Chinese Steam QJ's pull 4000 ton Freight

Trains.com forums are FREE. If you wish to participate you must LOGIN | REGISTER.

Welcome to Trains.com Forums

Faq | Login | Register

General Discussion

Started by kschmidt at 06-11-2007 1:41 PM. Topic has 26 replies.

Page 1 of 2 (27 items)

1 2 >

Sort Posts:

06-11-2007, 1:41 PM

kschmidt

Joined on 04-25-2001
US
Posts 455

Chinese Steam QJ's pull 4000 ton Freight

	Greetings, Just got back from a Photo Special that may have broken a record. This past weekend the Iowa Interstate Railroad and the owner of the Chinese QJ's Henry Posner hosted a Photo Special put together by steamspecials.com. The doubleheaded QJ's pulled westbound on Saturday. They pulled a 4212 ton revenue train. This might be a record for modern steam revenue freight. The train went from Des Moines, IA to Council Bluffs, IA with return on Sunday. Sunday's train was much lighter. The weather Saturday was AWESOME !!. Not a cloud in the sky. Sunday was still nice but it was mostly cloudy with some breaks of sun. On Saturday the QJ's were working hard. The combination of the heavy train and decent grades in western Iowa even caused there to be an extra water stop and they cut the train to make sure they could make it all the way to Council Bluffs. Here are some photos from the trip. Westbound just west of Booneville, IA At Casey, Iowa Westbound at Hickory Ave west of Adair, IA West of the waterstop at Anita, IA Atlantic, IA On the bridge at Hancock Junction, IA Second waterstop west of Hancock, IA One Sunday June 10th Eastbound on High Bridge over McPherson Road in Council Bluffs, IA Eastbound at Stuart, IA On Highway 6 bridge outside Council Bluffs, IA The Steam Crew/IAIS Crew and Mr Posner(middle) pose with the QJ's at Booneville, IA on Sunday June 10th. As the sun sets on the QJ's (taken Saturday) it was a great trip. BIG THANKS to the Iowa Interstate for allowing this happen. To Mr Posner for allowing the QJ's to come out and play. And also to the people at Steam Specials for arranging the Photo Special, it was worth it. PS - Mike Yuhas, I would have loved to have stopped down at Rochelle this past weekend, but this kind of got in the way. Keith Schmidt Keith Schmidt KC9LHK You don’t bring nothin with you here and you can’t nothin back, I ain’t never seen a hearse with a luggage rack. George Strait Check out The Powerton Report Southeast Wisconsin Railroad Info To see more Photos and buy Steam DVD's Steam Trains and Tractors
			Report Abuse

06-11-2007, 1:44 PM

CopCarSS

Joined on 08-24-2002
Fourteener Country
Posts 2,358

Re: Chinese Steam QJ's pull 4000 ton Freight

	Lovely shots, Keith! Man I wish I could have seen that! How cool to see revenue freight behind steam! Chris Denver, CO "A great photograph is one that fully expresses what one feels, in the deepest sense, about what is being photographed." ~Ansel Adams Visit my Photo Galleries.
			Report Abuse

06-11-2007, 1:48 PM

BNSF_GP60M

Joined on 07-12-2006
BNSF MP968.3 in California
Posts 101

Re: Chinese Steam QJ's pull 4000 ton Freight

	Did you see the intermodal cars in the train? Would this make this the first "mostly" intermodal train pulled by steam?
			Report Abuse

06-11-2007, 2:41 PM

kschmidt

Joined on 04-25-2001
US
Posts 455

Re: Chinese Steam QJ's pull 4000 ton Freight

BNSF_GP60M wrote:
Did you see the intermodal cars in the train? Would this make this the first "mostly" intermodal train pulled by steam?

I don't think so. I believe UP #3985 or #844 pulled either an autorack train or a doublestack train that had stalled out in Wyoming where one of the steamers was doing some break in work or returning from an excursion.

Keith

Keith Schmidt
KC9LHK
You don’t bring nothin with you here and you can’t nothin back, I ain’t never seen a hearse with a luggage rack. George Strait
Check out The Powerton Report Southeast Wisconsin Railroad Info
To see more Photos and buy Steam DVD's Steam Trains and Tractors

Report Abuse

06-11-2007, 3:09 PM

Safety Valve

Joined on 01-14-2006
Posts 3,802

Re: Chinese Steam QJ's pull 4000 ton Freight

	What is that tank car doing in Stuart? I cannot see what they are putting into that tank car there. Great photos. Even though this is COUGH CHINESE COUGH steam, it's still good to see a steam set running revenue freight in the USA. The sunset photo is perfect. Good shot!
			Report Abuse

06-11-2007, 3:18 PM

gabe

Joined on 03-15-2004
Indianapolis, Indiana
Posts 2,217

Re: Chinese Steam QJ's pull 4000 ton Freight

kschmidt wrote:

BNSF_GP60M wrote:
Did you see the intermodal cars in the train? Would this make this the first "mostly" intermodal train pulled by steam?
I don't think so. I believe UP #3985 or #844 pulled either an autorack train or a doublestack train that had stalled out in Wyoming where one of the steamers was doing some break in work or returning from an excursion.
Keith

Actually, didn't UP 3985 pull a 142 car (or unit) double stack train to inaugerate some service? I think this must have been 20 years ago, but I am almost positive I saw it somewhere.

