It is currently Mon Mar 18, 2024 10:22 pm

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 21 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
 Post subject: RGS 20 and UP 4014
PostPosted: Mon Sep 18, 2017 11:50 am 

Joined: Mon Feb 25, 2013 3:27 pm
Posts: 60
I took the Strasburg Railroad shop tour on 9/5/2017 and saw RGS 20 and the drivers for the UP4014. Pictures can be seen here: https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/topic/strasburg-rr-shop-tour-9-5-2017-up4014-and-rgs-20?reply=74918006414216444#74918006414216444

_________________
John Meixel


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: RGS 20 and UP 4014
PostPosted: Mon Sep 18, 2017 2:47 pm 

Joined: Fri Mar 05, 2010 3:41 am
Posts: 3911
Location: Inwood, W.Va.
Thanks for the pix! I bet the crews at Strasburg find it interesting to be working with something so much newer than most of what they see.

I also noted this comment following the post:

Quote:
ELDODROPTOPMEMBER

Sixteen new tires and crank pins... What is the cost on that?? Gotta be at least $12 or 13 bucks. ��

If more Corporations were willing to make investments like this in the name of Public Relations and Advertising the world would be a more interesting place. Beats the heck out of dumping 5 to 35 Million a year in a NASCAR Sponsorship.


I have to agree with that assessment of NASCAR sponsorships!


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: RGS 20 and UP 4014
PostPosted: Mon Sep 18, 2017 4:47 pm 

Joined: Thu Apr 14, 2005 9:34 pm
Posts: 2752
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Are crankpins such a disposable item? Why are they all being replaced?

_________________
Steven Harrod
Lektor
Danmarks Tekniske Universitet


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: RGS 20 and UP 4014
PostPosted: Mon Sep 18, 2017 5:29 pm 

Joined: Mon Feb 25, 2013 3:27 pm
Posts: 60
Steven, I don't know. I assume it has to do with the engine being outside for 50+ years.

_________________
John Meixel


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: RGS 20 and UP 4014
PostPosted: Mon Sep 18, 2017 7:17 pm 

Joined: Sun Dec 28, 2014 11:12 pm
Posts: 204
softwerkslex wrote:
Are crankpins such a disposable item? Why are they all being replaced?
According to Hot Water over on OGR says
Quote:
For what it's worth, new crankpins are REALLY necessary since there is no telling how many times the existing crankpins had been resurfaced/turned undersize. Also, the installation of all new crankpins, made to original Union Pacific drawing specifications, will insure that ALL the drive wheels will be PROPERLY turned to the exact same diameter and perfectly quartered. Such dimensions insure proper valve settings when finally assembled.


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: RGS 20 and UP 4014
PostPosted: Mon Sep 18, 2017 7:56 pm 

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:02 am
Posts: 293
Looking at the 7th photo, showing 4014's drivers lined up,
I'd say they've converted it to plateway operation!! ;)

_________________
--Drew Black


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: RGS 20 and UP 4014
PostPosted: Mon Sep 18, 2017 8:36 pm 

Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2004 6:41 am
Posts: 213
Location: Stockton, New Jersey
John - Thanks for posting the photos! It looks like you and Keith got a personal shop tour that day!! That shop is amazing!!


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: RGS 20 and UP 4014
PostPosted: Mon Sep 18, 2017 9:46 pm 

Joined: Mon Feb 25, 2013 3:27 pm
Posts: 60
Ron, Thanks, we had a great time.

_________________
John Meixel


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: RGS 20 and UP 4014
PostPosted: Tue Sep 19, 2017 12:40 am 

Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2010 2:06 am
Posts: 329
softwerkslex wrote:
Are crankpins such a disposable item? Why are they all being replaced?


Steven,
With the work we've been doing on the C&NW 1385 I'd say that yes, crankpins are relatively "disposable". Consider that to best machine them for stroke and quarter the axle must come out so why not do it while the wheelsets are at a capable shop? If the aim is a "zero mile" restoration then why not start out with all the pins and then all the bearings the same (original and full) size?

My next statement is pure conjecture but if during inspection a crack was found in any pin that would make them all suspect in my mind.

