Folks... Not a whole lot of information anywhere on the AC-9. Everything focused on the Cab Forwards. All of my pubs..well.. You name it. Really frustrating!!! Just know it wasn't my lack of interest. I was determined to scratch this off of my list because it was the only Yellowstone I hadn't talked about yet. it is what it is.
The AC-9 is my favorite articulated steam locomotive on the Southern Pacific. Its design is very elegant and it’s the only streamlined-articulated locomotive I know of. It’s a dang shame that none of these were preserved. Nice work!
these were the only Mallet articulateds that were at least semi streamlined but the ASG's or Australian Standard Garretts were also semi streamlined articulateds and what it more interesting is that they were a standardized freight design drawn up during the height of the 1942 japanese invasion scare for Australia and yet had the streamlined watertanks and skyline casing for the boiler fitted when built.
actually the AC-9 is not the only streamlined articulated locomotive there is another streamlined articulated locomotive which was the P38 the P38 is a streamlined 2-8-8-4 built in 1954-1955 by the Kolomna locomotive plant for the Soviet Railways it was used to pull both freight and passenger trains
Nice video, I just wanted to add that the oil conversion occurred between March to August of 1950 and that the Southern Pacific purchased 14 oil tenders from the UP when they were retiring their ex-C&O 2-8-8-2’s after WW2. The tenders were originally used with SP F class 2-10-2’s when they were purchased but then were used with the AC-9’s when they were converted to oil firing. Also, a random fact; there is no recorded photos of a AC-9 pulling a passenger train except for a rail-fan organized trip in May of 1954 using the 3809 - that excursion produced the only known photos of an AC-9 pulling passenger equipment.
Yeah, not a whole of info anywhere on it... All focused on the cab forwards.. really frustrating. I was bound and determined to scratch this one off of my list. The only Yellowstone AI hadnt talked about.
As said by others and something i agree, the skyline casing give them a unique and elegant look, especially for a freight locomotive, shame not even one was saved...
The Southern Pacific AC9 class engines were unique among articulated steam power owned by SP as the AC9 was one of the few non "Cab Forward" style designs. The SP AC 9 class locomotives were retired from 1953-1956 and sadly all were scrapped with none of the 12 locomotives being saved for display observation. I wish that one example of the AC9 class was preserved as these were the SP's largest and heaviest examples of steam power, and one of the few non "Cab Forward" type design articulated locomotives owned by the SP.
Very good publicity for an awesome locomotive! However the Northern Pacific Railroad had monsters just like the Southern Pacific and other railroads but I have never seen any commentary about the Northern Pacific Yellowstone types.
The NP actually created the type.. It's in my very original Yellowstone video. The problem with the NP's was the poor coal quality. The original Yellowstone firebox was wayyy too big and the loco vastly underperformed. The problem was solved by blocking off some of the grate in order to improve draft. NP was somewhat put off by the issue and only ordered 12 of the 72 total Yellowstone's built. Here's the link if you want to watch that video... czcams.com/video/e9_tQoHk5VQ/video.html
Thanks for another cool video. The AC-9's seem to be overshadowed quite a bit by the Cab Forwards, but AC-9's are very cool and unique looking locomotives in their own right. I think one area where all of SP's AC 2-8-8-4's or 4-8-8-2's may be overlooked is efficiency. The 63 inch drivers of these engines would've allowed them to realize more benefit from their potential horsepower on grades as opposed to similar designs with larger drivers. When Bachmann tooled up their B&O Yellowstones in HO scale, they probably could have used the same chassis to offer a model of the SP AC-9. Sounds like a missed opportunity. Cheers Everybody!
The Modoc line didn't connect with Donner Pass. It went from Klamath Falls, OR to Sparks, NV. Before the Modoc line, eastbound traffic from Oregon had to first move over the tortuous mountain railroad that was the Siskiyou line to get into California. The traffic then had to move halfway down California to get to the transcontinental mainline, which then had to go back up and over the Sierras through Donner Summit before continuing on east to the Union Pacific interchange at Ogden, UT, for shipment further east. This routing consumed several days and involved lifting each carload many thousands of feet in elevation, which lead to high operating costs incurred by the railroad. The Modoc gave a more direct route over lower grades for that traffic.
