That fact remains, the engine will be less slippery if the engineer would learn how to use the Johnson bar correctly, Running in the corner is the main reason this engine sounds the way it does, the stack talk is directly related to back pressure at the blast nozzle.
Stalk talk is the sound of the exhaust when the locomotive is working. A Johnson bar is a large floor mounted bar - on a steam locomotive it controls the reverser and allows you to adjust the cut-off (valve timing). Not all locomotives have Johnson bars. Some have screws to control the reverser.
Mid-October is the worst for leaves on the rails. They leave a film much like grease. Anyone that works for the railroad will tell you that fall is a challenge to hold they rail....even for the diesels.
Very nice video, I love the pace work at Zehners. 425 was slipping her ball bearings off in quite a few shots. Your video shows the 425 is doing most of the work. Len.
Point taken. Luckily it seems most engineers today still learned the right way to run an engine i.e. Steve Lee, Doyle McCormack. They're not afraid one bit to use an engine's power if needed, but they don't needlessly beat on them such as the crew does here.
Most bridges are fairly wide and high, though some of the American locomotives do have the silly great big conical chimneys... Platform clearance is the main issue, although I think that's largely the same worldwide. Many lines in the south are ex-GWR and much of the infrastructure is built to the original 7' 1/4" gauge so there's a lot of clearance. I'm not so hot on the more northern railways, so I don't know what the Settle and Carlisle is like.
@7822welshsteam It depends on the locomotive... the size of the pistons, design of the draft flow for the smokebox, and just general working conditions all influence how the engine sounds. This video shows a passenger locomotive working it's guts out to drag a train a track speed, which isn't very common anywhere these days.
I run for the state of Montana on the Alder Gulch Shortline, since 2005 check my videos to see her and me in action. Has nothing to do with youth mind you I'm pretty young myself! But they're running with a smalller Pacific and a big train over hilly terrain. A 2-8-0 or similar might be less slippery but that seems about right for that locomotive on that train. Good observations!
I'm surprised it's such a long period, 10 years is the maximum standard ticket you can get over here, for closed line running, although you can get a year extension if it's all still sound, but frequently small leaks are found around 10 years anyway. It may be due to, again, the higher pressures we use. More learning, every time, great eh?
That is correct, and after watching more videos of this engine, this appears to be the norm for them.. Its true we dont know all the facts but I do know enough about operating steam to understand the cause and effect of setting the cutoff so the steam can expand and can extract all the useable energy from it.
Different country, different nomenclature. 'Stalk talk' (sometimes called stalk music) sounds a bit nicer to me than the rather drab 'exhaust noise.' And the Johnson bar is an American thing. Google it. There are some good pics online.
Ok, talk I can understand, stack, not so much. Most just call it exhaust noise/sound. I've only ever heard of the reverser referred to as the, err, reverser, or cutoff lever/handle (depending on whether it's a lever or a screw handle.
I looked you guys up, i would love to see more pictures of the engine, question, is that engine have baker valve gear? I have a close friend that built a narrow gauge "live steamer" that was based of a 30" narrow gauge 2-8-0.
Hollywood, I was not "bashing" anyone, I was stating a fact, I have designed, built and have often run steam (models) since I was a youngster. I have even pulled the throttle on a small narrow gauge engine pulling revenue for two seasons before my job took me away from it, so unlike 99% people, I feel I can speak on the subject, where do you run Hollywood? Just because I am young does not mean I dont know what I am talking about.
While I can't say much for other companies, the GWR's lovely brass whistles have a glorious crisp toot. Sharp and clear enough to give warning, but not grating. I see no problem with them. Plus, they can be elegantly placed up against the cab front, atop the firebox, out of the way, whereas a bell has to be hung on the running plate or front buffer beam, ruining the lines. Sound hideous... goodness.
It'd be nice to see a lot of engines running again, the problem is - can they create an income? Freight engines tend to be slow, albeit powerful, which isn't great for hauling passengers, which is really the only income they can have on mainline running. It's all very well hauling a freight train for publicity but it won't really work as a viable business plan. Coal is expensive nowadays, and the infrastructure for them just isn't there.
It'd have to be bloody loud, not much penetration. Certainly wouldn't make me look. I've done a bit on railways, the 08 class diesel shunters have a similar sounding hooter and you really have to listen for it, just a dull 'doot'. Also seems like a massive amount of steam. The other factor I can think of is pressure. British engines tend to run higher pressures, needing smaller orifices in to get a sound at all, leading to higher notes. I suppose it's what you're used to as to prefence.
Incredible. Close your eyes around 2:50 and it could be 614 pounding the rails. Why all the wheel slipping? Was this train longer than most? Were the rails wet? Great video. I wish I was there!
