Boston & Maine and Hoosac Tunnel Steam in early Steam Train Days
- Thread starter JCitron
- Start date
I noticed that too and I don't know how it's powered.
The electrics were built with the New Haven Railroad's help as was the 600V DC overhead. At the time, up until 1916, JP Morgan owned both railroads and the New Haven had control of the B&M with great plans to expand the electrification from New Haven to Boston and throughout other parts of the system such as from East Deerfield west through the tunnel and from New Haven to Springfield. In 1916 the markets crashed causing the Panic of 1916. JP Morgan pulled all the cash out of both railroads to protect his own pockets plunging them into bankruptcy, thus ending the great plans.
When the electrification went in there were about 100 trains a day using the tunnel! With that many trains going through the tunnel, the smoke never had a chance to clear even with the big blowers located above the Central Shaft. The smoke was so bad that people were suffocating in their seats and many crew members died due to smoke inhalation. With so many trains, something had to be done and the wire went up.
The electrics worked hard for nearly 40-years, and were replaced in 1946 by an EMD FT diesel locomotive ABBA set pulling a freight train successfully through the tunnel without needing the electrics. Shortly after that, the wires were de-energized forever once the diesels were pulling passenger trains through. After 1952 it didn't matter because through passenger service ended to Troy anyway when McGuiness pulled up the tracks.
SanJuanPacific
Member
The booster is powered by steam from the boiler through a pipe. Tender boosters would usually exhaust smoke out of a second funnel on the rear of the tender, similar to a Triplex. Since the booster isn't on in the video, I can't tell you for sure whether there actually was a second funnel.
Thank you for the info on that. This makes sense because these were used on the Fitchburg Division and did go through the tunnel.
SanJuanPacific
Member
Happy to help. Far too much time wasted searching through steamlocomotive.com and in the library looking at photo records of all sorts of goofy choo-choos, at least I can finally put some of it to use.
Here's a picture I found online of a Central Vermont 2-8-0 with the second funnel visible on the tender.
Some more detailed info on tender boosters I found from a quick google search: Tender Boosters on the Boston & Maine and Main Central
Here's a picture I found online of a Central Vermont 2-8-0 with the second funnel visible on the tender.
Some more detailed info on tender boosters I found from a quick google search: Tender Boosters on the Boston & Maine and Main Central
I too may be guilty of "wasting time" over at steamlocomotive.com and do enjoy putting some of it to use as well. It is a useful resource, and relatively easy to navigate (or I've been on it way too much).