As long as we are back on speaking terms with the Chinese, and relevant to the discussion below, which wheel arrrangements of serviceable steam locomotives are still in service in China? I know 2-8-2's abound, and possibly some 2-10-2's. Anything more exotic like a Hudson or Atlantic?

The possiblility of importing bargain, operable heavy steam locomotives would give us a chance to atone for the massive scrappings of the 50's and 60's. Interesting idea....


glueck@saturn.caps.maine.edu

Richard:

I don't think there's much left that's very "exotic". Plenty of 2-8-2's and 2-10-2's, possibly a few 2-6-2's and 2-8-0's, and some narrow gauge 0-8-0's. About the most exotic engines which may be left are some Pacifics, which would be pretty decent engines. Spend some time at Rob Dickinson's pages (see URL below) to see what's left.

On the downside, the Datong-built engines (the larger 2-8-2s and the 2-10-2s) appear to be of VERY questionable quality (read David Wardale's book "The Red Devil" for details). Perhaps the engines built earlier are much better than the ones built in the last years of steam production, such as the ones Wardale observed. The Tangshan-built 2-8-2s are excellent engines by all accounts.

Good Steaming,
Hugh Odom
The Ultimate Steam Page
http://www.trainweb.org/tusp/

> As long as we are back on speaking terms
> with the Chinese, and relevant to the
> discussion below, which wheel arrrangements
> of serviceable steam locomotives are still
> in service in China? I know 2-8-2's abound,
> and possibly some 2-10-2's. Anything more
> exotic like a Hudson or Atlantic?

> The possiblility of importing bargain,
> operable heavy steam locomotives would give
> us a chance to atone for the massive
> scrappings of the 50's and 60's. Interesting
> idea....


International Working Steam Locomotives
whodom@awod.com

The only non "big three" locomotive we saw in steam last October was a 2-6-2 #290 at Anshan Steel. Of course our trip was limited to about five north-central main locations. Dead locos included a Russian 2-10-2, an American 2-10-0 (both at Baotao), and a stuffed Vulcan Iron Works 2-6-0 at the Ji-Tong shops.

Steve Zuiderveen

> Richard:

> I don't think there's much left that's very
> "exotic". Plenty of 2-8-2's and
> 2-10-2's, possibly a few 2-6-2's and
> 2-8-0's, and some narrow gauge 0-8-0's.
> About the most exotic engines which may be
> left are some Pacifics, which would be
> pretty decent engines. Spend some time at
> Rob Dickinson's pages (see URL below) to see
> what's left.

> On the downside, the Datong-built engines
> (the larger 2-8-2s and the 2-10-2s) appear
> to be of VERY questionable quality (read
> David Wardale's book "The Red
> Devil" for details). Perhaps the
> engines built earlier are much better than
> the ones built in the last years of steam
> production, such as the ones Wardale
> observed. The Tangshan-built 2-8-2s are
> excellent engines by all accounts.

> Good Steaming,
> Hugh Odom
> The Ultimate Steam Page
> http://www.trainweb.org/tusp/


SZuidervee@aol.com

Not answering your question exactly, as that has already been done anyway, I wanted to mention an excellent video tape that was made a couple of years ago called Empires of Steam. It has a lot of great shots of very hard working steam, double headers, and long drag freights on steep grades, running in -20 degree winter weather crusted in ice, etc. Watching it is like looking back in time to the 1930s in this country. I'm not pushing it, I just have a copy and thought I'd share the information that it's a great tape to watch. Mark D.

mnmach@lakes.com