Ex-US Army Locomotive #1857 Fairbanks Morse FM H12-44 - Cold Start up

[GP9railfan]

@P51ride You bet.

[P51ride]

When the F-M engines were used in the US WWII subs they were started with compressed air

[cooey84]

is the engine simular to the 38d1/8?

[GP9railfan]

@cooey84 Not sure what the engine is you're referring to... 38d1/8??

[cooey84]

@GP9railfan sorry probly should have gave more detail, the engine in this train, do you know if its simular to the fairbanks opposed piston engine model 38D1/8?

[GP9railfan]

@cooey84 Yes, this is is an opposed piston engine. Same as what the WWII sub's, & DDE's had in them. 1,800 HP.

[AlaskaMike72]

This isn't the locomotive that was painted in ARR colors for most of it's life with the military, is it?

[EIRR1]

How long did it take you guy's to get this thing up & going again?? Ithink this video is actaully really interesting!!

[GP9railfan]

@EIRR1 Only took about 15 minutes to get the batteries out of the shed, & hook up the jumper cables. Up & running in about 25 minutes. Thanks, there's more stuff like this right here on our channel if you like this type of stuff.

[rleclare]

I live by the Hamilton Ontario port on Lake Ontario. Some of the big freighters that come in have these big OP engines. The sound is amazing. When I was young the C-Liners and H-16-44 would lift the big trains up the Milton Sub on the CN and sounded the same way. Its music. I still sit by the pier at Hamilton and the sound always takes me back. Maybe not on the rails but these engines will be around for a long time.

[GP9railfan]

@bigikediesel Yes she's in really good shape!

[bigikediesel]

awesome OP!

[BIGFORDLOVER]

Is that a gas turbine UP in the background I see to the right of the cab by the red shed

[MRstingray1969]

U.S. NAVY subs during WW2 usually had four of those engines they look small in the subs because half the engine is under the flooring

ST Johns Hospital in Springfield MO had a stand by generator with the same engine crank in the tow and crank in the bottom pistons meet in the middle eight cylinders sixteen pistons and rods ports in the middle of the liner like a Detroit.

[GP9railfan]

@MRstingray1969 Yes you are correct. One of my friends had a tugboat with one of these in it. 1,800 HP. The one in his tugboat started with compressed air though. My Dad has a VHS video of that tug in action somewhere. That was almost 20+ years ago, but I'll never forget the sweet symphony it made.

[dieselroarmt875]

@MRstingray1969 the licience was sold to soviets and they developed it to a 10 cylinder turbocharged variant

[megatwingo]

Cool loco and a nice video. Thumbs up! :)

[GP9railfan]

@megatwingo Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. Lots more like this on my channel if you like watching vintage railroad equipment in action.

[tubatriplett]

Vertical Drive's are fun to work on.

[Barnekkid]

I could dig working with these guys.

[GP9railfan]

@Barnekkid They could use the help that's for sure. If I didn't live 200+ miles away, I'd be there almost every chance possible. If you go to their site you can sign up if you're interested in volunteering there. Thanks for stopping by.

[seth4404]

Correct in them being 64 volts. 

[GP9railfan]

@damjanostrc Yes, opposing pistons. They have dual crankshafts on these locomotives.

[damjanostrc]

@GP9railfan But it really dont sound like that. It sound like normal 4-stroke engine.

[gmsd70mac]

how about a old lincoln sa-200 welder-that'llget her started!!!

[Polybun]

oh come on, get a real battery!

[GP9railfan]

@Polybun

Haha. Yeah, about that, the WP RR museum is limited on funding, so they have to go with what they receive in donations from visitors, or from what UP, & BNSF donate to them as far as no longer needed/surplus parts go. I believe the power-packs that were used to jump start 1857 came from a wrecked UP locomotive from what one of the members that works there told me.

