The Soviet Union's Track Breaking Locomotive: The AA20
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- čas přidán 12. 12. 2022
- The Soviet Union probably isn't the first country you think of when it comes to iconic steam locomotive designs. However, you're probably familiar with the massive AA20 that was built there. While the rest of the world was experimenting with streamlining and modernizing their steam locos, the USSR had power and size on their mind. After Soviet engineers visited the United States in the early 1930s, they wanted to try and replicate American successes with locomotive superpower. This resulted in the one of a kind AA20, a 4-14-4 rigid frame steam locomotive. How well did it work? Well... it's best you watch and find out for yourself.
Music Used:
Super Mario Galaxy 2 - Throwback Galaxy
The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild - Kass's Complete Theme
Kirby and the Forgotten Land - Waddle Dee's Weapons Shop
OMORI - Three Bar Logos
OMORI - Push Shove
Team Fortress 2 - Upgrade Station
OMORI - By Your Side.
Katyusha (Russian Folk Song)
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Had to reupload this because it wasn't showing up on my channel page for some odd reason. I think something glitched in the uploading process, otherwise idk lol
ok
I understand.
@@sparklesparklesparkle6318 Boris? I don’t know what you’re talking about?
@@sparklesparklesparkle6318 Probably.
It hapens to me when recording all the time, I feel You
As a Hungarian (as Hungary's premier locomotives were the MÁV 324 2-6-2 and MÁV 424 4-8-0) its still amazes me how big soviet locomotives looked like. Rather than improving their effectiveness they just scaled them up and in the end they looked very top heavy and bulky lol
Hungarian locomotives are underrated. Same goes for a lot of Eastern/Central European countries.
Oh yes indeed.
Agreed, around the times of the Austro-Hungarian empire, Hungary produced some of Europe's largest, and most powerful (Máv class 601 2-6-6-0 mallet) locomotives of their time, along with some of the fastest express locomotives , like the Máv class 203 (4-4-2) and it's successor the Máv class 301 (4-6-2).
Even after Austria-Hungary collapsed, hungarian railstock manufacturing remained top notch, producing the famous Árpád railcars by Ganz; and the country's most iconic steamer, the Class 424.
@@kovacsabelkristof3566 hungarian railways bulit some of the best locomotos until the Communist era. We have to accept that for what it was the 43X- Class was a Great locomotive but its quality? Yeah i have doubt. Namely their bogie and some minor issues. Thankfully these issues later got repaired in the 630 Class. However it still needed to replace its intended bogie from Ganz's Universal type... It seems we aren't so good with bogie ptoduction xD.
Like even the 418 got bogie issues :D
This engine... was a groundbreaking invention 🥁🥁
quite literally, as the track engineers discovered to their horror
@@ShinyaMerveilles66 because, of one out of all the problems that the AA20 was having in service.
I wonder if the AA20 would have actually worked on the Union Pacific's track (assuming it was regauged accordingly)? After all, the Union Pacific had the 9000 class (4-12-2) in active service from 1926 to 1956, which is pretty good for US steam locomotives.
Maybe. After all, the 9000s were used on the flat strait plains with large, sweepiing curves, where the aa20 had to cope with the comparitably sharp curved soviet lines.
...eh? It's hard to say. It was way, _way_ heavier than the 9000s (roughly 55 short tons heavier, AFAIK) but did have lower axle loading (22 short tons vs 29.5 on the 9000s). It was about 8 feet longer in total though I'm not sure of the size of the tender. The rigid wheelbase was similar (~30ft vs ~33ft) so it in theory it shouldn't have any issues on wide open plain trackage and good coal. Lower tractive effort by like 20,000 pound-feet though, so UP probably would've been like "okay, but why would we bother?".
@@davidfuller581 The PRR S1 Was longer than the AA20 or better yet Big boy being a length of 140ft, It could work For sure, And since both big boy and the S1 is 1million lbs, the tracks can handle the Weight of the AA20 perfectly
@@DistanceNsVeterans weight isn't really the issue so much as axle loading. Also, the S1 was quite limited on where it could run because it was so big.
@@davidfuller581 Oh that's right.
Great video as always. Did not expect that the AA20 would be based off a largely forgotten UP loco. Also the use of the Bocchi the Rock! gif at 2:04 was absolutely perfect
I have heard about the Russian’s 4-14-4 locomotive, and that it had some issues. To me, it appears to be either the same size, or a bit small than the Southern Pacific Cab Forward 4-8-8-2’s, which only one survives, that being 4294 at the California State Railroad Museum. I have seen that locomotive a lot at the museum, since I live not too far from Sacramento, California.
sorry to hear you live in ca,
@@TheaLorraine I didn’t meant in a sad way or anything like that.
