The last steam-heated train to leave Halifax 23 January 1993 redone

[rrpics]

Because it was wasteful and expensive! VIA Rail now markets itselg as "The Green Alternative"!!

[bluedoris88]

I can see why they gave it up!

[rrpics]

Yes certainly it was an inconvenient way of heating the coaches especially in freezing weather. Of course it was started because steam engines had steam readily available. When diesel locomotives came into use they had to have special boilers installed either in the locomotive or in a separate car.

However it cost a lot of money to convert all the coaches.to electrical heat.

[SkunkRailfan]

@bluedoris88 ya! For a steam engine! It was a great idea to heat trains with steams. But for a diesel train? Come on! Diesel dosen't need to carry oil and water on it back. So Electric heating is the way to go for both Electric and Diesel trains. But I do like seeing Steam coming out of the Passengers cars, though....

[SkunkRailfan]

I never understand. How can steam in a pipe heat up a whole train?

[rrpics]

There was a pipe that went under every carriage and outlets into each compartment. Similar to hot water heating in a house except it used steam.

If it was very cold the end of the pipe might be kept partly open so that steam travelled the length of the train. Also I expect there were water traps that allowed the water to be drained off.

[SkunkRailfan]

@rrpics ah! ok. Thanks for telling me.

[TheJamesmario]

the footage pans from left to right, but it is nice to see a better copy. why is there a fp9a and 2 steam generators, plus 2 baggage cars?

[rrpics]

In the winter steam lines can freeze up and often the rubber washers get hard and steam is lost (see middle still shot) so more stteam production is needed. It was an expensive way to heat a train!!

Second baggage car was probably a spare and since it was the last steam heated train it may have been going to the Maintenance Shops in Montreal.

[rrpics]

In the winter steam lines can freeze up and often the rubber washers get hard and steam is lost (see middle still shot) so more stteam production is needed. It was an expensive way to heat a train!!

Second baggage car was probably a spare and since it was the last steam heated train it may have been going to the Maintenance Shops in Montreal.

[rrpics]

In the winter steam lines can freeze up and often the rubber washers get hard and steam is lost (see middle still shot) so more stteam production is needed. It was an expensive way to heat a train!!

Second baggage car was probably a spare and since it was the last steam heated train it may have been going to the Maintenance Shops in Montreal.

[rrpics]

In the winter steam lines can freeze up and often the rubber washers get hard and steam is lost (see middle still shot) so more stteam production is needed. It was an expensive way to heat a train!!

Second baggage car was probably a spare and since it was the last steam heated train it may have been going to the Maintenance Shops in Montreal.

[TrainsONtv1]

The stabilizer is pretty effective. Nice work!

[rrpics]

Thank you.

[papoocanada]

loved steam heat, it was real hot and smelled good

[rrpics]

It certainly did but it could readily freeze up in a cold winter.

[northlanderdude]

@Railskunk136 you weren't even born yet when we had steam heated VIA trains !

that was 18 years ago and you're what 16 ?

[SkunkRailfan]

@northlanderdude No. I mean steam engine. Like #136.

[rrpics]

@Railskunk136 You would get quite damp!!