Passenger Trains > Rio Grande Zephyr question

Over in the Model Railroading forum we've been having a little discussion about The D&RGW 5771 and the train she pulled:

http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?3,2134403

Anyway, several of us are curious as to the method behind the madness on the placement of the steam generator car, within the locomotive consist of this train. It seems that most of the time, the steam generator car was placed between the two B units when the train operated with the F9A and two B's, or between the A and the B unit when the consist only had the two locomotives. I'm wondering why the steam generator was almost never placed as the head car (equipment) on the train? Is there some sort of mechanical reason that made it preferable to place the steam generator within the locomotive consist? The only possible reason I can think of might be to buffer the weight of the car and possibly sloshing water in it's tanks from the passenger consist?

Does anyone over here have any insight as to why the consist was made up this way, on this particular train?

Attached images: About a month before the last complete run of the Rio Grande Zephyr, the occupants of an eastbound train give the Zephyr a glance over and a wave in eastern Utah.
and from the dome of the Silver Sky, we meet another eastbound.

Andy



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/01/10 07:26 by wheel_slip.

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I seem to recall the placement of the steam genny changed in the later years of the RGZ to being placed
between the first and second units, presumably to make it more convenient for the fireboy to go look after
the S G. The B units had S G's but probably not used when the steam car was along. I also recall the train ran during
the warm months without the steam genny; the B unit(s) were able to provide adequate steam to the train.

In the earlier RGZ days the steam car was between the power and the first car, and also have seen pics
in the early '70's with just one B and no steam car.

It has been anecdotally said that the reason for not placing the steam generator car behind all the locomotives was to limit the draft forces through it. Maybe that was due to their age (1947):

ALCo PB-1 units DRGW 600B and 601B, then 6001 and 6002 (1950), then 252 and 253 as steam generator cars (1965). DRGW 252 retired to stationary boiler Salt Lake City 1987, sold for scrap with steam generator cars DRGW 250, 251 in 1991; DRGW 253 reballasted and re-equipped with demotored B-B EMD trucks ca. 1980, sold to ANSCO 253 in 1991, converted to HEP car 1987; sold in 2006 to Canadian National as Algoma Central 78.

A photo of the 253, looking rather strange with its ALCo body overhanging the EMD trucks, is at:

http://calzephyr.railfan.net/ghosts/6002dc01.jpg

Thanks GenePoon,
Now that's an explanation that makes some sense.

Andy

That photo of an alco body on gm trucks would make a good idea for a model railroad piece of equipment should you ever break a truck on your alco b unit.

If draft gear forces were a factor, why not at the end of the consist, which could also spread the steam flow throughout the train. Granted, it would block the view out of Silver Sky. But in winter, not that many would care.

joemvcnj Wrote:
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> If draft gear forces were a factor, why not at the
> end of the consist, which could also spread the
> steam flow throughout the train. Granted, it would
> block the view out of Silver Sky. But in winter,
> not that many would care.

On the contrary, all the passengers would have most definitely cared. In addition, most of the DRGW crew and management would have cared as well.

When there was a need for the extra steam generator then there were usually more passengers.

> On the contrary, all the passengers would have
> most definitely cared. In addition, most of the
> DRGW crew and management would have cared as
> well.
>
It didn't seem to bother the crew and management to place the Wilson McCarthy behind the obsey on the RGZ, and I guess the passengers just had to deal with it.

When the boss wants to check the railroad, his car is on the rear, regardless of what passengers say

> ALCo PB-1 units DRGW 600B and 601B, then 6001 and
> 6002 (1950), then 252 and 253 as steam generator
> cars (1965).

The B units became the 6002 and 6012.

Rob