Southern Pacific Cab Forward 4-8-8-2 очень интересный локомотив, узнал о нём недавно, жаль не сохранился в рабочем состоянии, как Big Boy.
@@StansSt Yeah. However, I am glad that it didn’t got scrapped. There was another preserved Southern Pacific Cab Forward that was sadly scrapped, It’s AC-11 class No. 4274. If it wasn’t scrapped, it would likely have been preserved at the Western Railway Museum in Suisun City, California.
The fact is that the AA20 proved that 12 Driving wheels is the biggest a rigid frame Steam Locomotive could get!
I always am fascinated whenever I see videos and hear stories of this unique engine, despite how infamous it was. I honestly believe that this engine would've been worthy of permanent static display.
“I am heavy train guy, and this is my train. It costs 400,000 dollars to drive this train for 12 seconds.”
The aa20 was just too crazy of an idea to work. The 9000s were bad enough as is, so it was more of a question over if they could do it than if they should do it. I liked the little segment of Katyusha at the end.
The 9000 class did work since UP had to widen curves and I think the turntables at roundhouses were already big because of Big Boy and the Challenger
but in the end the Soviets understood instead of building big steam trains to pull in more cargo. it is easier to replace them with electric trains which can have more power than steam trains and diesel trains. 1990 50% Soviet rail way is electric. and transports 80% of the cargo. compared to the United States which is only 1% in 2022
@@Elliottblancher 9000s were a decade before the Challengers. The 9000s also worked sections where the UP's mallets also worked, so turning them as not a particular issue.
The 9000s worked from 1926 through to the end of steam. They were a significant leap forward in the UP locomotive fleet. It was a full decade before the Challengers pushed them from first-tier service.
9000 series was great though lol
1:09 Are you suggesting that an experimental locomotive dreamt up by some recent graduates from the Moscow Institute of Transport Engineers was SOMEHOW built in Germany? IN 1931?! You do realize when that was, right? Did you, as you were copying these lines from the Wikipedia page, not notice the "citation needed" mark next to them?
Just so we're clear: no, it wasn't built in Weimar Germany. The Voroshilovgrad Steam Engine plant handled the entire project. Even blueprints from sketches provided by said young engineers were made there.
Do you have any solid evidence to prove the contrary?
Best rail straightener
Thank you you too recommendations, now trains are going to be another CZcams rabbit hole I go down!!
"should we build a practical and useful engine?"
"Nah, slap as much wheels on a rigged frame that will possibly fit on the engine"
I like ridiculous, experimental locomotives. They're freakin fascinating
Finally I get communism and train content in the same video.
Glad to see this video back up!
I know it's not really that related, but I wonder what UP's 4-12-2s would look like if they lowered the headlight to the center of the smokebox. And then put the air compressors on the side like some of them had.
Actually some of them had the flying pumps moved to other parts of the locomotive. So there were barefaced 9000 class engines.
The Omori editing shocked me a little, haha!
Lovely video on this thing. I usually rag on it for being such a failure, but it really was impressive lolol
I have nothing to add information wise like the others, but the choice of music in your videos are always on point!
but in the end the Soviets understood instead of building big steam trains to pull in more cargo. it is easier to replace them with electric trains which can have more power than steam trains and diesel trains. 1990 50% Soviet rail way is electric. and transports 80% of the cargo. compared to the United States which is only 1% in 2022
I love this video. Anyways...nice usage of Bochi the Rock anime GIF!
Would love to see someone talk about the electrification of the Soviet rail network. It's one of the most impressive achievements in rail history and, not to get too political but, it's arguably the only reason Russia still has an economy, but every mention of it I see just takes the wires for granted.
also the first electric locos are GE Products
Especially in the heartland.
Going around the northern parts of modern Russia, one can see a lot of abandoned electrification lines, large train stations and other stuff along those lines. All rusted to hell cause they were left there in the 90s and more often than not the republics decided to abandon them, seeing they had bigger problems to attend to.