Totally agree with your definition of ‘Cab Forward’ locomotives as ‘Yellowstones’. ( running a locomotive in reverse does not alter it’s wheel arrangement definition!)
I wish if the AC-9 would have been preserved, this would have been "Southern Pacific's Big Three (SP GS-4, SP AC-12, and SP, AC-9)" just like Norfolk and Western's Big Three (J, A, and Y6a), and the Union Pacific's Big Three (UP FEF-3, Challenger, and Big Boy).
If all SP 2-8-8-4 Locomotives were saved from scrap I’ll donate 3 SP 2-8-8-4 Yellowstones to the city of Portland and convert them to burn vegetable oil burning in case they had coal tenders and I would get them running again. And I’ll drive one of my favorite locomotives of all times.
[Continued],Southern Pacific were considered Lines East,or the Atlantic lines! There were several books on the SP motive power,Diebert and Strapac did a full roster,and it is listed under the Compendium of Southern Pacific Motive Power! There were a number of Authors,who wrote on the SP,and they should be cross referenced! I'm working from memory,so I've tried to get a least some information that's useful! Thank you 😇 😊!
There's some great info here, thanks! About the NP's Yellowstone's. They built what they needed for the short 200 mile division they were designed to operate on. They had two failings, the drivers would not balance well, so pounded the rail to ribbons at design speed. Therefore the speed was restricted to 25mph until new better balanced wheels were installed when forged frames were applied. The cast and riveted frames originally applied were the second major flaw. Like I said, breat info being put out here.
I dont have the info specifically for the AC9... But I can tell you that the Duluth's Yellowstone's consume 12t of coal and water an hour which gives them 2.5 hours roughly of continuous running time at full power. That figure would be a solid ballpark for the AC9
Folks... Not a whole lot of information anywhere on the AC-9. Everything focused on the Cab Forwards. All of my pubs..well.. You name it. Really frustrating!!! Just know it wasn't my lack of interest. I was determined to scratch this off of my list because it was the only Yellowstone I hadn't talked about yet. it is what it is.
It a shame that they don’t get the spotlight at all. They are interesting machines on the southern pacific.
The AC-9 is my favorite articulated steam locomotive on the Southern Pacific. Its design is very elegant and it’s the only streamlined-articulated locomotive I know of. It’s a dang shame that none of these were preserved. Nice work!
these were the only Mallet articulateds that were at least semi streamlined but the ASG's or Australian Standard Garretts were also semi streamlined articulateds and what it more interesting is that they were a standardized freight design drawn up during the height of the 1942 japanese invasion scare for Australia and yet had the streamlined watertanks and skyline casing for the boiler fitted when built.
actually the AC-9 is not the only streamlined articulated locomotive there is another streamlined articulated locomotive which was the P38 the P38 is a streamlined 2-8-8-4 built in 1954-1955 by the Kolomna locomotive plant for the Soviet Railways it was used to pull both freight and passenger trains
Video coming on that today...
You made a terrific presentation for such limited information, that's why I like this channel. Well done!
I appreciate that! Really!
Nice video, I just wanted to add that the oil conversion occurred between March to August of 1950 and that the Southern Pacific purchased 14 oil tenders from the UP when they were retiring their ex-C&O 2-8-8-2’s after WW2. The tenders were originally used with SP F class 2-10-2’s when they were purchased but then were used with the AC-9’s when they were converted to oil firing. Also, a random fact; there is no recorded photos of a AC-9 pulling a passenger train except for a rail-fan organized trip in May of 1954 using the 3809 - that excursion produced the only known photos of an AC-9 pulling passenger equipment.
Great Info!
No doubt about it, the AC9s were the best looking Yellowstones ever built. Great video on an obscure locomotive, enjoyed it much!
