Flew through the Pomona RR museum, which was closed, but took a few pictures, including this one of UP 9000, which looked for all the world like it is a 4-12-2 on a straight frame. It's hard to get a good shot, because the sun is always behind the loco and of course it's black underneath. But I figured you guys will know for sure. Is that correct? Did UP make any more of these? Where were they used - the long flat straight desert?
Looks like some sheeting is off the firebox. Is it being restored, I wonder (cosmetically). Awesome indeed. My friend had an unpainted O scale brass model of one, but had to sell it as it needed VERY large radius curves
Some interesting reading. (I am especially awed by the build date!) The 9000 series was one of the first 3 cylinder locomotives and was first built in 1926. The Union Pacific took a liking to this locomotive and bought 87 more over the next four years and was the only company to fully use these locomotives. It replaced the mallets that the Union Pacific had been using which could only travel at speeds of 25 mph. The 9000 could pull the 100-125 freight cars that were previously pulled by the mallets at speeds of 50 mph or better and could do it 80% more efficiently. The locomotive had a wheel arrangement of 4-12-2 and the locomotives were named the 9000s or 9s because there are 9 wheels on each side of the locomotive. These locomotives were the main workhorses over the famous Sherman Hill in Wyoming and through Weber Canyon in Utah until the debut of the Challengers and Big Boys. The third cylinder is located between the frame and is connected to a cranked axel on the second set of driver wheels. Contrary to popular belief, the first axel was NOT cranked. The 3rd cylinder was set at and 8 degree inclination that allowed the main rod and cross head of the 3rd cylinder to clear the first axel. This inclination resulted in a uneven positioning of the intervals for the 3 cylinders. When looking at the locomotive from the right side, the intervals are as follows rotating in a clockwise manner: 112 Degrees to the middle pin, then 128 Degrees to the left pin finally 120 degrees back to the right pin. This positioning gave the locomotive a very distinctive and uneven sounding exhaust. Go to the bottom of the page and listen to the sound file to hear one of the 9000 locomotives. The valve for the third cylinder was operated by a mechanism called the Gresley Valve gear. This valve gear consisted of 2 rocker arms that were attached to the extending valve stems of the outside cylinders and sat on the front of the locomotive. The inverse sum of the motion of the two outside cylinders created the proper motion for the valve of the 3rd cylinder. These were the largest successful rigid frame locomotives in the world and was The King of the rails until builders were able to perfect the articulated design and the Challengers and the Big Boy came along.
I'll bet it's jacketing is off, as local authorities required the lagging to be removed. Asbestos.... Boxcab E50
Listen to this! What a 9000 sounds like! http://myweb.cableone.net/permstev/uploaded_various_files/up-4-12-2.mp3
The UP 9000 Class was one of a very few (if not the only) steam locomotive design that had blind (flangeless) drivers. IIRC, axles #3 and #4 had blind drivers so the loco could negotiate tight curves, especially in yards. And you thought those "toy" Lionel engines were the only ones with blind drivers.... BTW, the two outside cylinders connected to axle #3, but the inside center cylinder connected to an axle crank on axle #2.
!!!!! Fantastic!!! Anyone know how to download this? I'd love to save it and listen again! Boxcab E50
Thanks, guys, Jerry in particular, for this insight Fascinating locomotive, indeed. Is this the only remaining one?
The Gresley 'conjugated' valve gear was designed by Sir Nigel Gresley, the Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Great Northern Railway and later the London & North Eastern Railway here in the UK. His most famous locomotives were the class A4 streamlined pacifics, of which "Mallard" holds the world speed record for steam. The conjugated valve gear was used on all his locomotives, and was great as long as it was properly maintained. Maybe not entirely suited to heavy freight locomotives in the US! The gear on some of the UP 9000's was removed and an extra set of valve gear was mounted on one side of the loco. This unbalanced the loco so the air pumps were moved to the opposite side to compensate, IIRC. Fascinating class.
!!!!! Fantastic!!! Anyone know how to download this? I'd love to save it and listen again! Boxcab E50 </font>[/QUOTE]Fantastic didn't decribe it for me... Incredible more like it! But hey, I'll take what I can get.... Ken, Right click on the link above, and click 'Save target as'. Save it to where you can find it, and just listen to it till your heart's content. There's simply nothing like Union Pacific super steam power. Nothing that I haver heard matches the sheer power that runbles from these beasts! Especially in the cab, marching upgrade.... That 9000 would be a neat one to have a video of. Anyone know where I can find a video with 9000 series engines footage? If you said I was steam nut, I'd say 'Certifiable!'....
It had been so long since I'd last used that tool, it was forgotten! Thanks for reminding me... Boxcab E50
To me, it kinda had that "hitch-in-its-git-along" sound, with that third cylinder sound....definitely unique. Too bad I was born too late to see these beasts at work..... Thanx fer the download!!
Gresley locomotives here always had an off-beat sound, but an A4 climbing stoke bank with a heavy passenger train sounded great! If the maintenance slipped a bit on all the pins in the valve gear, particularly on V2's, they could sound decidedly syncopated !
Cant get this link to work,any idea's anyone?? </font>[/QUOTE]Right click on the link above, and click 'Save target as'. Save it to where you can find it, (I saved it on the desktop) and just listen to it till your heart's content. HTH
