I have a picture directly from the Union Pacific website. and was wondering if Bachmann made one of these.
it is the most massive loco I have seen the specs are
4-12-2 with tender. the road name is Union Pacific I think you can go the the union Pacific website to see the pics:
the www.up.com. go to the general public area and click on heavy haulers or steam and you will find it. it is the 9000 my god this thing is massive!
This monster was available in brass. The long wheelbase of the original UP engine limited it to a few of the UP operating districts. It was a real menace going through switches.
Bachmann would really be making a niche locomotive. Modellers would want it to go around 18 inch radius curves, be either DC or DCC compatible, be highly detailed and, of course, cheap.
I think we've almost beaten the 4-12-2 to death.
Woody is absolutely correct on his assessment. He left out the fact that it would look foolish on 18" radius curves - probably with the two center drivers totally off the rails
There's a picture of one going through a switch in the Steam Cyclopedia and I think every brass hat in the division observered the maneuver. :-\
Gene
Gene,
That picture was taken as the locomotive was on it's last run to be displayed in Pomona. UP was glad they didn't have to worry about it returning.. Great point on how big they were. The next time the UP wanted twelve drivers they bought Challengers. A better model that everyone else has done. Medium size steam is needed here.
I know of a bigger one :P
(http://www.dself.dsl.pipex.com/MUSEUM/LOCOLOCO/russ/aa20.jpg)
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2a/Andreev.jpg)
;D
On that last run that they made. Many of the curves they had men walk along the engine to make sure in was not going to jump they track. They also did not have anyplace to get coal for fuel. It was a long slow trip.
GG,
The reward for the designer of that loco was an all expense paid fifteen year trip to Siberia with plenty of activities to keep him in top physical shape and a diet specially planned to keep weight and colesterol down.
Gene
;D LOL very well put i must say.
When will the russians learn that such a humongus loading guage can be a problem? :P
A little research shows that soviet engine pictured above to be a 4-14-4. Being 5 foot gauge the thing was a real monster. The prototype had the three center drivers blind to negotiate the Russian curves and it spread the rails and derailed. One article I read indicated that it was planned to be a 2-14-4 but the front truck was added to help guide the thing through switches.
It was started in 1935 as class AA20 - the twenty meaning the loading in metric tons per axle. The engine was started in Essen by Krupps but was finished in the USSR. It was planned to pull long coal trains in the Donets Basin. It was soon retired and was stored until 1960 when it was scrapped. I'm surprised that it wasn't scrapped during the war.
Huh, 5 foot guage, didn't know that. The loading guage is still huge though.
The Russians and most of the former Soviet empire still use 5' gauge. Part of their rationale is that it prevents an invader from riding trains directly into their territory as all trains stop at the border to change trucks.
For those who don't know, the North Koreans actually sent one train to Seoul at the start of their South Korean invasion.
Gene
Back to the UP 4-12-2, I emailed BLI and they say they're looking into it for maybe 1.5/2.5 years from now.
You realize that you are in deep kimchee if that delays their Pacific projects, right?
With the numerous UP Challengers and Big Boys out there, as well as numerous other engine types, I suppose the 4-12-2 might fit right in on a UP layout. I'd love to see the projected minimum radius.
KimChee!! I think I would rather be in deep doo-doo. Ugh!! Nas-teeeeee!
RIch
Depends on summer or winter, now doesn't it, Rich?
Gene
Gene;
All things considered; in a word, no.
Rich
PS: Some years ago, the late Jim Findley did an article on buildng a gas works plant. On the side of the tank (which Walthers now markets) was the name "KIMCHI GAS WORKS". Knowing of Jim's assignments in Asia; Korea in particular, it must have been a rather tongue in cheek project.
I like the old days with the punny names. And I like Kimchi Gas Works! However, I think there is a big difference between summer and winter kimchee. The one I can eat. The other I can't - and I like hot food with garlic!
Gene
Having taught in a high school that educated many Korean Americans I can attest to the potency of Kimchee! Students used to prepare meals for Teacher Appreciation Day. I thought they were trying to do us in!
Some KimChee could fire that Russian 4-14-4 very easily. Jim Findlay claimed that a dose of KimChee would make you run like a demented kangaroo.
Findlay also had a mine called "It's Mine." on his layout as did a few others.
Sill, I don't think it's very likely that Bachmann would ever do a 4-12-2. I owned the SP 4-10-2 and the club hated it. While it could pull almost everything there, the curves were just a bit too tight at 30 inches. add another inch and wheelbase and there's an even bigger problem.