Union Pacific 3985 Challenger class locomotive

[davey7]

When did Italy phase out steam (I mean, they didn't get color TV until the mid/late 70's!!!! - though it didn't hurt their 60's variety shows too much)? My dad remembers arriving in Italy during WWII from Eastern Europe (long story) and feeling like they had stepped into the future - everything was brand spanking new and most especially that the trains were electric.

 

[supersuds]

I don't know the exact date, but Italy started some early three-phase railroad electrification very early in the 20th century.

This site says the last mainline steam in Italy went on until 1976!

http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/trains/italy03.htm

 

[revvinkevin]

We cannot forget the purpose-built gear drive logging locomo

 

 

<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <oocumentProperties> <o:Template>Normal</o:Template> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <oages>1</oages> <o:Words>72</o:Words> <o:Characters>414</o:Characters> <o:Lines>3</o:Lines> <oaragraphs>1</oaragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>508</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>11.1282</o:Version> </oocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG /> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <woNotShowRevisions /> <woNotPrintRevisions /> <wisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</wisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <wisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</wisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:UseMarginsForDrawingGridOrigin /> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment-->

<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: medium;">With smaller diameter drivers (29” to 36”), driveshafts and gear drive,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>these work horses were not fast, but could haul heavy loads up steep inclines on uneven track and sharper curves then other locomotives!</span>

<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: medium;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--></span>

<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: medium;">First, the most widely used of the geared Locomotives, the Shay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">    </span></span>

<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: medium;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--></span>

<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: medium;">With more than 2700 built from 1878 through 1945, the Shay had 3 vertically mounted cylinders connected to a crankshaft, turning drive shafts which drove ALL axles on the locomotive and tender, making it “all wheel drive” as it were.</span>

<!--EndFragment-->
 

 

[revvinkevin]

 

 

<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <oocumentProperties> <o:Template>Normal</o:Template> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <oages>1</oages> <o:Words>44</o:Words> <o:Characters>254</o:Characters> <o:Lines>2</o:Lines> <oaragraphs>1</oaragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>311</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>11.1282</o:Version> </oocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG /> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <woNotShowRevisions /> <woNotPrintRevisions /> <wisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</wisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <wisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</wisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:UseMarginsForDrawingGridOrigin /> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment-->

<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Next is the lesser known Heisler.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">   </span>Only 625 were built from 1891 thru 1941.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">   </span>Also a gear driven locomotive, these had a central driveshaft with two cylinders in a “V” configuration under the boiler.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">   </span>Depending on the order, they either drove the wheels only on the locomotive, or the locomotive and the tender.</span></span>

<!--EndFragment-->
 

 

[revvinkevin]

 

 

<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <oocumentProperties> <o:Template>Normal</o:Template> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <oages>1</oages> <o:Words>36</o:Words> <o:Characters>206</o:Characters> <o:Lines>1</o:Lines> <oaragraphs>1</oaragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>252</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>11.1282</o:Version> </oocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG /> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <woNotShowRevisions /> <woNotPrintRevisions /> <wisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</wisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <wisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</wisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:UseMarginsForDrawingGridOrigin /> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment-->

<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Finally there was the Climax locomotive (yes that is REALLY it’s name!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">   </span>Somewhere between 1030 and 1060 were built over the 40 years of production from 1888 to 1928.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">   </span>It also featured a central driveshaft driving all axles under the locomotive.</span></span>

<!--EndFragment-->
 

 

[rp2813]

It kinda looks like it's climaxing in that picture!

 

[revvinkevin]

Oh Ralph........ LOL

 

[rp2813]

Heisler

I've always wondered why some locomotives had paint schemes that included "whitewalls."  These engines are all business, and IMO that touch makes them look like prissy things intended to carry girls with parasols.