@@elpi2804 It's a tragedy really. I don't know what other choice the republics had under the shock therapy doctrine and the mob years, but then the thing that makes it tragic is the inevitability of it all. I'm impressed *any* of it survived those dark times though, it all could have all gone the way of The Milwaukee Road
@@elpi2804 there are two reasons I see, why all this stuff is abandoned nowadays. The first one is that it does bring enough profit to keep it operating. For example, one 4-track stations nearby was disbanded to a regular 2 track passenger stop as two neighbor stations were capable to handle freight trains passing by passenger trains, so it isn't needed. The other one is the overall technical upgrades like better locos, so the freight trains can keep up witt the passenger ones.
but in the end the Soviets understood instead of building big steam trains to pull in more cargo. it is easier to replace them with electric trains which can have more power than steam trains and diesel trains. 1990 50% Soviet rail way is electric. and transports 80% of the cargo. compared to the United States which is only 1% in 2022
There are quite a few videos about this locomotive, how ever, you have video and pictures I have never seen before. Thumbs up.
I love Soviet Steam locomotives. The Red Star Is too Iconic, Especially E class 0-10-0's. Shame The AA20 Wasn't Preserved
Russia is best at sweeping its mistakes under the rug(especially Soviet Russia)
@@EvilTurkeySlices I'm literally Talking About Trains Be Political Somewhere Else
Lol they copied one of the poorer mechanical design Americans made. I wouldn't have kept it either, think about it it would never be able to run under its own power
@@ifyourmarriedyourasimpanda7440 As A record For Being The Biggest Rigid Framed Steam Locomotive In Europe , I would Have Just Towed It To The Russian Railway Museum By Another Locomotive And Put On Display
Excellent subject matter and footage.
I would love to see a video done about our P38 class locomotive. Unfortunately none were saved from the 2 or three built. But it was the largest articulated locomotive in Russia and I believe it would have been similar to the Yellowstone types. Sadly There are no articulated locomotives running in Russia. But we do have a ton of great steam still. Many are used for passenger and limited freight service
Great video
AA20: “Looks like those tracks could
handle the Neutron Style!”
I'm from Dunkirk. Good piece of history. ALCO-BROOKS was once the heart of our town.
Was not expecting to see Bocchi in a steam locomotive history lesson but I'm here for it
good use of Kass' music!
3:52, if the AA20 really did only have 63 inch drivers then WOW, these guys are only 5'2 maybe 5'5 on a good day.
What about PRR T1 with 80 inch drivers? (:
One thing comes to mind when I think of Russia: The Heavy from TF2.
I would say you did a great job, but since this a video about a Russian train I have to say *we* did a good job. ;)
But it was a failure lmao
@@threepea1151 Then it was your failure lol! TO THE GULAG WITH YOU! 🤣
@@mylesspear just think how many enemies you could send to gulag I mean re education via that train
Yeah all Russia is good at is causing wars
Katyusha in the credits? Spotted the GuP fan
ALCO was like Oh hail nah they don’t got a bigger locomotive so then they built the challengers and big boys
Split it in half, now it’s a 4-7-7-4
2:06 it is a shame that the glitch sound is not included
10 seconds into the video and I hear Zelda's Kass theme 🤘
Some might call this train “ground breaking”
They really went *off the rails* with this design
Well they did expand their track network at the same time though. Much more than they invested into locomotives actually.
In your next video, are you gonna talk about the new Amtrak Airo? I can’t wait to hear more history.
Awesome
Stalin was obsessed with big. Tatlin's Tower, the Seven Sisters, Maxim Gorky, T35, etc. etc.
now this
yes.
Imagine a universe were they saw the big boys in stead of 9000
R.I.P. AA20 4-14-4 1934 - 1960
"Humph!" Said the Fat Controller. "I never liked these big engines, always going wrong."
Can't get enough of random #sega #sonic! 👍👍👍
Why did they ever think they could go through switches with 7 axles on a solid frame?!
The Russians never did really adopt more successful and practical articulated steam power, they did produce a 2-8-8-4 Yellowstone type in the 1950's that was successful but it was only a prototype and by than steam locomotive production in the Soviet Union was curtailed. The Russians always preferred steam locomotives of 10 coupled designs for freight service. Sadly the AA20 was doomed from the very beginning.
Wow! A steam locomotive that actually destroyed the tracks it was on because it was so heavy!
Can you talk about Railroads using Dark Territory? One notable Railroad that I know of that used Dark Territory was the Rutland Railroad in Northern New York and Vermont State
I made a drawing of a 10-10-10-10 and it was cursed af and it was also streamlined
1:02 **raid shadow legends intensifies**
They should have turned it into a museum piece.
