BIG passenger steam locos

[RailRon]

Saturday 09/20/03 I rode on a fantastic steam excursion. On the head of the train we had...

In the lead: A pacific engine (4-6-2) of the Deutsche Bundesbahn (German Stante Ry), road nr. 01 022, and...
Followed by: The biggest European passenger train engine still in existence, a mountain (4-8-2) of the French National Railway SNCF, road nr. 241A.65. This is a four cylinder engine, constructed by the famous French designer, Chapelon.

Strange, but these two giants are owned by two Swiss teams of enthusiasts which restored them perfectly. For the first time the two engines ran a train across half the country. I rode from Degersheim in the East of Switzerland (where the two were the attraction of a 'Railway Fest') to Olten, roughly in the center of Switzerland.

The first few pics show the train coming into station of Degersheim. Pacific 01 022 is in the lead...

 

[RailRon]

... approaching fast ...

 

[RailRon]

Aaahh! Seeing that motion of the rods!

 

[RailRon]

And then the second engine of the doubleheader, the Mountain 241A.65. Thunder on wheels!

 

[RailRon]

Here's a three quarter shot of the French 241A. As I said before, this is the biggest European steam locomotive still in operational status!

Note the two inboard high pressure cylinders and the big wind deflectors.

 

[RailRon]

And here's yours truly (--> the smaller round thing) in front of a driving wheel of the 241A (--> the bigger round thing)

French passenger engines were mostly black with white wheel rims and a few red pinstripes.

 

[RailRon]

On the other side, German engines were famous for their bright red wheels, fluted rod and running board rims. And when she runs, that's poetry in motion!!!

 

[interurban]

I sure wish I could have been with you Ron, I love the big steamers of yesteryear ,,, and those BIG RED WHEELS ,DROOOOL

By the way he he,, love the overhead
Thanks a bunch,,, er any more pics to share??

 

[RailRon]

Hey Chris, so you also love steamers? Wow! Wouldn't have thought of that!

But I thought of you when I made a few more photographs. Try this link!

You see, Switzerland is practically 100% under catenary! So we have also some preserved electric locos around. Here's one for you.

Ron

 

[interurban]

Hi Ron,, Thats a powerfull looking Croc
I Modeled Steam and then Diesels for years, untill I got into the History of Traction.
Then I went all the way and changed over
Thanks for the great pics.