US Army 1843 (H12-44) Startup

[spacetruckerrob]

Is this unit still running?

[Lutherkb]

@spacetruckerrob Yes it is, we just started it up this past weekend!

[Lea71777]

Great vid!!!

[Lutherkb]

@Lea71777 Thanks! I'll see if I can get one of a winter startup this winter. :)

[vccld27]

hp?

[CableReadyTechnoSIut]

@vccld27 1200

[Lutherkb]

@vccld27 1200 BHP.

[Trusten1984]

Look like a cold clima, it is in north USA ?

[Lutherkb]

@Trusten1984 This was a very warm day actually.

[Lutherkb]

@Trusten1984 This was a very warm day actually but yes, Northeastern United States.

[train2589]

FLAMES! Cool start up.

[Lutherkb]

@LaronBakerr What?

[DH082008]

those are both ALCO's

[Frankentaru]

@DH082008 - the Unit started is as stated an FM H-12. Behind it however it appears you are correct is an ex-Lehigh Valley "Hammerhead" ALCo RS3. With the relative rarity of FM power it is not uncommon in my experience for folks to mistake an FM for an ALCo HH unit.

Frank

[Lutherkb]

@Frankentaru

The engine behind the FM H12-44 is an RS-3M (rebuilt by Conrail with an EMD 567B out of a now scrapped EMD E8.

And yes you are right about the rarity of FMs and the mistaken identity.

[rocketdude1979]

I saw one of these switching at the Former Ogden Defense Depot (now the Ogden Business Depot) this June. It was USAX 1854 and then Defense Logistics Agency # 53205. I saw it up close and it only had some of it's Radiator Cores installed! Ran well though!

[SimRacin14]

I think BGRM in Versailles,KY has US Army 1849. I know the Kentucky Railway Museum in New Haven,KY,has #1846. Wonder how many of these are out there.

[EMD645E]

@SimRacin14 Heart of Dixie RR Museum in Calera, AL has 1850,1853,and 1861.

[SR722]

Have to love the sound of an FM.

[DH7409]

Where is this located?

[Lutherkb]

Rush, NY

[morderca95]

omg friday 13th

this engine is awesome

[Hiei2k7]

13 second mark you can see the flames and hear it go VU-VU-POOM!

[samhirst87]

nightmare material! 10/10

[P51ride]

I believe that that F-M engine was used in USN Balao class submarines

[seth4404]

38D8s were and are used in a variety of marine operations. Lots of USCG ships have them (Along with 251s) and some nukes have 38D8s have them as back ups.

[megatwingo]

5*****!

[CountVonBoco]

I missed last year, deffinately will be there this year, no Doubts.

[Lutherkb]

Good.

[Tanvan180]

I remember US Army 1849. It's at the Bluegrass RR Museum, in Kentucky. They used to run it on excursions.

[Lutherkb]

Does the 1849 still run? If not what is its current condition/dispostion?

[SR722]

Not that I'm aware of, it's been out of service since 2002 with a blown alternator.

[Lutherkb]

Must be the auxiliary generator. These things are DC through and through. It'd be nice to see two or more of these venerable soldiers together once again.

[SR722]

Yes, and to see them in regular revenue service! Compared to FM's and Baldwins, GE's and EMD's are devoid of character.

[miacvpi]

A bunch of really cool stuff used to be stored at Lexington Bluegrass depot in Avon Ky.(LBAD) now a trooper base and mixed use, back in the mid 80's and when I asked where it went was told bluegrass RR museum...

Don't know ? live in Fla. but the pullman cars were a real sight, in rough shape but so much style....some of this stuff looked right outa the 40's.

[Lutherkb]

Sounds like a museum. Many museums bring on the death of many potential restoration pieces. The hoarder's mentality takes over. With limited resources now spread thinner, things fall to the wayside. Luckily this FM has proven itself and is highly regarded. The parts for these things can still be had...for a price. If only Fairbanks-Morse would re-enter the locomotive building business using the 38D8 for switchers/road switchers like this and the ALCO 251F (now up to 4200HP) for road engines.

[IronCity2006]

@Lutherkb

You said it many, many of very nice peices of history are lost to collections. Same holds true with gas engines and old tractors, I know a place where there is countless peices of old iron just rusting away and he calls himself a "perservationist"! Sad

[K8S450DR]

Uaaw perfect dramatic startup!! .-)) Cool video

[LackawannaLtdVideos]

18000 views Luther wow

[Darkdiesel]

Great sound of the 38D8 opposed piston engine!

[EMD645E]

When I was young the Railroad Museum I did volunteer wok at had three of these ex-ARMY units 1850,1853,and 1861. I love these next to my beloved SD40-2 they are my favorite.

[downeastrailfan]

That was cool!

[al3x440]

WoW, it sounds like a monster

[dumbbuff]

WOW

[PaulPeirceFan]

my uncle used to work for that army branch... and my dad ended up getting a model train on 1 of them

[Lutherkb]

Does your father have any interesting stories to tell about the railroad side of things at the Seneca Army Depot? Would he be willing to share them?

[PaulPeirceFan]

its my uncle and he didnt run em or anything, he was just station at a base like that

[Lutherkb]

Ah okay. Thanks for the clarification. I read uncle and then father and I guess father stuck in my head. I'm putting together a model of this very unit. Someday it will be done and presentable but until then, enjoy this video.

[CountVonBoco]

Your building a model of 1843? Hehe. You gotta show and tell sometime on diesel days Luther. ;)

[Lutherkb]

Maybe I will...Are you going to be there?

[cmh1984]

Where is this at, aside from the Fairbanks I see an old cable shovel in the background. I like that RS-2 (?) in the background, nice looking outfit there.

[CountVonBoco]

Its at the RGVRRM in Rush New York. The unit behind the FM is Lehigh Valley 211, a RS3M rebuilt by Conrail in the late 70s. The high hood on it, was from a custom PRR order with ALCo RS3's with Steam Generators built in. The Cable excavator in the background is one of many we have on site.(i volunteer there as well) We have many classic pieces of construction equipment in our collection as well as the rollingstock and locomotives.

[Lutherkb]

The high hood not only held the steam generator but also the dynamic brakes.

[tpvalley]

also the alco has an EMD engine conversion.

[Lutherkb]

Yup.

Alco 244 and GE generator replaced with

EMD 567B and EMD generator. Dynamics were also removed and the steam generator disabled and removed.

[RTek86]

I believe there were only two RS-3s built like this; one ordered by PRR and one by Western Maryland. I think both ended up on the Lehigh Valley, but I'm not sure.

[Lutherkb]

The WM may have had more than one hammerhead if I recall correctly. The PRR however order only one. The 211 was always one of a kind on both the PRR and later the LV roster. This was the only hammerhead the LV ever ran.

[L324RT12]

I worked for USAX (army rail) at our local ammo plant befor going to UP. We had a FM sitting in the boneyard, but it is way past the point of no return. Good to see you guys are still using OLD power, & an ex-USAX motor at that. Kudos!!

[Lutherkb]

Thanks. Do you know where that FM ended up?

[papabugs71]

@Lutherkb Sorry I didnt get back to you on that. I dont ever check that account anymore. Im actually back with USAX now. That FM was sold for scrap thru DRMS last year. It was cut up & hauled away by a scrapper out of Pennsylvania.

[Fireheart528]

@papabugs71 that was a stupid thing for that guy to do. its plain she still had a lot more life in her, she just needed a newer engine model to replace the original. the old girl still sounds good, though. we don't see any of them down here in Georgia, but i wish we did.

[papabugs71]

@Fireheart528 I hear ya man. But honestly, that old FM had been parted out over the years to the point of no return. The prime mover was long gone & the traction motors had been replaced with dummy trucks. They also took the generator. All he got was basically the frame, cab, & car body. Still a shame. I would like to run one of these engines before they're all gone.

[kabukikitsune]

@Fireheart528 There's an old Baby Trainmaster in pristine condition kept in a Georgia powerplant.

[ToomuchBTUstoday]

@kabukikitsune Train in a power plant good idea :D

[kabukikitsune]

@ToomuchBTUstoday Did a quick search and it's not in Georgia, it's in Tennessee the TVA Gallitin power plant. No word if they've decided to preserve it or not, but it's still working and kept well care of.

[ToomuchBTUstoday]

@kabukikitsune Or an emergency pumping or generating unit in a hurricane or emergency situation one that could burn alternate fuels for a while natural gas or biodiesel.It could also run during maximum consumtion times just a thought.

[Fireheart528]

@ToomuchBTUstoday Even better idea: Fairbanks-Morse opposed-piston diesel engine in your car or truck. You'd be turning a lot of people's heads when you fired that car up.

[railbum]

Does that engine ever get to go to work?

[Lutherkb]

Yes she does. She is one of our usual runners. That locomotive will move when you want it to. One of my personal favorites.

[KineticRic]

Great vid, thanks!

Also, who owned the red locomotive right behind the black one?

[Lutherkb]

The RGVRRM owns both of them.

[FGLK1702]

not many FM'S left in running order

[AndreiTupolev]

Don't often get a chance to hear an F-M in action, so I thank you for this.

[Tjsingle14]

I saw those flames cool

[Lutherkb]

Hehe. Yea, some locomotive just do it and others don't. This engine is 55 years of age and it runs like a champ.

[mkd8721]

Sweet! and maybe expected from a 2-cycle opposed piston engine.

[okotokspaul]

Nice video!!

[Lutherkb]

Thanks!