Steam & Excursion > 4014 and 844 working together

Just curious, how did the engineers of the two locomotives coordinate on their trip to Ogden and back?  How did the engineer of 844 know whether he was pushing or being pulled? I guess this would apply to all double heading steam locomotives on trains.  

Engineer_Rich
Foster City, CA

engineer_rich Wrote:
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> Just curious, how did the engineers of the two
> locomotives coordinate on their trip to Ogden and
> back?  How did the engineer of 844 know whether
> he was pushing or being pulled? I guess this would
> apply to all double heading steam locomotives on
> trains.  
>
> Engineer_Rich
> Foster City, CA

Back in he old days of steam, the engine crews simply knew exactly where they were, and what to do. In the modern era, radio communications help a lot, in addition to knowing the territory.

HotWater Wrote:
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> engineer_rich Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Just curious, how did the engineers of the two
> > locomotives coordinate on their trip to Ogden
> and
> > back?  How did the engineer of 844 know
> whether
> > he was pushing or being pulled? I guess this
> would
> > apply to all double heading steam locomotives
> on
> > trains.  
> >
> > Engineer_Rich
> > Foster City, CA
>
> Back in he old days of steam, the engine crews
> simply knew exactly where they were, and what to
> do. In the modern era, radio communications help a
> lot, in addition to knowing the territory.

I think the poster’s question is about matching power output, not location of the train.  

Dave

DavidP Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> HotWater Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > engineer_rich Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Just curious, how did the engineers of the
> two
> > > locomotives coordinate on their trip to Ogden
> > and
> > > back?  How did the engineer of 844 know
> > whether
> > > he was pushing or being pulled? I guess this
> > would
> > > apply to all double heading steam locomotives
> > on
> > > trains.  
> > >
> > > Engineer_Rich
> > > Foster City, CA
> >
> > Back in he old days of steam, the engine crews
> > simply knew exactly where they were, and what
> to
> > do. In the modern era, radio communications help
> a
> > lot, in addition to knowing the territory.
>
> I think the poster’s question is about matching
> power output, not location of the train.  
>
> Dave

I believe Hotwater meant the crews knew where they were and in turn they knew what they should or shouldn’t be doing with the power output.

Posted from iPhone

With modern help in the engine doesn't the engineer in "Big Boy" have the ability to
control all three engines?  When the 261 has an Amtrak "helper" and they are
running together I believe the 261 engineer has control over both engines.

train671 Wrote:
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> With modern help in the engine doesn't the
> engineer in "Big Boy" have the ability to
> control all three engines?  When the 261 has an
> Amtrak "helper" and they are
> running together I believe the 261 engineer has
> control over both engines.

No. There is no way to MU a steam engine. Particularly one built in 1944. The steam locomotives do have MU control boxes to control a trailing diesel, but that's the extent of it

Posted from Android

train671 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> With modern help in the engine doesn't the
> engineer in "Big Boy" have the ability to
> control all three engines? 

No. There is absolutely no way to "MU control" ANY trailing steam locomotive, i.e. a double header or triple header. Each steam locomotive MUST have its own Engineer and Fireman. 

When the 261 has an
> Amtrak "helper" and they are
> running together I believe the 261 engineer has
> control over both engines.

I was not aware that the 261 operation had acquired a Diesel MU Control Box for the cab of 261. Besides, on an Amtrak sponsored/insured excursion, the Amtrak diesel unit is providing the HEP 480 volt, 3 phase electricity for the passenger cars, and may not even be providing traction power anyway.