Not a good photo, but it looks pretty sad at Chattanooga, recently. This is the S160 with Franklin rotary valve gear, that was tested on regular Ma & Pa trains in the early 1950s.

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/sh ... 45/cat/529

I think the 611 has been discussed here before and yes it does look bad these days. However, I think TVRM bought most of the missing parts from Poland when the wheel machines were purchased and now have most of the pieces to put 611 back together again.

John Bohon

Yes, I recall somebody was going to a look at the
valves. Did they find time to do this? Just
curious how things were coming along.
Nice to hear that in the long term, restoration
may be possible.

With all due respect; it looked sad before it left Texas!

It sounds like progress is being made in restoring it; that is good news.

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

Surviving World Steam Project

611 is a Baldwin S160 from 1943. She was used extensively at Ft Eustis and I believe was part of that multiple lashup at one of the NRHS conventions there in the 60s.
http://members.aol.com/belpaire/us.html#5

Given that 610 was converted to Franklin rotary cam poppet valves, it stands to reason that the latest version, designated as "long compression" poppets were used. The patent for these valves is viewable on-line at:

http://freepatentsonline.com/2518403.pdf

In fact, the drawing on page 1 looks very much like a USATC 2-8-0 and I'll bet it was based on the 611.

The long compression poppet valves featured an exhaust cam profile that gave maximum "compression" during low speed operation, the opposite of normal piston valve practice. "Compression" results when the exhaust valve is closed early in the exhaust stroke, before all the steam has exhausted from the cylinder. The idea according to the patent was that this would greatly reduce the locomotive's tendency to slip under low-speed, maximum output conditions. As the locomotive sped up and the valves were hooked up, the compression would decrease to provide increased power and more draft. At high speed and shorter cut-off settings, compression would once again increase to "cushion" the pistons moving at high speed.

I'd be very curious to know if there is any information on how the 611 worked out during the testing after its conversion to poppets. Since one of the diesel-electric's biggest advantages was their low speed "surefootedness", it appears the top steam men at Lima were making a serious effort to improve this aspect of steam operation.

Hopefully, one of these days we'll get to hear her run. I've always wanted to hear the legendary "razor sharp" exhaust that's been attributed to most U.S. poppet valve equipped steamers.

Are there any recordings of American poppet valve engines on
the net? Are there any recordings at all?
There are a number of brit engine mp3's on the net I dont know
if any poppet valve engines have been posted. As they
are somewhat different in design, it would be interesting
to listen and hear if there is a big difference.

There is a CD, "Sounds of Steam on the Curve" that has a recording of a PRR T1 with poppets. I picked up a copy at the curve... might be in their online gift shop.

My related question is any one know if there are any recordings of PRR 6200, the S2 turbine?

Thank you. Too bad it is on the hill, hardly the best
place for it to show its stuff.
Look here for a short recording of the 71000.
www.steamsoundsarchive.com

look for it by locomotive.