Can you please cover the P36?
0:46 There I am, Gary!
It is the ultimate compensationmobile.
I would love to see a G scale version of this engine for model railroaders.
Cute
It would only be able to run on perfectly straight track, lol
The reason why i Call this locomotive Andrey Andreyev is because a politician of the same name has sponsered it’s construction.
they had some 2-10-0 from baldwain 200 got left in the us due to the revilution
It would’ve been interesting if it had survived into the modern age and if it met up with big boy to see which one was the crazier loco
Don't know why you referenced "crazy" to the "Big Boys" as THEY were completely successful.
I'd say you'd need a triplex to survive as well to truly have a crazy combo.
I wonder if these events inspired N&W's J Class Aluminum Rods to be deemed Top Secret?
Imagine an e2 but it powerfully like big boy+aa20
The smoke box really reminds me of the NYC Niagaras
The 9000s and Hungarian 2-12-4 tank engines (yes that actually did exist) were probably the limit of non articulated locomotives as the 9000s were actually quite successful
That’s Right. There were a few 0-16-0 locomotives too.
What type was the Hungarian 2-12-4? Because as far as I know the largest proposed (but not built) Hungarian tank engine was supposed to be a 4-8-4 tank engine based on the MÁV class 424. The other tank engines that were built were usually on the smaller side (2-6-2s, 2-4-2s, 2-8-2s)
@@kovacsabelkristof3566 sorry I was incorrect in my original comment, the engine was the Bulgarian railway class 46, not as I said Hungarian, that’s a slight error on my part
@@nathancorcoran5347 There where never built any steam locomotives with 16 Driving wheels on a rigid frame, because the locomotive factories around the world already know That building locomotives with more than 12 Driving wheels on a rigid frame isn’t gong to work.
Andrey Andreyev was considered the biggest wheel arrangement on steam locomotive.
Do the video of the Soviet M62s, 2TE10s and 2TE116s next
You’re telling me the Soviets built something too large and heavy for its intended purpose? Color me utterly unsurprised.
I Would love to see a video about Soviet passenger rail
Such an interesting locomotive by far and one thing you didn’t mention was that it had special heating apparatus in its tender to minimise the water from being frozen over during trips in the harshest winter conditions on the planet. I think a lot of the Russian steamers had this apparatus onboard, but there was something about the AA20 that made that technology special. I remember reading it in my vintage 1940s and 1950s railway magazines.
It’s interesting to note that if Mikhail Kalashnikov pursued his dream to design locomotives for the State Railways, than rather going forthwith with his second idea of building the legendary AK-47 Assault Rifle whilst recovering from wounds sustained on the Eastern Front as a Tank Commander, imagine what he could’ve built if he had the chance to put his brilliant engineering mind to work. I’m sure the legendary gunsmith would’ve made an awesome Freight locomotive for his vast countries railways.
Great video once again, my friend. I do absolutely love these videos especially the one you did on the Whyte arrangements, that was so interesting by far considering the ones about the Berkshire of which the South Australian Railways had the only Berky design in the country, the formidable 720 Class locomotive. But we also had the Pacific type locos such as the Class 600 and Class 620 Heavy & Light Pacifics, we had Mountains later modified to a Northern (aka 500 Class), we had another Northern Type, the 520 Class that took inspiration from the T1s of the Pennsy in your neck of the woods, we had almost 50 Mikado type locomotives of the 700, 710, 740 and later the ex. N Class of the Victorian Railways aka the 750 Class 2-8-2s.
Thankfully, a few of these behemoths have been preserved with one of the 520s undergoing restoration to operation at SteamRanger in the Adelaide Hills of Mount Barker.
Perhaps you could do a video about how the strong American influence dominated in the designs of the big power South Australian engines from the 1920s to the 1940s? If you need source material, photos and video just hit me up 🤙.
Anyhoo, I’ve probably bored you enough now, I apologise. Have a wonderful and safe Christmas with your family. Regards, Caleb from South Australia.
Peace brother ✌️
but in the end the Soviets understood instead of building big steam trains to pull in more cargo. it is easier to replace them with electric trains which can have more power than steam trains and diesel trains. 1990 50% Soviet rail way is electric. and transports 80% of the cargo. compared to the United States which is only 1% in 2022
US: Amtrak
USSR: Ourtrak
I amtrak
We aretrak
Nice use of the "Bocchi glitch" scene!
