There'a s no comparison when #4449 is sitting alongside that rusty ol' diesel. They should bring back steam locomotives....in spite of the likes of the Obama administration, who wholeheartedly HATES anything that smacks of old America(Americana) or good old Western culture. God I hope we get a new president.
Years ago when 4449 was in regular service; each passenger car had its own electrical system. Each car's electrical system consisted of a direct current generator that was spun by the car's wheels, & a set of batteries. To simplify passenger car maintenance; Amtrak went with Head End Power ( HEP ) - using an alternating current generator on board the locomotive to send power to all of the passenger cars.
@kennystevensviolin The diesel's only duty is to supply HEP (head end power) for the passenger cars. 4449, although a very powerful engine in its own right, does not posses the ability to generate electricity for passenger cars.
With the price of oil these days, I wonder if at some point it'll make sense to go back to coal powered loco motives? Modern technology applied to designing a new steam engine would be so sweet!
It's all a matter of how much oil is fed versus the draft provided by the exhaust or blower. When the engine is working at an early cut off, the draft is lighter so the fireman must use the blower to provide draft for the furnace system to keep up with the demand for steam.
Yes,nice to see that the fireman, knows his stuff.When an oil burning locomotive is being fired properly,there should only be a light grey haze,from the stack.A lot of railfans ,think that only when there is a lot of black smoke from the stack,that the loco is being fired right.When you feed to much oil, into the fire,you not only get black smoke,but also the oil clogs up the fire tubes,you then have to put sand through them,when the loco is working hard,which scores the tubes.
I no its a steam loco , but can anyone tell me what fires the fire, is it wood coal, or is it using LIke LPG Gas, cause this thing is burning very clean no black smoke like wood fires would make.
WTF? dang they are really pushing it! dude if they do quiet zones for perham or st. cloud or even motley and the rest of all those rt. 10 towns im doomed. not really but ya.
ya it sure is neat. i'm not entirely sure on this but i think the amtrak engine was there just to generate electricity for the passenger cars behind the train. i'm probably wrong on that, though.
You were right, it is there mostly to provide electrical power to the coach cars. (See xkinslyc other video of SP 4449)
Man, I should have rode from Fargo to the cities.
Wonder if I can ride it from Minneapolis to Fargo. But that will be in mid October. It will be colder then. But the steam makes a greater show in cold weather.
Passenger service is allowed faster speeds then freight service. When riding from Milwaukee to Minneapolis, we passed yellow speed limit signs along the tracks, the faster speed is for Amtrak, the slower speed is for freight.
There'a s no comparison when #4449 is sitting alongside that rusty ol' diesel. They should bring back steam locomotives....in spite of the likes of the Obama administration, who wholeheartedly HATES anything that smacks of old America(Americana) or good old Western culture. God I hope we get a new president.
1966gto1000 1 week ago
That's close where i live, lolz
WTFGamingUSA 1 month ago
LOVE the two little boys who get so excited! My son loves these videos. thank you!
butterflykitty76 2 months ago
it looked like the old girl was fighting for that start a little bit
railfanatic844 3 months ago
Years ago when 4449 was in regular service; each passenger car had its own electrical system. Each car's electrical system consisted of a direct current generator that was spun by the car's wheels, & a set of batteries. To simplify passenger car maintenance; Amtrak went with Head End Power ( HEP ) - using an alternating current generator on board the locomotive to send power to all of the passenger cars.
Petemonster62 4 months ago
I bet that BNSF would bow if it could.