[Polybun]

@GP9railfan haha, no I know how it goes. I do work for the 4449 and sp&s 700 folks. You take what you can get... even if what you can get is a very tired, and often hard to start alco.

[n3o1er]

Now thats a jump start!

[GP9railfan]

@n3o1er Absolutely! Thanks for stpping by.

[deme7063]

if you have two or more locomotives in a lash up at first start,and you have one with a dead battery like in your video, can one of the running units "jump start' the dead one with out having to bring out more batteries and cables?

[GP9railfan]

@deme7063 Hi there. No, unfortunately it doesn't work that way. The MU cables you are talking about are only used to sync the remaining units (locomotives) behind the lead unit in the lash-up. When additional locomotives are hooked up to the lead unit, the lead unit is in control of the others behind it. The power packs work just like a car battery setup, only alot bigger. Thanks for asking. :)

[deme7063]

@GP9railfan thanks for the reply. I've looked up the WPRRM website and hope to someday make it out there. looks like one hell of a neat place!

[tpvalley]

@deme7063

generally the multiple working cables are only air lines; the engine speed is controlled by air, this works the governor which uses engine oil pressure.

[GP9railfan]

1857 is a very popular locomotive at the museum. Alot of folks rent this one to be the engineer at her controls for an hour or so. More info info on this is on the WPRRM website.

[ahnbra]

i was wondering if all the train opperate or could opperate? Also how long had that Fairbanks locmotive been sitting befor this start up in your video? This locomotive is a 1957 model year correct? I will be signing up shrotly. Very interesting video. Thank you for making and posting it.

[GP9railfan]

@ahnbra No, not all of them do, but with more funds from visitors and such, the ones that just need restoration probably could be running sooner. Only about 15 locomotives are in running condition currently. Some are for parts, and others are on the schedulee for future use/restoration. Yes, 1957 FM H-12-44. Great! The museum has great newsletters, and alot of other "goodies" that they send to all their members. Thanks for watching our videos!

[GP9railfan]

@ahnbra Also, this one was sitting for about a month or so. The batteries were dead in it at the time because someone that works there left them connected still, and it was decided to jump start it with a set of power packs just to keep things oiled up. It was also scheduled for a "Run-a-locomotive" rental the next day.

[EMD645E]

1857 seems to be in great shape. We have 1850, 1853, and 1861 at the Heart of Dixie R.R. museum in Alabama. One thing though 1857 like ours is a 1200hp H12-44 not 1800hp.

[tpvalley]

"want some more ether?..."

if an engine needs ether there is usually something wrong or worn and it washes oil off cylinders so accelerates wear even more......u all know this Im sure.....I hope...

[seth4404]

Fun fact: The Fairbanks Morse 38D8 1/8 diesel engine is of the opposed piston (OP) variety. IE there are two pistons that cycle away from each other with each combustion, and thusly power two crank shafts; an upper and a lower. The FM OP design was pioneered for use in marine applications and eventually used for FM's short foray into diesel locomotive production. A marine application of this engine can be seen by the public in San Francisco on the sub USS Pampanito.

[seth4404]

@seth4404 Additionally, the 38D8 1/8 is still in use aboard a variety of active USCG cutters and US Navy ships.

And the real gem in the 1857 is its electrical cabinet. being in the care of the Army meant that it was maintained to high standards. Looking at the electrical cabinet, one would see it being immaculate, being as clean as it was the day it came off the floor in Wisconsin.

[cheekster96]

@seth4404 The FM Opposed Piston diesel engines can be found in all of the US Navy nuclear subs.

[AndreiTupolev]

Exhaust cleared pretty quickly after she fired up. Paintwork might be a bit "original condition", but she seems in pretty good mechanical shape.

[GP9railfan]

@AndreiTupolev

Yes, very good shape for her age. The paint is actually fairly decent, except for some faded lettering.

[formidable38]

Il take that UP E9 on the right please!