Yeah. That is a heavy train, and it doesn't look the diesel is doing too much of the work either. The snifters drop pretty quick when they shut off seeing them pop shut every time he puts on power again. Who knows, maybe the track had weed spray on the rails...
Now, despite my usual aversion to 'ugly' locomotives, even I'll admit a 'Big Boy' is an impressive sight. Not overly fast, and a bit OTT for a mere excursion train, but still, I'll bet it's a bally good hoot!
I know this is an old comment, but; I have done a bit of both firing and driving of steam engines, and not once have I ever used or heard of a Johnson bar.. What is it? And, for that matter, what is stack talk?
They may not have been overly successful in business terms, back in the day, and being so large, weren't really very useful in many places at all. But they were designed to make ridiculous power, and hang the economy or practicality. And they did. I'm sure, given a reason, someone in Britain would have made something similar, but no reason existed over here. We wanted speed, not brute pulling power. We had enough of that.
@hollywood1340 No one is bashing anyone. This has got to be one of the best steam videos from the last couple of years on UA-cam. It is unfortunate people are quick to chime in on a situation they do not completely understand.
I've never understood the silly bells on American loco's. 4472 had to have one when she visited the US, it was hideous. If you can't hear 100 tons of snorting, barking, wailing steam engine banging down the line towards you, how are you going to hear a bell?
The bells are actually quite loud. And they are mainly used in stations or yards to alert people and crew of train movements. In some cities and towns it is used Instead of the whistle or horn due to quiet zones.
There are a lot of similarities in the British network. LNER didn't really need the speed of the A4s, but it had them to impress people. The Big boys were similar. Other engines did much the same job, better in many ways, but aren't remembered nearly so well. Sad really.
Great vid, but why is the Johnson bar always in the corner on that engine? I understand if it's working hard up a grade, but every vid I see, no matter whether it's hauling 3 cars or 13, the engineer always has it very low on the rack. Anyone have any insight into why the R&N does this?
As near as I can tell, the engineer is running the locomotive and you're posting on an internet forum. Glad you know how steam works but if you're not doing, don't bash on those of us that do.
Flying Scotsman is STILL under refurbishment, due to it eating more cash than a cash eating, err, thing. City of Truro is still going strong for now, but is due for boiler ticket renewal soon, (they have to be done every 7 years for mainline running, with three more years closed line running if safe to do so here, I don't know about the US) but they tend to do a full overhaul at that time anyway, as it's cheaper to do it all in one go than waste months of ticket time.
/watch?v=szQ7_EVDgqg One of my favourite GWR engines (I've driven it a few times, and fired, you kinda get attached) about half way through you hear it. Crisp, clear, noticeable from a mile away, as it needs to be when it's bombing along at 80-90. This style, I do not like. It's just a natty drone. Whooo whooooo. Sounds depressed and a little creepy. I like a nice crisp 'dooot' To each his own, but as a warning signal, the Brit stuff is better, and I think, more musical.
First of all its not a Johnson Bar, second of all just about every sceen in this video is a hard grade and a very hard pull with 14 coaches. If you would have any idea how this engine is run you wouldnt be asking these questions. Antifoam.....no one claims to be an expert, seems you believe you are though. People like you give railfans bad names.
I don,t see why It can not be t he 2102 there are some rather strong an emosional feelings about this matter there was plans to work with with steam town butt steasm can care less about stseam Let me Muller know how we feel about the matteroh I don,t hate the 425 but its not a T1 and the latest is the 200 is being readed for opperatin but it will be out inOhio
nothing like a train working lol and you can even see the sand being applied as it goes by after that major slip towards the end!!!
That fact remains, the engine will be less slippery if the engineer would learn how to use the Johnson bar correctly, Running in the corner is the main reason this engine sounds the way it does, the stack talk is directly related to back pressure at the blast nozzle.
Stalk talk is the sound of the exhaust when the locomotive is working. A Johnson bar is a large floor mounted bar - on a steam locomotive it controls the reverser and allows you to adjust the cut-off (valve timing). Not all locomotives have Johnson bars. Some have screws to control the reverser.
THE WHISTLE SOUNDS GREAT.
Mid-October is the worst for leaves on the rails. They leave a film much like grease. Anyone that works for the railroad will tell you that fall is a challenge to hold they rail....even for the diesels.
Very nice video, I love the pace work at Zehners. 425 was slipping her ball bearings off in quite a few shots. Your video shows the 425 is doing most of the work.
Len.
Your the best pacer around. Hands down. She sure is a slippery girl. Made my monday.
Point taken. Luckily it seems most engineers today still learned the right way to run an engine i.e. Steve Lee, Doyle McCormack. They're not afraid one bit to use an engine's power if needed, but they don't needlessly beat on them such as the crew does here.