Blackboilingrobotoil 6 months ago
is this the actual 4449 amaracan fredom train or is it a mock up
MrFelt1000 7 months ago
@MrFelt1000 This is the actual American Freedom train.
xkinslyc 6 months ago
Sux how it's been pushed by diesel
kennystevensviolin 1 year ago
@kennystevensviolin The diesel's only duty is to supply HEP (head end power) for the passenger cars. 4449, although a very powerful engine in its own right, does not posses the ability to generate electricity for passenger cars.
kelbym07 11 months ago
WHAT´S SO RARE WITH STEAM ? The so ¨modern¨ atomic plants heat water steam ,when they work ....
hterlijman 1 year ago
With the price of oil these days, I wonder if at some point it'll make sense to go back to coal powered loco motives? Modern technology applied to designing a new steam engine would be so sweet!
maganaonline 1 year ago 3
It's all a matter of how much oil is fed versus the draft provided by the exhaust or blower. When the engine is working at an early cut off, the draft is lighter so the fireman must use the blower to provide draft for the furnace system to keep up with the demand for steam.
DanielVolker 1 year ago
Yes,nice to see that the fireman, knows his stuff.When an oil burning locomotive is being fired properly,there should only be a light grey haze,from the stack.A lot of railfans ,think that only when there is a lot of black smoke from the stack,that the loco is being fired right.When you feed to much oil, into the fire,you not only get black smoke,but also the oil clogs up the fire tubes,you then have to put sand through them,when the loco is working hard,which scores the tubes.
TokoroaAce 2 years ago 3
I no its a steam loco , but can anyone tell me what fires the fire, is it wood coal, or is it using LIke LPG Gas, cause this thing is burning very clean no black smoke like wood fires would make.
jomosavwa 2 years ago
it be an oil burner.
xkinslyc 2 years ago
Is there an electric locomotive to push, or is it just steam?
hekkjestol 2 years ago
The train is being pulled purely by 4449. The Amtrak unit's only duty is to generate electricity for the passenger cars.
xkinslyc 2 years ago
@xkinslyc That and the federally-mandated Dynamic braking system that it has too.
LoneSniperSG 3 months ago
@xkinslyc Also as backup, all trains have backup loco
theMuffinMan9999 1 month ago
god i love staples minnesota! best place to be when there is trains around in the yars! gosh cant wait to go back there. i get there on rt. 10 so ha.
bnsf4 2 years ago
Well, you might not love it that much anymore because it is now a QZ.
xkinslyc 2 years ago
WTF? dang they are really pushing it! dude if they do quiet zones for perham or st. cloud or even motley and the rest of all those rt. 10 towns im doomed. not really but ya.
bnsf4 2 years ago
I know, tis really sad..
xkinslyc 2 years ago
didnt get to see her operate at trainfest but did see her....WOW but it isnt the same with "helpers"
Automcanic 2 years ago
ya it sure is neat. i'm not entirely sure on this but i think the amtrak engine was there just to generate electricity for the passenger cars behind the train. i'm probably wrong on that, though.
xkinslyc 2 years ago
You were right, it is there mostly to provide electrical power to the coach cars. (See xkinslyc other video of SP 4449)
Man, I should have rode from Fargo to the cities.
Wonder if I can ride it from Minneapolis to Fargo. But that will be in mid October. It will be colder then. But the steam makes a greater show in cold weather.
radiolarion 2 years ago
Thank you for the look at it in MN ! Thru Montana & NorthDakota it was Beautifull!
SkipW 2 years ago
you're welcome.
xkinslyc 2 years ago
nice, i would love to see 4449 in person
Coasterrider210 2 years ago
thanks. ya, it is truly a sight to see
xkinslyc 2 years ago
just too cool....for school
why was the intermodal stopped?
MattBNSF1991 2 years ago
SP 4449 has higher priority. plus they probably didn't want it going by while they were servicing 4449. made for great photos and video
xkinslyc 2 years ago
The old and the new...
rykember11 2 years ago
Passenger service is allowed faster speeds then freight service. When riding from Milwaukee to Minneapolis, we passed yellow speed limit signs along the tracks, the faster speed is for Amtrak, the slower speed is for freight.
radiolarion 2 years ago
I heard mom. Ha ha.
kelbym07 2 years ago
Awesome! I caught that BNSF Intermodal hauling ass through Ramsey. Great video!
MNrailfan 2 years ago
thank you
xkinslyc 2 years ago