Also drawing from the 1385 work, the cost of the pins we replaced was a relatively smalll percentage of the wheel work......mld


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: RGS 20 and UP 4014
PostPosted: Tue Sep 19, 2017 1:16 am 

Joined: Fri Mar 05, 2010 3:41 am
Posts: 3911
Location: Inwood, W.Va.
While the drivers from the Big Boy are the big subject, I noticed something a good deal smaller in one of the photos of RGS 20--what appears to be part of a small Crown park locomotive.

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/fileSendA ... G_8411.jpg

It's hard to judge the size from the photo, but the small Crowns came in 15 inch, 16 inch, and 24 inch gauge.

It could well be an engine there for contract work, but I can't help but wonder if it isn't a 15 incher that'll eventually be a new playmate for the Cagneys!


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: RGS 20 and UP 4014
PostPosted: Tue Sep 19, 2017 2:04 am 
User avatar

Joined: Fri Oct 01, 2004 2:46 pm
Posts: 2666
Location: Pac NW, via North Florida
J3a-614 wrote:

Quote:
ELDODROPTOPMEMBER

Sixteen new tires and crank pins... What is the cost on that?? Gotta be at least $12 or 13 bucks. ��

If more Corporations were willing to make investments like this in the name of Public Relations and Advertising the world would be a more interesting place. Beats the heck out of dumping 5 to 35 Million a year in a NASCAR Sponsorship.


I have to agree with that assessment of NASCAR sponsorships!

I wouldn't. You have to be deranged to think that for a pure public relations standpoint, that a steam locomotive that runs just a few times of year is going to be better bang for the buck than sponsoring a race car, which would be seen by millions and millions of people in person and on TV.

_________________
Lee Bishop


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: RGS 20 and UP 4014
PostPosted: Tue Sep 19, 2017 3:38 am 

Joined: Fri Mar 05, 2010 3:41 am
Posts: 3911
Location: Inwood, W.Va.
p51 wrote:
J3a-614 wrote:

Quote:
ELDODROPTOPMEMBER

Sixteen new tires and crank pins... What is the cost on that?? Gotta be at least $12 or 13 bucks. ��

If more Corporations were willing to make investments like this in the name of Public Relations and Advertising the world would be a more interesting place. Beats the heck out of dumping 5 to 35 Million a year in a NASCAR Sponsorship.


I have to agree with that assessment of NASCAR sponsorships!


I wouldn't. You have to be deranged to think that for a pure public relations standpoint, that a steam locomotive that runs just a few times of year is going to be better bang for the buck than sponsoring a race car, which would be seen by millions and millions of people in person and on TV.


More effective? Probably not, for the reasons you mention, but being more effective is not necessarily impossible. It would require more PR work in addition to the sponsorship, such as use in commercials or something.

More interesting? Absolutely!! Just by being different from everything else would make it that--and maybe, just maybe, that difference might also improve the effectiveness (along with those commercials, mind you).


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: RGS 20 and UP 4014
PostPosted: Tue Sep 19, 2017 6:00 pm 
User avatar

Joined: Fri Oct 01, 2004 2:46 pm
Posts: 2666
Location: Pac NW, via North Florida
J3a-614 wrote:
p51 wrote:
You have to be deranged to think that for a pure public relations standpoint, that a steam locomotive that runs just a few times of year is going to be better bang for the buck than sponsoring a race car, which would be seen by millions and millions of people in person and on TV.

More effective? Probably not, for the reasons you mention, but being more effective is not necessarily impossible. It would require more PR work in addition to the sponsorship, such as use in commercials or something.

More interesting? Absolutely!! Just by being different from everything else would make it that--and maybe, just maybe, that difference might also improve the effectiveness (along with those commercials, mind you).