Now available on DVD. Please visit the SteamTrainVideos website.
And that's why I do this. Cheers.
SHE IS A BEAST!!
A LOT OF WHEEL SLIPPING!!!
WONDERFUL!!!
I LOVE IT!
That blue pacific was the engine that rekindled my interest in railroading. Love that engine. LONG LIVE THE 425!
Most bridges are fairly wide and high, though some of the American locomotives do have the silly great big conical chimneys... Platform clearance is the main issue, although I think that's largely the same worldwide. Many lines in the south are ex-GWR and much of the infrastructure is built to the original 7' 1/4" gauge so there's a lot of clearance. I'm not so hot on the more northern railways, so I don't know what the Settle and Carlisle is like.
@7822welshsteam
It depends on the locomotive... the size of the pistons, design of the draft flow for the smokebox, and just general working conditions all influence how the engine sounds. This video shows a passenger locomotive working it's guts out to drag a train a track speed, which isn't very common anywhere these days.
Legend says That R&B 4-6-2 425 is one of the loudest steam engines in the world (or USA)
(If your wondering what 4-6-2 means... it means the wheel configuration u got 4 up front 6 in the middle and 2 in the back) so now ya know
I run for the state of Montana on the Alder Gulch Shortline, since 2005 check my videos to see her and me in action. Has nothing to do with youth mind you I'm pretty young myself! But they're running with a smalller Pacific and a big train over hilly terrain. A 2-8-0 or similar might be less slippery but that seems about right for that locomotive on that train. Good observations!
I'm guessing we run one of if not the largest 30" gauge locomotive in the America's right now.
work baby work!!!
I'm surprised it's such a long period, 10 years is the maximum standard ticket you can get over here, for closed line running, although you can get a year extension if it's all still sound, but frequently small leaks are found around 10 years anyway. It may be due to, again, the higher pressures we use. More learning, every time, great eh?
Hell yeah!!!!
That is correct, and after watching more videos of this engine, this appears to be the norm for them..
Its true we dont know all the facts but I do know enough about operating steam to understand the cause and effect of setting the cutoff so the steam can expand and can extract all the useable energy from it.
lots of wheel slip-great vid
Different country, different nomenclature. 'Stalk talk' (sometimes called stalk music) sounds a bit nicer to me than the rather drab 'exhaust noise.' And the Johnson bar is an American thing. Google it. There are some good pics online.
Ok, talk I can understand, stack, not so much. Most just call it exhaust noise/sound.
I've only ever heard of the reverser referred to as the, err, reverser, or cutoff lever/handle (depending on whether it's a lever or a screw handle.
I looked you guys up, i would love to see more pictures of the engine,
question, is that engine have baker valve gear?
I have a close friend that built a narrow gauge "live steamer" that was based of a 30" narrow gauge 2-8-0.
Hollywood, I was not "bashing" anyone, I was stating a fact,
I have designed, built and have often run steam (models) since I was a youngster.
I have even pulled the throttle on a small narrow gauge engine pulling revenue for two seasons before my job took me away from it,
so unlike 99% people, I feel I can speak on the subject,
where do you run Hollywood?
Just because I am young does not mean I dont know what I am talking about.
While I can't say much for other companies, the GWR's lovely brass whistles have a glorious crisp toot. Sharp and clear enough to give warning, but not grating. I see no problem with them. Plus, they can be elegantly placed up against the cab front, atop the firebox, out of the way, whereas a bell has to be hung on the running plate or front buffer beam, ruining the lines.
Sound hideous... goodness.
nice i love the 425
Me too
It'd be nice to see a lot of engines running again, the problem is - can they create an income?
Freight engines tend to be slow, albeit powerful, which isn't great for hauling passengers, which is really the only income they can have on mainline running. It's all very well hauling a freight train for publicity but it won't really work as a viable business plan. Coal is expensive nowadays, and the infrastructure for them just isn't there.
It'd have to be bloody loud, not much penetration. Certainly wouldn't make me look. I've done a bit on railways, the 08 class diesel shunters have a similar sounding hooter and you really have to listen for it, just a dull 'doot'. Also seems like a massive amount of steam. The other factor I can think of is pressure. British engines tend to run higher pressures, needing smaller orifices in to get a sound at all, leading to higher notes. I suppose it's what you're used to as to prefence.
Incredible. Close your eyes around 2:50 and it could be 614 pounding the rails. Why all the wheel slipping? Was this train longer than most? Were the rails wet? Great video. I wish I was there!
2:50
Yeah. That is a heavy train, and it doesn't look the diesel is doing too much of the work either. The snifters drop pretty quick when they shut off seeing them pop shut every time he puts on power again. Who knows, maybe the track had weed spray on the rails...
