That's called the "quick and dirty method" of changing a loco from turbocharged to non-turbo.
That's called the "quick and dirty method" of changing a loco from turbocharged to non-turbo.
gjohnston
Slow Learner
Don't worry, once you hit 50 you're invisible to "cute young things", so you won't spook 'em.
Now that must have made for some amazing experiences! I've seen those lines, but not in the steam era.
You always want as little smoke as possible. Smoke is un-burned fuel, which is a waste of money. However, sometimes you have to "run rich" to get your fire where you want it to be. In that case, you make smoke, though as little as you can. A Challenger in helper service would be working pretty much to full capacity in most cases, so, yeah, lots of fuel being used and lots of smoke being made.
Don't worry, once you hit 50 you're invisible to "cute young things", so you won't spook 'em.
If you look filthy rich, 90'll get'em.
N
NP2626
Guest
But, that will be the end for you!
But what a glorious end (where's the Viagra)
Beady
Well-Known Member
I couldn't care less about spooking them, it's just that I can't outrun the cops that they might call.Don't worry, once you hit 50 you're invisible to "cute young things", so you won't spook 'em.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk
Just found this subject thread, and I am sure its going to be interesting to read thru it when i have a bit more time.
I am a STEAM fan. The locos have such individual 'personality'. Of course over the years they have gotten to be much more reliable as operating models that they use to be, And the sound aspect,...just great.
I once saw a quote, 'diesel locos are just a motor in a box'. Does ring true at times, but please don't chastise me for saying so, I'm just repeating an old quote
They sure run reliably these days, and the lighting and sound, and consisting effects are great as well.
N
NP2626
Guest
This opinion is where we part ways! I feel they are much less reliable now, than my old kit built steamers. However, thanks very much for bringing the topic this thread was started for, back to the forefront!!
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You don't feel that the more modern can motors, DCC control of those motors, and the all wheel electrical pickups have made these new steam locos more reliable??
N
NP2626
Guest
The things you list are good improvements,however, It's my opinion that mechanically the new steam locomotives are inferior.
From post #91:
I model a specific Railroad on a specific date. The date I chose allows me to run Steam and Diesels (the transition). However, the high cost of steamers and the fact that it appears that many of the manufacturers of steam locomotives believe that detail trumps mechanical soundness. I postulated this thread based on my opinion of the previous statement! My opinion stems from these facts: I have owned older MDC Roundhouse, Bowser, kit built locomotives I built that performed excellently over the period of many years that I owned them. I have one Varney Dockside that is probably 55/60 years old that is still operating. The rest of my steamers are recent purchases (recent meaning within the last 15 years). These are Bachmann, Walthers, and Broadway Limited Import examples and are very nicely detailed locomotives that I have maybe gotten two years of very limited operation from, before they suffered serious operational problems!
I don't want smoke, because the smoke looks like smoke from a cigarette and I wouldn't want smoke even if it looked right! My small basement doesn't need a smoke haze in it. However, it is unfair to single steam out for this, as diesels also smoke! However, I've only seen O scale diesels with smoke.
Because of the difficulties I have had with steam, at times I have considered moving forward just a few years, as by 1958 the Northern Pacific had all but dropped the fires from it's steam roster. However, the fact that I love steam engines keeps me from doing this!
From post #91:
I model a specific Railroad on a specific date. The date I chose allows me to run Steam and Diesels (the transition). However, the high cost of steamers and the fact that it appears that many of the manufacturers of steam locomotives believe that detail trumps mechanical soundness. I postulated this thread based on my opinion of the previous statement! My opinion stems from these facts: I have owned older MDC Roundhouse, Bowser, kit built locomotives I built that performed excellently over the period of many years that I owned them. I have one Varney Dockside that is probably 55/60 years old that is still operating. The rest of my steamers are recent purchases (recent meaning within the last 15 years). These are Bachmann, Walthers, and Broadway Limited Import examples and are very nicely detailed locomotives that I have maybe gotten two years of very limited operation from, before they suffered serious operational problems!
I don't want smoke, because the smoke looks like smoke from a cigarette and I wouldn't want smoke even if it looked right! My small basement doesn't need a smoke haze in it. However, it is unfair to single steam out for this, as diesels also smoke! However, I've only seen O scale diesels with smoke.
Because of the difficulties I have had with steam, at times I have considered moving forward just a few years, as by 1958 the Northern Pacific had all but dropped the fires from it's steam roster. However, the fact that I love steam engines keeps me from doing this!
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