This is where train collectively fans can't connect with the public at large.
No slam on anyone personally, as this opinion is a popular one among train fans. It reminds me of a co-worker who is huge into modern buses. Bus foamers. I didn't know they existed until I met this guy. Anyway, for a long time he'd come into my cubicle, excited as can be about a new variant of bus he just saw on the road during lunch. I tried to humor him but after this happening plenty of time, even I got fed up.
I told him, "Look, I get it's a big thing for you, but nobody here cares, just like they don't care if I see a steam locomotive the previous weekend or a WW2 fighter plan flying over my house."
He just stared at me with a blank expression. He then yelled out, "HOW COULD SOMEONE NOT think I just saw a [insert bus designation here] isn't cool???"
So here's the point; most of us are the bus foamer in that case. And my coworkers and I are the rest of the world.
Sure, a steam locomotive under its own power looks cool and will hold a non-train-fan's attention for a moment or two. But then, they'll be wondering what they're going to do for dinner.
So, a railroad's options are to sponsor a NASCAR or put the money into a steam engine?
Look, I'm a train fan, but even I would go with the car if that was my job to handle the best PR for my company. Any sane businessperson would, too.
The idea that even someone here can't see that would be the best way to spend a limited PR budget, is downright comical.
We all need to collectively understand that trains are cool for us, but not nearly so (if even at all) for the rest of planet earth.

_________________
Lee Bishop


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: RGS 20 and UP 4014
PostPosted: Tue Sep 19, 2017 7:57 pm 

Joined: Sat Aug 25, 2007 12:45 am
Posts: 1010
p51 wrote:
Look, I'm a train fan, but even I would go with the car if that was my job to handle the best PR for my company. Any sane businessperson would, too.
The idea that even someone here can't see that would be the best way to spend a limited PR budget, is downright comical.


Perhaps you could tell us about the race cars UNP and NSC have sponsored?


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: RGS 20 and UP 4014
PostPosted: Wed Sep 20, 2017 9:37 am 

Joined: Sat Sep 18, 2004 1:21 pm
Posts: 486
Location: Columbus, OH
p51 wrote:
... He just stared at me with a blank expression. He then yelled out, "HOW COULD SOMEONE NOT think I just saw a [insert bus designation here] isn't cool???"
So here's the point; most of us are the bus foamer in that case. And my coworkers and I are the rest of the world.
Sure, a steam locomotive under its own power looks cool and will hold a non-train-fan's attention for a moment or two. But then, they'll be wondering what they're going to do for dinner.
So, a railroad's options are to sponsor a NASCAR or put the money into a steam engine?
Look, I'm a train fan, but even I would go with the car if that was my job to handle the best PR for my company. Any sane businessperson would, too.
The idea that even someone here can't see that would be the best way to spend a limited PR budget, is downright comical.
We all need to collectively understand that trains are cool for us, but not nearly so (if even at all) for the rest of planet earth.


I think you underrate the general appeal of steam locomotives. During the NS Steam Program (the original one) I saw rank and file citizens turn up trackside in large numbers whenever the excursions were coming through. Not railfans, many didn't even have cameras. There is just something generally appealing about a steam locomotive in operation - it's both classic and intriguing with all the visible moving parts. Also, they are not filling these excursions with just railfans. If you had a GP-7 coming though town or a heritage unit, I do not think the public would care, at least not nearly as much.

The difference between a steam program and something like NASCAR or the NFL or whatever comes down to marketing. Those organizations are marketing dynamos. They are about flash and bling and things that get the public's attention. Admittedly a steam program is unlikely to ever reach that level of general popularity, however I believe that no steam program has gone beyond scratching the surface of its marketing potential. It is unlikely one ever will because the railroads are not much interested in marketing to the general public. Yes, there are exceptions like the CSX ads of a few years ago, but in general what advertising they do is directed at shippers and financials channels. This only increases the knowledge disconnect between the public and the railroads (which is part of a larger disconnect between the public and all the facilities that make modern life possible, but that is another discussion.)

In any event, because the railroad are not much interested in marketing to the general public, I think it very unlikely that you are going to see any railroad names on NASCAR racers or NFL sidelines. At least with a steam program they can run it on THEIR OWN track.

_________________
Christopher D. Coleman

https://www.oldeastie.com Old Eastie: East Broad Top Homepage
https://www.febt.org Friends of the East Broad Top
https://www.eastbroadtop.com East Broad Top Railroad


Offline
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 21 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]


 Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot], PRR8063, Zach Lybrand and 50 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: