Towing and Shrouding
I was putting together some photos, in which the topic was inspired by the first photo below â and last night we coincidentally mentioned the Strasburg Railroad! A second separate but equally coincidental discussion last night came up about the cylinder rods of a loco being disconnectedâŚpossibly because it was recently towed. So I had to get these out!
Two topics: Towing locomotives (CoincidenceâŚReally! – I was putting these together prior to the meeting last night! And notice that I was so struck by the timing of these two short topics of discussion, that I was quietâŚspeechless on these topicsâŚme!). While I was looking for âtowingâ photos, I ran into a background pic for shrouding â second topic (later).
This is the Strasburg RR, the USâs oldest continually running short-line (formed in 1832); and leading tourist railroad. Yep â that appears to be a 2-6-0 pulling a GG1. The Mogul is SRC engine #89, a former Grand Trunk and Canadian National loco built by the Canadian Locomotive Works in 1910, and sold to SRC in 1972. The GG1 is Conrail #4855. CR #4855 was leading a train near Lemann Place junction in December 1976 when she burned out a lead truck axle bearing.
Strasburg Rail Road was asked to do the repair, so pictured here is Engine #89 with Huber Leath and Linn Moedinger in the cab, towing #4855 through Carpenterâs Crossing with a local news team there to catch the action.
PRR #3437, a Class H-9S 2-8-0, heads southbound out of the Elmira yard, 1955. But of interest, on the right is PRR engine #4632, an I-1SA (2-10-0) “Decapod” built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works during 1923 and retired in January of 1960. It has become disabled and is actually being towed at the end of a northbound coal train into the yards in Elmira, New York.
I believe this is UP #3206, an Alco 4-6-2 built in 1904, being towed by aâŚtow truck.
Later, UP #3206 is being towed in Four Lakes, WA, on Eastern Washington Gateway Railroad trackage, 2016.
Reaching its final destination, UP #3206 is on static display at the Inland Northwest Rail Museum, Reardon, WA, 2017.
This looks like a typical GG1 leading a passenger trainâŚIn 1964, at Alexandria Jct, MD, the PRR GG1 #4906 brings up the rear of DC to NYC train 126, which diesels are towing backward over the B&O because of a derailment on the PRR at Lanham, Md. BTW, this is one of the GG1 paint schemes that I donât see much of but kinda like! Also note the mechanical chases for throwing turnouts and signals running down the right of the tracks. (Why do the GG1s seem to be the often towed loco â at least in the pics?)
This is âtowingâ, but instead of locomotivesâŚThese logging trains are headed for the mill in Eureka, CA. Given the width of the locos & cars, some of these logs appear to be 10â to 12â in diameter. This is Eureka â so likely Redwoods. Towing a trunk of a redwood is kinda like towing a disabled loco (??).
Changing topics â Weâve talked a lot about streamlining and shrouding on steam locos. So whatâs really going on when we see these streamlined steam locos that without the shrouding would be showing all sorts of appliances, piping, and mechanical connections? Hereâs PRRâs S-1 duplex, 6-4-4-6, under construction. The boiler can easily be seen with its smokebox and firebox. The riveting and plates are exposed with some of the locations for piping and appliances obvious. But most interesting is the steel furring strips that will support the shrouding.
ThenâŚthe finished look!
âŚUnfortunately â thatâs the extent I achieved on these two topics. I wish I could show more, but these two ended up with a lot of dead ends. I guess everyone is a bit embarrassed when needing a tow â No pics, please! âŚAnd â well, naked streamliners in the shop â sneaking peeks is also a bit rude!
Thx,
Kevin
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