(6) 400 HP Snow pumping engines Heath Pa

[DeserTBoB93535]

"BANG BANG woosh woosh"...fun to watch, but better left as museum pieces. These old twins and twin-tandems are notoriously inefficient, and, of course, parts are "unobtainium."

[sbeer6er]

where is the snow?

[Larsky1010]

"Mechanical music" (from description) is the best expression I've seen for the sounds of such engines as this!

[jeeperforlife]

Thanks for posting this video. I was fortunate enough to have seen these engines run a number of years back. Wasnt sure that id ever see that again. Of course now Coolspring is almost ready to run theirs...

[leborico]

This is Highly Erotic

[douro20]

They ought to move these engines out of there and put them somewhere else; don't let these rarities end up in the stockpile!

[MarcoAtlarge]

Out of HG Wells

[playswithorgans]

I have been in the Heath Station many times during the antique engine show in Coolspring PA. These engines have been decommissioned after an explosion that happened in the station about 5 years ago. These Snow engines have been disconnected from the natural gas supply and had their exhaust pipes cut so that they can take them off of their insurance policy. Have to have them un-piped in order to drop them off the books.

[BACKFIREFUR]

But do they still run them?

[playswithorgans]

No they do not still run them as the fuel and exhaust systems have been disconnected. I assume that the cooling system has been disconnected as well.

[Pamudder]

Marvelous old machines! Do you know how many men per shift were required to keep them lubricated and otherwise happy?

[V8Jagnut]

that is so cool. why did they stop using them?

[DeserTBoB93535]

@V8Jagnut They're horrendously inefficient, and parts have been hard to come by since the 1930s. By the natgas industry's own figures, it's been calculated that we've burned off more than 60% of our natural gas resources since 1908 by fueling engines like these, which were still in use well into the '90s. The Cooper-Bessemer GMV, which debutted in 1938, changed the game and made the old twins and twin-tandems instantly obsolete, but C-B was still installing Type 26s well into WWII.

[MMouthPeach]

0:13 Should be 1998 instead of 1898.

I'm not being critical, but helpful? Probably not.

[wgrenning]

Yes, That is incorrect. The video was taken in 1988

[dc761]

@wgrenning are these engines still in regular use?

[BACKFIREFUR]

Eney idea if there still in service. I would love to see them.

[sheps999]

Very musical :)

[41Zman]

How do they pump the natural gas through the lines?

[wgrenning]

On one side of the crank shaft is a double acting tandem cylinder engine. Facing the opposite direction ( connected to the same crank throw )is a large compressor cylinder. This compressor compresses the natural gas from the well and pushes it down a pipeline toward the buffalo area

[41Zman]

Thanks. was the video shot in 1898 or 1988? just wondering because i found a typo

[StormyMaxPerry]

I was going to comment that I didn't know of too many video cameras working in 1898 :-)

Thanks for the video tour. I have never seen or heard of this type engine. Listening to them running is like music to my ears. I could just lay down and sleep so peacefully in that room...

[GpunktHartman]

a rare fine document ... i like it !

[jack5081]

Rough and Tumble in Kinzer Pa is seting one up for display and operation. It might run in a few years after the volenters get it assembled.

[oldskoolcoinop]

Show me a machine today that will work like this in 100 years

[Patricknows]

@oldskoolcoinop You're lookin' at it!

[fordson23]

I was lucky to see one of these old girls running in 2002- gosh, to think they were hauled in on carts in pieces by mule teams. Very rugged country up there-!

[grumpyoldsoandso]

Are these engines still in use (regularly or occasionally) today?

Thank-you for the delightful video.

[wgrenning]

No Unfortunately these are not run anymore. I believe they were last run for demostrational purposes around 2000. The pumping station they are located in suffered an explosion several years ago and only the "newer" equipment runs now. The good news is that they all still exist in their original setting - even if they are not in running condition - Wayne

[rustaholic]

REALLY?????

I just read that this video was taken in the Spring of 1898!!!!!

That must have been a pretty cool camera.

Maybe a typo??? 8>))

[salemcripple]

Damnit! you beat me to the punch lol.

[wgrenning]

Possibly. 2 larger versions of these were moved from the Roystone, Pa pumping station. One ended up in Rolag, MN and the other is at the Coolspring ,Pa Engine Museum

[douro20]

Do you think these old double-acting engines will ever be moved?

[wgrenning]

It is very hard to say.  I believe that enough people know about them that they will never be scrapped.