The very last steamer to run on the Milwaukee Road was the 1004, now in protected display in Austin, MN, my hometown. I don't side with either faction. I like both. Doug
Just a thought, why is it that all the "tourist" railroads advertise Steam and not diesels. "Hey gang lets go to Cass and ride the diesels". I'm 73 and have lived through the end of stream and if I owned or managed a railroad I would be a die hard diesel supporter, but the romantic in me likes steam. In the model world, both steam and diesel are driven by electric motors, so the only difference is the "dress" of the locomotive.
That is just the patented right of way clearer and tunnel liner cleaner. Notice how clean the right of way is.
Well from the modeling perspective I have to side with George that diesels are less troubles. No danged valve gears and drive rods to be disturbed by a set of five thumbs and no extra sets of axles with a tender to get on the rails and keep on the rails. Not to mention those danged pony and trailing trucks to also get and keep on the rails. Sort of like dealing with a Millipede in getting everything on the rails. At least with diesels there are usually just two trucks with two or three axles each to get railed. But I cannot get excited over todays diesels and their consists though, everything looks the same just change the color, or type of cars following. However I do like the first generation of things diesel with the variation of power from Fs to RSs to GPs and the more varied consists behind them.
I think many like steam because of the valve gear,moving parts,ect... just like the real thing steam has more maintenance. However there are more Diesels available than steam many times sharing the same frame. Example Atlas SD7,9,24,26,35 . I beleave there will always be more diesel produced in N scale than steam for this reason. Because of less steam available when there is a new release it get more press.
Weeeeelllll not really.... Diesels are the motive power of choice.... http://www.thetrain.com/the-train/train-equipment/ Steam is only run on "special occasions"... http://www.thetrain.com/special-events/steam/
Here is why I run Diesels in N scale. I have bought a handful of steam locos in N scale and I have had nothing but problems with them, Bachmann and Kato. I like the reliability and slow speed performance of an Atlas GP-9 or RS-2, or RS-11, all with "scale speed" motors, along with Kato and Intermountain F units.
Actually the motive power of choice is electric providing, of course, that the traffic volume is there to make it economical.
' Two primary reasons, First, because railroads are desirous of keeping their main open for traffic. Those steam runs are usually railfan affairs and not part of the operations of the particular railroad. So they insist on having diseaesels "just in case" something happens so they won't waste time clearing the main. The second reason is most steamers operating today are the smaller engines and a lot of times they are pulling beyond their capacity. Would be nice to have another steamer to double head but unfortunately such is not the case.
That FEF #844 sure aint no 'small engine' http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=366605 I guess those steamers just arent very reliable
I also beg to differ. Been on at least 7 excursion trains over the years. At least half were pulled by diesels. Verde Valley Train outside of Sedona, AZ; The Wine Train, Napa Valley, CA; the Royal Gorge Train, Canon, CO, are the ones that come immediately to mind.
There have been many tourist, wine, dinner type trains, pulled by diesels. Some of them originally set out to be pulled by steam, or were originally using steam, but switched mostly due to costs of the steam. I would be willing to bet that having steam power is a better selling point than diesel, by simply being unique. It's rare that a steam whistle doesn't bring folks rushing to the track side. That certainly does not happen in such numbers with any diesels or electrics.
Ain't no DEE-zull in that thar' video 'hind no water bottle. Ya' need glasses er sumpin', thar', boy? On the excursion trains it performs two purposes: 1. The dynamic braking 2. If the steam locomotive does break down, the diseasel can push it somewhere. In some cases, you will see only the steam locomotive's pulling the train. The diseasel runs light behind it, just in case. You will notice, though, on that video, ain't nunna' them thar' DEE-zulls nowheres to be seen. Thus, it is likely that 3985 is pulling the train due to a power shortage. That would not be the first time that it had happened. In addition, 844 has performed similar tasks. I suspect that whatever Big Boy it is that they have dragged out of that park will be pressed into service, when necessary.
Because like Russian (ex Soviet) navy ships that can only go the sea if there is a ocean going tugboat with them. The steamers keeps breaking down. And with so few that work well having a helper is just good sense.
A brick that works is better then a pile of moving parts that looks like they are on the verge of self destruction. The video here is just a computer generation. Not of a real happening.
