Oiled "slip track" for testing????

E&N6004 · **Posted:** Sat Jan 31, 2015 7:24 pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5De0CP04EI
There is something strange in this video I've never seen or heard of, at the 3:14 sec. point a freshly outshopped locomotive I shown sliding forward at a good speed with the drivers rotating in reverse and considerable smoke billowing from the tires. At first I thought this was some sort of stunt for the cameras, but the narration states it is on an oiled "slip track", suggesting it was common practice at this shop. What would the purpose of this be? The only thing I could come up with was to prove the security of newly fitted tires. Looking back on this from 2015 it seems a highly dangerous practice, there is even a fellow on the running board watching the proceedings. By the way I think the film may be mislabelled it seems to be at a New Haven shop rather than Alco.
P. Hosford

Mark Jordan · **Joined:** Fri Nov 07, 2008 11:21 am **Posts:** 488

South Louisville Shops, the main loco shop for the L&N, had a slip track. The main purpose of a slip track is to test axle and rod bearings, as well as crosshead and piston action. The slip track was an oiled/greased track that allowed the shop crews to run a locomotive "at speed" while barely moving within the shop yard area, to see if any bearings ran hot or rods clanked. Once the engine passed the slip track inspection, it was sent to the roundhouse and made ready for road service.

Ed Walters · **Posted:** Sat Jan 31, 2015 9:26 pm

I have read of 19th century locomotives in the UK with only axle pumps being run on oiled rails against buffer stops to fill the boiler.

HudsonL · **Joined:** Mon May 24, 2010 10:22 am **Posts:** 548

Many many years ago at a North Freedom Winter Run, somebody showed slow motion movies of Rock Island steam locomotive wheel slip tests.

-Hudson

Lincoln Penn · **Joined:** Wed Feb 02, 2011 9:40 pm **Posts:** 841

The slip track also allowed shop people to walk alongside and observe the valve gear and running gear in high-speed action.

J3a-614 · **Posted:** Sat Jan 31, 2015 11:02 pm

E&N6004 wrote:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5De0CP04EI
There is something strange in this video I've never seen or heard of, at the 3:14 sec. point a freshly outshopped locomotive I shown sliding forward at a good speed with the drivers rotating in reverse and considerable smoke billowing from the tires. At first I thought this was some sort of stunt for the cameras, but the narration states it is on an oiled "slip track", suggesting it was common practice at this shop. What would the purpose of this be? The only thing I could come up with was to prove the security of newly fitted tires. Looking back on this from 2015 it seems a highly dangerous practice, there is even a fellow on the running board watching the proceedings. By the way I think the film may be mislabelled it seems to be at a New Haven shop rather than Alco.
P. Hosford

Yes, you're right about this being a repair shop on the New Haven. This clip is part of a longer PR film from early in the WW II era; it starts at 18:25 in the complete film.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9gGu97lcbc

The purpose of such a slip track was "break in" a locomotive after an overhaul. This would be done as an alternative to sending the locomotive on a local freight for at least one run. I imagine it might have been quicker to break the engine in this way, and may have been useful in a shop with a lot of output (i.e., more engines needing breaking in than locals to break them in on).

E&N6004 · **Posted:** Sat Jan 31, 2015 11:26 pm

Thanks for the information gentlemen, fascinating stuff. I've never heard of this being done before, but it does make sense considering the volume of locomotives that must have been coming out of repair at a facility like that.

Mark Jordan · **Joined:** Fri Nov 07, 2008 11:21 am **Posts:** 488

The whole film is worth watching.

Louisville shops slip track featured at 1:48

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HcvTvHntrM

Oiled "slip track" for testing????

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