Gabe

Report Abuse

06-11-2007, 3:32 PM

VAPEURCHAPELON

Joined on 04-05-2005
Posts 320

Re: Chinese Steam QJ's pull 4000 ton Freight

	Since 1990 UP 3985 pulled several trains with more tonnage like the train the QJs pulled few days ago. The 144 car double stacker in 1990 was the heaviest I believe - more than 7000 tons. And I think N&W 1218 has been used on coal trains of comparable or even larger size, too. However, the photos are very nice and show a great happening! Thanks for sharing!
			Report Abuse

06-11-2007, 3:47 PM

samfp1943

Joined on 06-11-2003
OSWEGO,Ks.
Posts 1,398

Re: Chinese Steam QJ's pull 4000 ton Freight

gabe wrote:
kschmidt wrote:

BNSF_GP60M wrote:
Did you see the intermodal cars in the train? Would this make this the first "mostly" intermodal train pulled by steam?
I don't think so. I believe UP #3985 or #844 pulled either an autorack train or a doublestack train that had stalled out in Wyoming where one of the steamers was doing some break in work or returning from an excursion.
Keith
Actually, didn't UP 3985 pull a 142 car (or unit) double stack train to inaugerate some service? I think this must have been 20 years ago, but I am almost positive I saw it somewhere.
Gabe

Several years back; it was a "Calendar Shot" publicity for Maersk Lines, and it was, I think in the vicinity of El Cajon, one of the video companies used to run an add with a photo of the train.

Big Steam Gives Me Chills!

Where the SKOL cross the UP

Sam

Report Abuse

06-11-2007, 5:54 PM

edblysard

Joined on 03-30-2002
Houston Texas USA
Posts 6,207

Re: Chinese Steam QJ's pull 4000 ton Freight

	Great photos, Keith... I kinda like seeing my old friends working again! CINCSCOCOM S3 The UniHead Corporation, Your Dealer for singular silly things. World wide Importers of fine and Exotic Ilk. "Got Ilk?" Proud member of Clowntown.
			Report Abuse

06-11-2007, 6:31 PM

kschmidt

Joined on 04-25-2001
US
Posts 455

Re: Chinese Steam QJ's pull 4000 ton Freight

Safety Valve wrote:

What is that tank car doing in Stuart? I cannot see what they are putting into that tank car there.
Great photos.
Even though this is **COUGH** CHINESE **COUGH** steam, it's still good to see a steam set running revenue freight in the USA.
The sunset photo is perfect. Good shot!

Thanks,

I believe that there was a string of tank cars in Stuart in storage. Alot of almost new ethanol cars stored all over the IAIS.

Keith

Report Abuse

06-11-2007, 7:14 PM

BNSF_GP60M

Joined on 07-12-2006
BNSF MP968.3 in California
Posts 101

Re: Chinese Steam QJ's pull 4000 ton Freight

	Ok. Maybe I should have said that it was the first this year with Chinese steam pulling almost a full intermodal train.
			Report Abuse

06-11-2007, 8:40 PM

canazar

Joined on 08-02-2004
Phoenix, Arizona (Mesa area) Garage Modelers Club
Posts 1,794

Re: Chinese Steam QJ's pull 4000 ton Freight

BNSF_GP60M wrote:
Ok. Maybe I should have said that it was the first this year with Chinese steam pulling almost a full intermodal train.

Oh man, there has to be some irony in that statement somwhere.

Either way, Great Photos! And I haveto admit, pretty freakin cool to see steam pulling a modern freight train. A Modeler's dream come true!

