The Mighty 4014 As a Helper!

I saw this on another forum so I just had to post it here:



Doug

 

The wheel slip at 9:25 is attention grabbing. Some serious tonnage on the move there. Not sure if the diesel helper 4015 is assisting, but it can be heard as it passes.

 

I read one comment that said 4015 didn't get past notch 1 and I guess I can believe it by the sound of 4014. She is really working!

It is still an emotional thing to see/hear a/that huge steamer in action!

Doug

 

That's unbelievably impressive... There's not just an excursion loco or a museum piece, but a real hard-working piece of machinery of a kind that hasn't done that kind of job regularly on railroads since the 1950s. A peek into what was really happening back then.

The sheer power in 4014 is very obvious when it's getting a stalled train pulled by diesels moving up the grade again, almost effortlessly. I got goosebumps.

I love the first moments once it gets moving - how the slow and deliberate motion of the connecting rods and valve gear looks like the machine is showing off its brute strength with a lot of confidence. "No sweat, this is a piece of cake..." chuffing from its stack.

4015 is a just along for the ride as a lifeboat. An insurance policy of sorts, which one hopes is never necessary. Usually isn't!

Thanks for sharing that, Doug. It was a majestic start to my day.

 

lol Was yellow polyester safety vests even invented back then? Not very "realistic"! When 1'st started with Pan American ramp ops we didn't wear such things . . cool: kidding of course

 

Great stuff! 4014 is just an awe inspiring expression of steam power. The 4015 in notch one or idle sounds the same as the diesel rpm is the same. It probably contributed nothing.

Brought back memories, so I moved these from Vimeo to utub and here we go,

 

Your first video is a neat angle and perspective of it!

"Better than cool", for sure!!

 

We sat ther and waited for an hour while they did a bit of an inspection and walkaround of the loco just south of the bridge. I have a video of that some where....

 

I got the shivers up my back in the second video when 4014 blew it's deep toned whistle, and the reverberation from it. I like that.

 

And it was even more "shiver me timbers!" in person! Big and beautiful!

 

In person, the first time the whistle blows and you are standing right next to 4014, it almost knocks you over. I wish I would have had a sound level meter with me.

Doug