Now, despite my usual aversion to 'ugly' locomotives, even I'll admit a 'Big Boy' is an impressive sight. Not overly fast, and a bit OTT for a mere excursion train, but still, I'll bet it's a bally good hoot!
I know this is an old comment, but; I have done a bit of both firing and driving of steam engines, and not once have I ever used or heard of a Johnson bar.. What is it? And, for that matter, what is stack talk?
They may not have been overly successful in business terms, back in the day, and being so large, weren't really very useful in many places at all. But they were designed to make ridiculous power, and hang the economy or practicality. And they did.
I'm sure, given a reason, someone in Britain would have made something similar, but no reason existed over here. We wanted speed, not brute pulling power. We had enough of that.
now, was she slippping whenever the engineer would throttle down, and then come back slow
You can hear the SD-50 slipping at 7:28.
7:28
@hollywood1340
No one is bashing anyone. This has got to be one of the best steam videos from the last couple of years on UA-cam. It is unfortunate people are quick to chime in on a situation they do not completely understand.
I've never understood the silly bells on American loco's. 4472 had to have one when she visited the US, it was hideous. If you can't hear 100 tons of snorting, barking, wailing steam engine banging down the line towards you, how are you going to hear a bell?
The bells are actually quite loud. And they are mainly used in stations or yards to alert people and crew of train movements. In some cities and towns it is used Instead of the whistle or horn due to quiet zones.
There are a lot of similarities in the British network. LNER didn't really need the speed of the A4s, but it had them to impress people. The Big boys were similar. Other engines did much the same job, better in many ways, but aren't remembered nearly so well. Sad really.
Though they are pretty close to being all the way down.
Same here.
Great vid, but why is the Johnson bar always in the corner on that engine? I understand if it's working hard up a grade, but every vid I see, no matter whether it's hauling 3 cars or 13, the engineer always has it very low on the rack. Anyone have any insight into why the R&N does this?
I wish they would restore #2102.
Now is restore #2102 now
As near as I can tell, the engineer is running the locomotive and you're posting on an internet forum. Glad you know how steam works but if you're not doing, don't bash on those of us that do.
And these sequences were all filmed By the same Person with through same camera Phone?
@Foxtrot Oscar youd be surprised how many ppl dont hear a steam train coming
Hi. I'm from Wales (in UK) and I can't help noticing that American steam locos seam to have higher pitched exhausts than British ones. Any idea why?
depends on the locomotive tbh
You can't see what's going on in the cab so I wouldn't be so quick to criticize.
Well they have to be, to a certain extent. They're a warning sound, not musical instruments. I like 'em though.
In this video it is nice to see that Americans too fling rubbish out of a train window as on Indian Railways!
The locomotive looked shiny
Oliver- TheOverPoweredPro /ๆ
Flying Scotsman is STILL under refurbishment, due to it eating more cash than a cash eating, err, thing.
City of Truro is still going strong for now, but is due for boiler ticket renewal soon, (they have to be done every 7 years for mainline running, with three more years closed line running if safe to do so here, I don't know about the US) but they tend to do a full overhaul at that time anyway, as it's cheaper to do it all in one go than waste months of ticket time.
She really lost it at 7:12!
7:12
Oh Nice,
Love narrow gauge!!
Very quiet video pace work ball bearings zehners.
GM&N Pacific 425 🚂
Yep is one of my favorite locomotives of my childhood
It might have helped if they weren't dragging the SD50 along.
/watch?v=szQ7_EVDgqg
One of my favourite GWR engines (I've driven it a few times, and fired, you kinda get attached) about half way through you hear it. Crisp, clear, noticeable from a mile away, as it needs to be when it's bombing along at 80-90.
This style, I do not like. It's just a natty drone. Whooo whooooo. Sounds depressed and a little creepy.
I like a nice crisp 'dooot'
To each his own, but as a warning signal, the Brit stuff is better, and I think, more musical.
First of all its not a Johnson Bar, second of all just about every sceen in this video is a hard grade and a very hard pull with 14 coaches. If you would have any idea how this engine is run you wouldnt be asking these questions. Antifoam.....no one claims to be an expert, seems you believe you are though. People like you give railfans bad names.
Electronic crossing bells at 2:07... yuck
@21navyseabee free advertising...
I don,t see why It can not be t he 2102 there are some rather strong an emosional feelings about this matter there was plans to work with with steam town butt steasm can care less about stseam Let me Muller know how we feel about the matteroh I don,t hate the 425 but its not a T1 and the latest is the 200 is being readed for opperatin but it will be out inOhio
Stroke? Btw. the 425 is wayyyyy more beautiful than the T1 IMO.