That locomotive looks a lot a niagara except a bit um L E G I T
C H U N G U S but still nice video Jared keep it up
In engineering, bigger is not always better
There was a giant Beyer Garrett built for Russia around the same time. Can you do a piece on it
Love the bit at the end kalinka
@amtrakGuy365 What are the "lateral motion devices" you mention at 2:52? How did these work?
I guess the same way as VL85's middle trucks did: freely swaying after the track
it's a combination of a 'hinge' more or less on the connecting rod, and lateral play in the axel boxes - with spring resistance to keep the wheelset in line on straits. The play would be no more than an inch to an inch-and-a-half. From memory, it was Alco who figured it out. The Union Pacific 4-12-2 had them.
2:03 Aaaaaand it was a complete disaster
"Why lay more track when you could just haul one giant train?"
Good to see the modern railroad industry takes cues from the notoriously successful soviet union
but in the end the Soviets understood instead of building big steam trains to pull in more cargo. it is easier to replace them with electric trains which can have more power than steam trains and diesel trains. 1990 50% Soviet rail way is electric. and transports 80% of the cargo. compared to the United States which is only 1% in 2022
Well the Soviets did heavily expand their rail network
Too big to fail, blasted off the tracks!
I’m just imagining that the Southern Pacific SP-1’s and SP-2’s and the Union Pacific 9000 Class Locomotives laughing at the AA-20.
Hell, a TTT-1 would out perform it on every measure.
The Track Destroyer AA2
will there be anything about the railway industry in the republic of turkey?
Just goes to show that bigger isn't necessarily better.
Go big or go homesky!
Soviet Union: We do it bigger, but not better
Americans: Bigger went better
Doe’s anyone here know what it says on the front of the AA-20? I tried google translating it but all that came out was gibberish.
It’s Andrey Andreyev’s Name in the Russian language.
If The The TF2 characters were locomotives, Heavy would be The AA20.
In mother Russia you don’t drive steam locomotives, steam locomotives drive you
After watching this video, it got me wondering. How come the AA20 flopped while the UP 9000 class were successful?
Sometimes those last couple feet make all the difference…
Truth is even the 9000 class had some issues. But not nearly to the same degree as the AA20. Also the 9000s were pretty much stuck in the gentle rolling plains of Nebraska and areas around that region. Curves weren’t as severe around those parts.
@@fuzzyhead878 How interesting, yet the UP 9000 class were able to have 88 of them build while AA20 is only one of a kind.
@@matthewpastrikos7383 Also true. To be clear, I love the 9000 class I’d happily give them an A+ as locomotives.But they still had limitations. The AA20 just made said limitations worse to the point of impracticality. Whereas UP was able to adapt and work with the limitations of the 9000, the Soviets couldn’t do the same with the AA20.
@@fuzzyhead878 Of course, thank you Fuzzyhead878.
Is the background music really necessary?
They could've just turned the AA20 Into a 4-6-6-4 Challenger or something
Later there was an attempt of producing 2-8-8-4 P38 unit, yet the steam era of Soviet locos was over by the time it was produced
It would’ve been interesting if an American railroad company would’ve bought it and brought it over to the states
Union Pacific learned this lesson early that's why we got the 3900 class and the 4000 class Big Boy articulateds
Both of which were produced after AA20 was tested. Really early enough
That's a little harsh on the UP-1 and UP-2 Classes. It was a full decade before the CSA-1 class came into service.
Here's an interesting video of old Soviet steam locomotives, complete with Soviet song:
czcams.com/video/t-lINmZnNBc/video.html
Waiting for engines of the trans-siberian railway
Russian engineers: “Woah look how many drivers that thing has! This is the one we’ve been looking for!”
Little did they know that there was something bigger…
*PRR S1*
Why am I getting a feeling after its failure that Andrey was sent to gulag by Stalin. Great video Jared! Where did you find the footage of it under operation?
Oh, no. Quite the opposite. Andreyev was one of the guys _sending_ people to gulags, after his tenure as the Routes of Communication Commissar. From Khrushchov's memoirs: "Andrey Andreevich (note: that's his first name and the patronymic; Andreyev is the surname) did a lot of bad things during the 1937 repressions. Perhaps, due to his past he was afraid of being suspected of a soft attitude towards former Trotskyists. Wherever he went, many people died."
@@-SeventeenF thats interesting. Thanks for the information!
Well he wasn't