Sneak Peeks - Gettysburg Railroad 1278

This is the operation that changed the rules for tourist railroads, if only because the Gettysburg Railroad became the textbook case of improper maintenance.

Four years after this video was shot in 1991, #1278 suffered a crown sheet failure due to low water. The result was a controlled boiler explosion which was prevented from being the classic catastrophic boiler explosion due to the unique staybolt design used by the Canadian Pacific Railway.

In hindsight the wheezing air compressor is telling, but in 1991 #1278 was just another tourist hauler going about her trade.

Visit the Diverging Clear Productions eBay store at http://shop.ebay.com/oglalarail/m.html .

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• trains
• railroads
• steam
• engine
• locomotive
• Gettysburg
• Railroad
• 1278

[TheStrasburg90]

@indie1361 yes and then it was traded for their current canadian national locomotive.

[Strasburg1991]

@Rdgrail original 5 chime

[Rdgrail]

what kind of whistle is that?

[Strasburg1991]

@imagreatbigman new FRA guidelines to locomotive boilers

[imagreatbigman]

what did this explosion change???

[indie1361]

@LNERMallard ws there even a fireman or was the engineer doing double duty?

[TheStrasburg90]

@indie1361 Yes, then Gettysburg bought it.

[indie1361]

Ya can't just fire up the engine everyday, and expect it to do it's job. These engines needed extreme care back in the day, the care needed now has risen because of the engines, as they begin to become more antique. Such a fabulous engine, what a way to go. This engine was owned by Steamtown originally, right?

[Strasburg1991]

@yourweathertodayHD i meant 76. when has 76 last operated??

[yourweathertodayHD]

@Strasburg1991 You're question/statement does't make sense. The 1278 has not operated since the boiler blew in 1995.