Best Regards,
Big John
Kiva Valley Railway From '56 to Present -

Vist the Valley
http://community.webshots.com/album/563803507uQMWsm?vhost=community

Report Abuse

06-11-2007, 9:11 PM

Dampfmann

Joined on 01-09-2007
Posts 35

Re: Chinese Steam QJ's pull 4000 ton Freight

	Chinese steam or not, I bet they sounded great. By the way... There are some pretty sweet videos of the QJs floating around on Youtube made by a Japanese fella. Look 'em up and crank up the volume. You will be impressed! Martin
			Report Abuse

06-11-2007, 10:10 PM

Semper Vaporo

Joined on 04-17-2007
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Posts 488

Re: Chinese Steam QJ's pull 4000 ton Freight

	This is from their inaugeral run last fall. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKxroW2VopU I like the juxtaposition of the old technology of steam with the new "digital" technology... Dig that digital whistle... !!!! Semper Vaporo, Charles T. McCullough CMBY RY
			Report Abuse

06-11-2007, 11:03 PM

mikeyuhas

Joined on 12-20-2001
Wisconsin, land o' cows
Posts 170

Re: Chinese Steam QJ's pull 4000 ton Freight

kschmidt wrote:
PS - Mike Yuhas, I would have loved to have stopped down at Rochelle this past weekend, but this kind of got in the way.

Aw shucks, Keith. Ya think?

Cool photos!

Thank you for reading Trains magazine!

click here if you dare

Report Abuse

06-12-2007, 1:06 AM

Train Guy 3

Joined on 08-19-2003
Anywhere there are trains
Posts 491

Re: Chinese Steam QJ's pull 4000 ton Freight

	So let me get this straight ...the goods are made in China, loaded into containers built in China, shipped on a Chinese container ship, then loaded on a train pulled by two Chinese steam locomotives... man Wal-Mart is really going all-out with this China thing to lower prices. TG3 LOOK ! LISTEN ! LIVE ! Remember the 3. VT Hokies United!
			Report Abuse

06-12-2007, 7:18 AM

gabe

Joined on 03-15-2004
Indianapolis, Indiana
Posts 2,217

Re: Chinese Steam QJ's pull 4000 ton Freight

Train Guy 3 wrote:
So let me get this straight ...the goods are made in China, loaded into containers built in China, shipped on a Chinese container ship, then loaded on a train pulled by two Chinese steam locomotives... man Wal-Mart is really going all-out with this China thing to lower prices.

Using American steamers would drive up inflation . . . .

Report Abuse

06-12-2007, 8:10 AM

dknelson

Joined on 03-20-2002
Milwaukee WI (Fox Point)
Posts 3,770

Re: Chinese Steam QJ's pull 4000 ton Freight

Train Guy 3 wrote:
So let me get this straight ...the goods are made in China, loaded into containers built in China, shipped on a Chinese container ship, then loaded on a train pulled by two Chinese steam locomotives... man Wal-Mart is really going all-out with this China thing to lower prices.

Suddenly I am hungry for some MooShu pork and an egg roll ...

Dave Nelson

Report Abuse

06-12-2007, 1:01 PM

Safety Valve

Joined on 01-14-2006
Posts 3,802

Re: Chinese Steam QJ's pull 4000 ton Freight

gabe wrote:

Train Guy 3 wrote:
So let me get this straight ...the goods are made in China, loaded into containers built in China, shipped on a Chinese container ship, then loaded on a train pulled by two Chinese steam locomotives... man Wal-Mart is really going all-out with this China thing to lower prices.
Using American steamers would drive up inflation . . . .

Lowering prices is all hot air and cooling steam. Let's not go there. It is my belief that Wally is hurting and fighting for every penny they can get to the profit side; an example was they stopped giving coffee and doughnuts in the breakroom because cups were too expensive. No I dont work for them, I know folks that do.

Report Abuse

06-12-2007, 9:48 PM

GP40-2

Joined on 07-11-2004
Posts 414

Re: Chinese Steam QJ's pull 4000 ton Freight

VAPEURCHAPELON wrote:
Since 1990 UP 3985 pulled several trains with more tonnage like the train the QJs pulled few days ago. The 144 car double stacker in 1990 was the heaviest I believe - more than 7000 tons. And I think N&W 1218 has been used on coal trains of comparable or even larger size, too.
However, the photos are very nice and show a great happening! Thanks for sharing!

In the early 80's the C&O 614 pulled a number of revenue coal trains unassisted, some in excess of 5500 tons, at full track speed in West Virginia. Even though the 614 could produce 83-84,000 lbs tractive effort, she was designed for 100 mph passenger operation, not pulling coal trains around. There was talk among the senior Chessie guys of unleashing the 614 on a Trailer Jet up on the B&O Pittsburgh line just to show what she was capable of at 70 mph, but it never came to pass.

During the same time period, the 614 was leased by Amtrak to pull 80 mph revenue passenger runs, the only steam engine ever to do so in Amtrak's history.

Report Abuse

Page 1 of 2 (27 items)

1 2 >

Trains.com Forums » TRAINS Magazine Forums » General Discussion

Forum Jump: