Why does steam still fascinate
- Thread starter paganwolf
- Start date
A steam loco was in some respects a living entity. As an engineer or fireman you had to listen to it to know how it was working, what it was telling you, what it wanted, and so on. Modern diesels are so computer controlled the engineer is in many respects a button pusher (which if railroads could figure out how would probably be eliminated).
Steamers had the romance of the rails behind them, nostalgia, memories, history, lots of weirdly moving parts, and so on. Diesels are smudge pots (ok guys - obviously I'm more then a bit biased, lol).
Ben
P.S. To all you diesel lovers out there - go ahead and jump all over me - I don't care (sez me with a big grin, lol).
Steamers had the romance of the rails behind them, nostalgia, memories, history, lots of weirdly moving parts, and so on. Diesels are smudge pots (ok guys - obviously I'm more then a bit biased, lol).
Ben
P.S. To all you diesel lovers out there - go ahead and jump all over me - I don't care (sez me with a big grin, lol).
I would agree that there is an aspect of nostalgia espeically for those of us who remember steam as an everyday and almost run-of-the-mill matter. And in addition also agree it was the great days of rail before cutbacks by Beeching. Before we started spreading our family wings to further afield holidays we once stayed in Ardrossan on the sandy Ayrshire coast. I would have been about 9 or 10 and I had disappeared so my parents went looking for me. However they knew where to start as my father had said to my mother "try the railway first". And there I was sitting on a fence at the top of an embankment watching the rakes of passenger steam trains from Glasgow with holiday makers.
In later years taking boys camps to N. Ireland those teenage lads were rather gobsmacked when an IRPS steam train came in at the end of old coach stock at the local station before going back down to Belfast. What tickled me was that they were fascinated by the thing and had never seen a real staem train before. Indeed the questions and curioisy continued and waited to se it go off again. It kind of made me glad that they appreciated what I had once taken for granted. Somehow a steam train seemed more alive than a diesel or electric?
In later years taking boys camps to N. Ireland those teenage lads were rather gobsmacked when an IRPS steam train came in at the end of old coach stock at the local station before going back down to Belfast. What tickled me was that they were fascinated by the thing and had never seen a real staem train before. Indeed the questions and curioisy continued and waited to se it go off again. It kind of made me glad that they appreciated what I had once taken for granted. Somehow a steam train seemed more alive than a diesel or electric?
...why does steam still fascinate?
Fire, plus clouds of steam and smoke and smells, moving parts of every description, raw power at its best. Add to these things two crusty guys covered in soot who seem to have a god-like knowledge of machinery and motion...
Well, that's what got me hooked, why I worked on the South Devon Railway as a kid, and why I play with trains in Trainz!
Peace,
Robertd81
Fire, plus clouds of steam and smoke and smells, moving parts of every description, raw power at its best. Add to these things two crusty guys covered in soot who seem to have a god-like knowledge of machinery and motion...
Well, that's what got me hooked, why I worked on the South Devon Railway as a kid, and why I play with trains in Trainz!
Peace,
Robertd81
cascaderailroad
New member
Like Buster Keaton movies ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=tXTNSvNXFcc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=tXTNSvNXFcc
I fell in love with steam from stories of my grandfather. I do have to say, there is something magical in the simple boiling of water driving such a huge, powerful machine that just sets the mind turning. one of my favorite quotes is from a Lucius Beebe book i have (i'm 18 and i know who Lucius Beebe is! shows you what i care about
) that says "Deep in the subconcious of every american lies the image of a steam locomotive" and i truly believe that. to operate a steam engine is a true art form, and to hear that whistle sound is like a siren beckoning you around the bend to what lies beyond the hill, the curve, the bridge and the tunnel, to a world outside that, sadly, has passed on. I do like diesels, but for me, nothing sets my heart to racing like the image of a roaring, thundering steam engine, racing down the track with its train. the frantic motion of the drivers, the hiss, the wail, and the mechanical clatter, it's all music to my ears.
wow, i shoud write poetry:hehe:
) that says "Deep in the subconcious of every american lies the image of a steam locomotive" and i truly believe that. to operate a steam engine is a true art form, and to hear that whistle sound is like a siren beckoning you around the bend to what lies beyond the hill, the curve, the bridge and the tunnel, to a world outside that, sadly, has passed on. I do like diesels, but for me, nothing sets my heart to racing like the image of a roaring, thundering steam engine, racing down the track with its train. the frantic motion of the drivers, the hiss, the wail, and the mechanical clatter, it's all music to my ears. wow, i shoud write poetry:hehe:
BLACKWATCH
Mechanical Engineer
I was lucky to grow up in the days when BR were changing over from steam to diesel, in the late 50's - early 60's it was all about the grime of the old steam & the ones you hadn't "copped" before they were withdrawn & scrapped, against the diesels that had just been listed in the new 'Ian Allan' combo for that year.
All the 'Spotters' were bragging about seeing the latest 'Deltic' or 'Peak' to exit the works on trial runs, the smell of steam still hung in your nostrils at the station.
It's very difficult to explain, but for the children of the 50's & 60's, it is still so real in your mind.
All the 'Spotters' were bragging about seeing the latest 'Deltic' or 'Peak' to exit the works on trial runs, the smell of steam still hung in your nostrils at the station.
It's very difficult to explain, but for the children of the 50's & 60's, it is still so real in your mind.
mezzoprezzo
Content appreciator
Food for thought
Like Blackwatch, I too remember to steam days of the 1950/60s.
The steam locos changed character totally from cold to operational. Each was different, even within its own class, and seemed to have a life of its own.
Everything required to power the loco had to be carried.
There was no electric third rail, overhead catenary or diesel engines. There were no diesel fuel pumps and injectors in those days! The fuel had to be physically shifted from the tender to the firebox by hand.
There was no comfy seat or sealed cab either.
They were ahead of the game when it came to toaster ovens though!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8jb8aPqm04
Cheers
Casper
Like Blackwatch, I too remember to steam days of the 1950/60s.
The steam locos changed character totally from cold to operational. Each was different, even within its own class, and seemed to have a life of its own.
Everything required to power the loco had to be carried.
There was no electric third rail, overhead catenary or diesel engines. There were no diesel fuel pumps and injectors in those days! The fuel had to be physically shifted from the tender to the firebox by hand.
There was no comfy seat or sealed cab either.
They were ahead of the game when it came to toaster ovens though!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8jb8aPqm04
Cheers
Casper
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Steam fascinates in every way. Sound, sight, smoothness. The impression of power. I remember seeing some very large freight engines in a yard when I was young, starting to pull heavy loads, their voices hoarse with effort, their smoke plumes large and heavy. Diesel? How does hummmm grab you?
Think of the songs written about steam trains. How about this one:
And above all, I think, the "movement" (rods, etc.) conveyed the idea that this is a powerful machine hauling goods/people to faraway places where they are needed .. so much more so that diesel can do.
Think of the songs written about steam trains. How about this one:
Pardon me boy, Is that the Chattanooga choo-choo?
(words by Mack Gordon) How would that work with a diesel loco?
And above all, I think, the "movement" (rods, etc.) conveyed the idea that this is a powerful machine hauling goods/people to faraway places where they are needed .. so much more so that diesel can do.
I too remember the stories my grandfather would tell me of the steam locomotives making their way through the hills of Kentucky. When I was very young he would that me to the tracks everyday to see the trains. Sadly I missed the days of steam.
I still remember the day I was faced with a "real" steam locomotive and not the ones you would see in the amusement park. It was 1976 and the American Freedom Train made its way through where I was living at the time. At 14 I was stunned at the size and magistracy of it and needless to say I was forever hooked . For years later I was lucky to ride behind a number of now famous operating steam locomotives.
One classic morning I awoke to get ready to ride behind 611. As I opened the my door to the cool predawn autumn air I could smell the "sweet" smell of bituminous coal burning many miles away and I knew it was going to be a great day. That was one of many great days :Y:
I still remember the day I was faced with a "real" steam locomotive and not the ones you would see in the amusement park. It was 1976 and the American Freedom Train made its way through where I was living at the time. At 14 I was stunned at the size and magistracy of it and needless to say I was forever hooked . For years later I was lucky to ride behind a number of now famous operating steam locomotives.
One classic morning I awoke to get ready to ride behind 611. As I opened the my door to the cool predawn autumn air I could smell the "sweet" smell of bituminous coal burning many miles away and I knew it was going to be a great day. That was one of many great days :Y:
It’s the smoke, sound, steam, whistle, and massive size that always impressed me with steam. I was born in 1948 and have little recollection of steam in revenue service. My first recollection of steam was when I was 3 or 4 years old. We were setting in a car at a RR crossing near Little Rock when a MoPac freight train powered by diesels came through. In the consist were a string of dead steam engines headed North. I never forgot that sight. It was not until 25 years later I realized I was seeing the end of the steam era. Those dead locos where likely headed to the scrap yards. I think the last live revenue steam in Arkansas was the Reader Railroad that lasted until around 1968.
The first live steam I saw was the bicentennial train that came to Little Rock in 1976. It was an impressive sight running at speed. Now, I never miss a chance to take my young grandsons to see the UP specials when they come through. They also love the steamers.
I also love the diesels. I was drawn to railroading in the mid 1970’s when I’d go down to the tracks in Little Rock and watch/listen to the old non-turbocharged MoPac diesels smoked and rattled their way up a long hill as they crossed the Arkansas River from North Little Rock and headed SB behind the state capital. It was a sight/sound to behold. Today’s diesels seem a bit tamer, creating less noise and smoke, than those of the ‘70s and ‘80s but they are still impressive.
The first live steam I saw was the bicentennial train that came to Little Rock in 1976. It was an impressive sight running at speed. Now, I never miss a chance to take my young grandsons to see the UP specials when they come through. They also love the steamers.
I also love the diesels. I was drawn to railroading in the mid 1970’s when I’d go down to the tracks in Little Rock and watch/listen to the old non-turbocharged MoPac diesels smoked and rattled their way up a long hill as they crossed the Arkansas River from North Little Rock and headed SB behind the state capital. It was a sight/sound to behold. Today’s diesels seem a bit tamer, creating less noise and smoke, than those of the ‘70s and ‘80s but they are still impressive.
