that seems like an awfull lot of power j to pull a handfull of cars. on a steam train w more than one power, can they be linked up remote controled off the lead unit like todays diesels or does each engine have to be controled by an engineer?
NOt sure why the negative comments regarding the horns are getting panned. They DO sound horrible and any intellectually honest person would admit it.
Guys, there are US steam locomotives that have air horns. For example the Southern Pacific installed air horns on many of its GS locomotives. That's why the 4449 has an air horn. Look into it!! :-)
Well it does get your attention, and thats the purpose of a whistle or horn on a locomotive. Once you listen to them enough you get used to the odd sound.
I hope someone makes a good-sounding STEAM whistle and replaces that horrible sounding
Chinese whatever-it-is POS.
My wife is Chinese. She say Chinese maker do not care. Instead of making it something to be proud of, attitude is 'I don't have to listen to it, so I will not expend tiny effort to make it better.' And people just accept the ugliness.
Confucius say: Crowded elevator smell different to midget.
Unfortunately not very often. This very special run was made to commerate the 150th anniversary of the bridge over the Mississippi River. The Chinese QJ's have run only one other time and that was in June 2007 for a Photographers Special
well, i guess i could understand. these are two very rare trains along with the MILW train these are priceless. couldn't be replaced. same with mostly all of the other preserved operating trains.
What a great memory -- to see three steam locomotives in the year 2006. Yes common now to see three diesels but even in the glory years of steam this would have been rare.
Man. Now it's rare enough to see three locomotives pulling a train together, but to have three steam engines pulling a train together, that's unbelievably rare. What a video.
Having three locomotives pulling a train is not rare at all. CSX and NS regularly run trains with 3 or 4 locomotives, and longer BNSF trains usually take 5 or 6 locomotives.
261 should be infront of the QJ's!!!
Amtrak1194 1 year ago 3
that seems like an awfull lot of power j to pull a handfull of cars. on a steam train w more than one power, can they be linked up remote controled off the lead unit like todays diesels or does each engine have to be controled by an engineer?
lotanota 1 year ago
they did run in 2008.
thomasrosiefan1 1 year ago
WTH is up with the chinese engines?
TheMantisTycoon 2 years ago
iowa interstate has 5
trainman1995 2 years ago
NOt sure why the negative comments regarding the horns are getting panned. They DO sound horrible and any intellectually honest person would admit it.
kmillard 2 years ago
Guys, there are US steam locomotives that have air horns. For example the Southern Pacific installed air horns on many of its GS locomotives. That's why the 4449 has an air horn. Look into it!! :-)
MUEagle2002 2 years ago
Those puny Chinese whistles should be outlawed on American railroads.
Nothing like a real American multi-pitch whistle.
robertgift 3 years ago 3
They had worse sounding airhorns when they were originally in China.
SeniorMinch229018 3 years ago
They had AIR HORNS on their STEAM locomotives?
That is kind of sad. Maybe steam whistles had a problem with freezing and air horns are more reliable.
I have heard their Diesel locomotive horns.
They sound like crap, too.
You'd think someone would care enough to at least make them sound better.
robertgift 3 years ago
Well it does get your attention, and thats the purpose of a whistle or horn on a locomotive. Once you listen to them enough you get used to the odd sound.
SeniorMinch229018 3 years ago
I hope someone makes a good-sounding STEAM whistle and replaces that horrible sounding
Chinese whatever-it-is POS.
My wife is Chinese. She say Chinese maker do not care. Instead of making it something to be proud of, attitude is 'I don't have to listen to it, so I will not expend tiny effort to make it better.' And people just accept the ugliness.
Confucius say: Crowded elevator smell different to midget.
robertgift 3 years ago
I happen to like them, sounds different than your average 3, 5 and 6 chimes. Think outside the box and enjoy the unique.
JonatanGronoset 3 years ago
In this case, I'd rather stay IN the box.
No comparison to American whistles.
It is fun to hear them and learn how horrible sounding they are.
With such lousy whistles, no wonder they used air horns. (But I bet their air horns were crap, too.) I have heard them in China.
Confucius say: Chinese whistle like Jonatan wife - ugly and shrill.
also
Confucius say: Man who run through airport turn style backwards going to Bangkok.
robertgift 3 years ago
Your loss, keep inside your little box, you've apparently not gotten over Vietnam yet the way you talk...
Oh, and I don't have a wife because I'm gay, sorry.
JonatanGronoset 3 years ago
Jonaton, get a little sense of humor.
Even my wife, from China, say it sound horrible.
She say: Chinese whistle maker do not know - do not care.
(Meaning they do not know how to tune, nor do they care to expend the little effort to tune it.)
They could figure out how to tune and probably know how.
Often they do not care.
Here it shows.
robertgift 3 years ago
I personally love the 6988's whistle, but that's just me. I'd take it over the 261's anyday.
fafnir242 3 years ago
@robertgift Well they have American whistles now
trainboy94 3 months ago
must be quite a trick to run all three locos without the benifit of multipule unit capabilities
gentlegiant582002 4 years ago
when do these trains usually run?
boeingLL747 4 years ago
Unfortunately not very often. This very special run was made to commerate the 150th anniversary of the bridge over the Mississippi River. The Chinese QJ's have run only one other time and that was in June 2007 for a Photographers Special
kschmidt626 4 years ago
well, i guess i could understand. these are two very rare trains along with the MILW train these are priceless. couldn't be replaced. same with mostly all of the other preserved operating trains.
boeingLL747 4 years ago
Where are the QJ's now?
MrDickensonS 1 year ago
@MrDickensonS
They should be stored on the Iowa Interstate north of Iowa City in Newton I believe.
kschmidt626 1 year ago
@boeingLL747 IAIS usually runs them about 4 - 5 times a year in some cases, they are some of the busier mainline steam engines
trainboy94 3 months ago
What a great memory -- to see three steam locomotives in the year 2006. Yes common now to see three diesels but even in the glory years of steam this would have been rare.
Dave Nelson
engine1385 4 years ago
Couldn't you make clean fuel like propane to heat the Steam's boiler and use steam engine instead of Diesels? That would be greener, wouldn't it?
patana07 4 years ago
There is nothing "green" about a steam engine and there never can or will be. Besides, coal is much cheaper than oil or propane for fuel.
SeniorMinch229018 3 years ago
Man. Now it's rare enough to see three locomotives pulling a train together, but to have three steam engines pulling a train together, that's unbelievably rare. What a video.
razgrizaceblaze259 4 years ago
Having three locomotives pulling a train is not rare at all. CSX and NS regularly run trains with 3 or 4 locomotives, and longer BNSF trains usually take 5 or 6 locomotives.
But it is a great video.
mjkft22 4 years ago
Well, I rarely get see operational engines. So, for me, it is rare.
razgrizaceblaze259 4 years ago