
insanerocketkid 4 years ago
Well we'll never know unless its tried. Oh well.
back10506 4 years ago
YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAA ALLLLRIGHT, yEAAAAAAAAAAAA
Engineer5344 4 years ago
My god. Steam-hauled freight trains have returned to America.
CSX6000 4 years ago