[GP9railfan]

@formidable38 I don't suppose the UP corporate execs would like that idea too much though! :o LOL

[formidable38]

@GP9railfan LOL, I dont supose they would! Dam nice unit though!

[igor79793]

Батареи не хилые размером с ящик

[GP9railfan]

@igor79793 Это силовые агрегаты. Большинство более современных локомотивов здесь, в Штатах у них сейчас. Старшего локомотивов в этом музее старых установок стиля в них (одно свинцово-кислотные типов, / были переведены в серию). Новый стиль 100% легче, чем изменения из старых были. Только 2 соединения теперь вместо 6-12 на старые системы. Спасибо за остановки дюйма

[igor79793]

оппозитный двухтактник у него?

[GP9railfan]

@igor79793 Мои извинения по переводу. Я думаю, вы спрашивали о противоположных поршневого двигателя в этот локомотив?

[igor79793]

@GP9railfan да

[GP9railfan]

@igor79793 Да, против двигателя стрельбы поршень, с 2 коленчатых валов, как трудно работать, но и чрезвычайно мощным в то же время. Фэрбенкс Морса компании построили в этих двигателей локомотивов в основном во время WW 2, для разрушитель кораблей охранения, буксиры, и подводных лодок. Многие до сих пор работает по сей день.

[CaliforniaRailfan101]

Nice! There is a couple of ex-US Army GE 44-Ton switchers in Niles Canyon if you ever get the chance to go there.

[GP9railfan]

@CaliforniaRailfan101 Thanks. Yeah, I need to make a trip there & check it out sometime. Amtrak goes right to it right?

[CaliforniaRailfan101]

@GP9railfan No. You would need to drive there. The only railroad that uses the line through Niles Canyon is Union Pacific (with the exception of the Niles Canyon Railway that has their own line across the street).

[GP9railfan]

@CaliforniaRailfan101 OK. I was just wondering because I saw some Niles canyon motive power sitting across from the Amtrak station in your last video with the warbonnet GP60's.

[sigmasquadleader]

There's what appears to be (to my untrained eye, driving at 65MPH) an old GP-9 on a spur on the Camp Pendleton line, which for the most part is completely defunct. I've walked along the old rail, now overgrown with 20-30 year old eucalyptus trees growing in between the ties.

From what I've been told, the line ran from Pendleton through Fallbrook, all the way to 29 Palms, and was used for troop transport and military freight.

Must have been amazing to see a line of flat cars hauling howitzers.

[cmdrflake]

How about using ZZ Top's classic "Maniac Mechanic" for background music for this? Granted that might piss them off some more...

[GP9railfan]

@cmdrflake LOL!

[NODARRYL]

Great video it's on my favorites thanks.

[GP9railfan]

@NODARRYL Thanks! Glad you like it.

[jimmydcap]

Would it help if I got out and pushed....

[GP9railfan]

@jimmydcap Ha ha. Funny guy! :D

[MsC1953]

Always requires the right combination of curse words and luck!! :-)  Great video!

[GP9railfan]

@MsC1953 Yep. Got that right. Thanks Cathy.

[Kitfugl]

@ 5:36 - Bless you

[Amiduffer]

Did it move?

[GP9railfan]

@Amiduffer It was used for a rental the next day. They were just making sure it was good to go. The batteries are almost due for replacement on that loco, but it uses an oddball arrangement that's hard to find from what I've been told. They have to jump it with another locomotive nearby, or get out the battery packs from the shed (like this time).

[bravosixxx]

That was a great video Zach. That was too funny when the younger guy was trying to open the hatch and then the Veteran comes out and it pops right open. Dude when that puppy started up the smoke out the stack was great! Thanks for sharing my my friend! God Bless!

[GP9railfan]

@bravosixxx I know. I was thinking the same thing when I saw him fumbling with the latches. The Fairbanks Morse stuff is totally different than anything else out there. so you can't really blame him completely on it though. Yeah, smoke show indeed. She spit a little oil out for us too.