Steam & Excursion > This Track Apparatus Was Not Always A Steam Locomotive's Friend!

We can see that once they hit the diamond in the track, the engine crew of this old #7 in this photo had a wide ride for them that nearly ended in disaster.  Such was one of the inherent dangers of hitting a track diamond at speed.

The photo is labeled as Bellingham, Bay & British Columbia #7 in Northern Washington State.  We see that the railroad crews have already attached a set of ropes and pulleys to #7 to keep her from laying completely over on her side. 

It looks like only her stack, headlight and much of her dignity was lost in this particular mishap.

Martin



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 08/06/19 06:24 by LoggerHogger.

---

LoggerHogger Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>  Such was one of the inherent
> dangers of hitting a track diamond at speed.

Great photo Martin. I always start my day checking out your posts.

If the the engine or train (can't see if anything is behind the tender) hit the diamond at speed wouldn't the momentum carry the engine to the other side of the diamond?  I look forward to more comments on the very interesting photo.

Gerry Gaugl
Ottawa ON

Where is the stack?  I see depot where the stack should be.

Maybe the crossing was protected by a derail and a gate, and the engine rolled past where she should have stopped for the crew to open the gate and move the derail., thus the apparently slow speed woopsie.

elueck Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Maybe the crossing was protected by a derail and a
> gate, and the engine rolled past where she should
> have stopped for the crew to open the gate and
> move the derail., thus the apparently slow speed
> woopsie.

or engine running in reverse?

The angle of the damage to the headlight seems to indicate forward motion.

Martin

Is that a vacuum brake?

-LD

LoggerHogger Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The angle of the damage to the headlight seems to
> indicate forward motion.
>
> Martin

Thanks, I should have noticed that. Maybe if I had had some coffee before I looked ....
 

B  B & what railroad?  any guesses?

It is in his post at the top
 

The BB&BC was standard gauge, and later came under Milwaukee Road ownership (their isolated Bellingham to Sumas line, plus a few branch lines).  When the Milwaukee departed the west coast, the line came under BN ownership.  Most of the line's originating freight disappeared and BN abandoned the entire middle of the route.  Small mileage at both ends still exists, around Bellingham under BNSF, and around Sumas under a shortline.

Interesting valve gear on that engine. Is a link missing, or is this a scheme I just don't understand?
...bill

Illbay Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Interesting valve gear on that engine. Is a link
> missing, or is this a scheme I just don't
> understand?
> ...bill

Looks like standard Stephenson to me...

Curious as to the Block and Tackle set at the right.
I don't see the Bitter-End of the rope in the picture.
Could this be just to stabilize the loco until the big Hook arrives?

James R.(Jim) Baker
Whittier, CA

The block & tackle is tied to the steam dome on one end and the track in the foreground on the other end.

Martin



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/06/19 19:04 by LoggerHogger.

The bitter end is to the right behind the photographer.  The guy to the left looks like he could be giving hand signals.  Maybe they are in the process of righting the locomotive as the picture was taken.

LoggerHogger Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The block & tackle is tied to the steam done on
> one end and the track in the foreground on the
> other end.
>
> Martin

The upper block is tied to the steam dome.  The pull rope goes straight off to the right almost parallel to the clapboard on the building.

Perhaps it's being drawn tight by another engine to "right" the engine that stubbed its' toe..

-LD

I like the 5X mechanical advantage given to the pull rope by the turns around the pulleys.  Don't need a lot of applied force, just distance.

wingomann Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The bitter end is to the right behind the
> photographer.  The guy to the left looks like he
> could be giving hand signals.  Maybe they are in
> the process of righting the locomotive as the
> picture was taken.

Good call. Took me awhile to see it even after reading your post.