Like steam engines? Like drag racing? Well why not combine them then....

[cjshaker]

I love them both so I was pretty surprised to come across these videos of big railroad steam engines going at it. I suppose the old addage, "if it's got wheels somebody's gonna race it" applies here. A new one on me, but pretty impressive how these monster machines take off. Torque is off the scale for steam power, and it shows.

Of course in true old fashioned steam drag racing, they use a flagman instead of a tree
http://youtu.be/luB3qFQoW1E

[Heo]

  I knew it ..Its in Finland, if you can compete in
any way with it the finns do it..Steam Engines, Sauna,
carrying your wife through a swamp...anything goes

[ToddK]

Two of my favourite subjects, very cool.

[Barry_R]

"I drive my racer to the track" just took on a whole new meaning.

[427Fastback]

About 20 years ago I was invited to ride the Royal Hudson #2860 on a trip from North Vancouver to Squamish and back.A very scenic coastal trip...I got to ride in the cab of the Hudson for the trip back...I sat on the left side floor with one hand on the railing and one foot on the ladder of the doorway...A very memorable trip and a experience I will never forget...The 2860 is still here in BC......Cory

[cjshaker]

I knew it ..Its in Finland, if you can compete in
any way with it the finns do it..Steam Engines, Sauna,
carrying your wife through a swamp...anything goes

Heo, I wondered what country it was in. These things seem to  reach top speed in about 1/16 of a mile. Pretty DARNED impressive considering how many tons they weigh if you ask me. And that's without any traction aids!

Now, if they could come up with a slalom course, it would give a whole new meaning to "handles like it's on rails" 

About 20 years ago I was invited to ride the Royal Hudson #2860 on a trip from North Vancouver to Squamish and back.A very scenic coastal trip...I got to ride in the cab of the Hudson for the trip back...I sat on the left side floor with one hand on the railing and one foot on the ladder of the doorway...A very memorable trip and a experience I will never forget...The 2860 is still here in BC......Cory

Cory, that's very cool. I have ridden just about every steam train within a one state distance from Ohio at one point or another, but I have never been able to talk them into letting me ride in a cab. That would be an awesome experience. Persistence will get me there some day

[427Fastback]

I was kinda lucky..I worked for two different small shops then and got to know the head of BCR's steam shop.I had made lots of small parts for the steam locomotives....My dentist happened to be good friends with them as well and new the senior engineer very well...It just all came together one day and I went for a ride...

My dentist (J Easton)happens to have owned a original 427 Cobra in the early 70's.He told me even then the original engine was gone...He said it had a oil filler on the front fender...That really narrows down what car he had....I keep forgetting to do some research on it...He is a big car guy and no doubt has pictures and maybe the CSX number....I will make a note to find out....I am sure it is traceable.......Cory

[TomP]

Maybe the red #13 Comp Cobra that Art Foley (who i think was also a Doctor) in Seattle had in the 80's?

Steam trains are cool. I had no idea they accelerate!

[Qikbbstang]

Never will forget Jay Leno stating: Steam Engines Produces Maximum Torque At Zero (0) RPM....
Racing steam engines scares the crap out of me. Obviously making more power is highly dependent upon steam pressure in the boiler tubes.  Steam Boat racing had it's share of boiler explosions.


  http://genealogytrails.com/ind/floyd/news-steam-boat.html

[machoneman]

There  is a pretty popular RR museum here in IL:

http://www2.irm.org/blogs/archives/1702-Steam-at-last-05-24-2014.html

Apparently, last month they just got a old steam engine going after a 45 year sleep. 

[cjshaker]

Bob, that is very cool. Almost 100% of the time, all the work is done by volunteers with a passion for steam engines. That says a lot!

I live near Lima, Ohio. Home of the Baldwin Locomotive Company that built, among others, Shay geared locomotives (like the ones at Cass Scenic Railroad). They have a rich history of steam locomotives and have several throughout the city in display areas and parks. The plant actually still survives but has been abandoned for years. When you're standing next to an active steam locomotive, they really do seem to be alive. Very cool.

[FirstEliminator]

Bob, that is very cool. Almost 100% of the time, all the work is done by volunteers with a passion for steam engines. That says a lot!

I live near Lima, Ohio. Home of the Baldwin Locomotive Company that built, among others, Shay geared locomotives (like the ones at Cass Scenic Railroad).

    Baldwin was actually from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Lima was a different Locomotive builder. They eventually merged in 1951.

[cjshaker]

   Baldwin was actually from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Lima was a different Locomotive builder. They eventually merged in 1951.

You are right.  "Home of" was a bad choice of words. Earlier it was the Lima Locomotive Works, before becoming Lima-Hamilton, then later combining with Baldwin. It was the Lima Machine Works when it produced the Shays, later becoming Lima Locomotive Works. Kind of a long history.

[Brutalbob]

Nelson Hoyos has a streamliner based of the Speed Demon Bonneville car that is steam powered. I haven't spoke with him in a while so no info on how the project is going. Check it out at Team Steam USA.com.