Glad you enjoyed it
perfect timing, was just thinking about the SP AC9
Yeah, not a whole of info anywhere on it... All focused on the cab forwards.. really frustrating. I was bound and determined to scratch this one off of my list. The only Yellowstone AI hadnt talked about.
As said by others and something i agree, the skyline casing give them a unique and elegant look, especially for a freight locomotive, shame not even one was saved...
For sure!
The Southern Pacific AC9 class engines were unique among articulated steam power owned by SP as the AC9 was one of the few non "Cab Forward" style designs. The SP AC 9 class locomotives were retired from 1953-1956 and sadly all were scrapped with none of the 12 locomotives being saved for display observation. I wish that one example of the AC9 class was preserved as these were the SP's largest and heaviest examples of steam power, and one of the few non "Cab Forward" type design articulated locomotives owned by the SP.
I love these Yellowstone engines! Especially on the SP called AC-9s!
I love the look of these yellostones
Pretty slick for a articulated
Very good publicity for an awesome locomotive! However the Northern Pacific Railroad had monsters just like the Southern Pacific and other railroads but I have never seen any commentary about the Northern Pacific Yellowstone types.
The NP actually created the type.. It's in my very original Yellowstone video. The problem with the NP's was the poor coal quality. The original Yellowstone firebox was wayyy too big and the loco vastly underperformed. The problem was solved by blocking off some of the grate in order to improve draft. NP was somewhat put off by the issue and only ordered 12 of the 72 total Yellowstone's built. Here's the link if you want to watch that video... czcams.com/video/e9_tQoHk5VQ/video.html
Thanks for another cool video. The AC-9's seem to be overshadowed quite a bit by the Cab Forwards, but AC-9's are very cool and unique looking locomotives in their own right. I think one area where all of SP's AC 2-8-8-4's or 4-8-8-2's may be overlooked is efficiency. The 63 inch drivers of these engines would've allowed them to realize more benefit from their potential horsepower on grades as opposed to similar designs with larger drivers. When Bachmann tooled up their B&O Yellowstones in HO scale, they probably could have used the same chassis to offer a model of the SP AC-9. Sounds like a missed opportunity. Cheers Everybody!
You're welcome
The Modoc line didn't connect with Donner Pass. It went from Klamath Falls, OR to Sparks, NV. Before the Modoc line, eastbound traffic from Oregon had to first move over the tortuous mountain railroad that was the Siskiyou line to get into California. The traffic then had to move halfway down California to get to the transcontinental mainline, which then had to go back up and over the Sierras through Donner Summit before continuing on east to the Union Pacific interchange at Ogden, UT, for shipment further east. This routing consumed several days and involved lifting each carload many thousands of feet in elevation, which lead to high operating costs incurred by the railroad. The Modoc gave a more direct route over lower grades for that traffic.
Totally agree with your definition of ‘Cab Forward’ locomotives as ‘Yellowstones’. ( running a locomotive in reverse does not alter it’s wheel arrangement definition!)
I wish if the AC-9 would have been preserved, this would have been "Southern Pacific's Big Three (SP GS-4, SP AC-12, and SP, AC-9)" just like Norfolk and Western's Big Three (J, A, and Y6a), and the Union Pacific's Big Three (UP FEF-3, Challenger, and Big Boy).
Well that would have been nice.. Especially since they were the only somewhat articulated streamline
They had a warning hung on one of the cylinders alerting the engine crew that the locomotive was a bit too wide; to be careful on curves.
Dont stand too close to the tracks!
If all SP 2-8-8-4 Locomotives were saved from scrap I’ll donate 3 SP 2-8-8-4 Yellowstones to the city of Portland and convert them to burn vegetable oil burning in case they had coal tenders and I would get them running again. And I’ll drive one of my favorite locomotives of all times.
[Continued],Southern Pacific were considered Lines East,or the Atlantic lines! There were several books on the SP motive power,Diebert and Strapac did a full roster,and it is listed under the Compendium of Southern Pacific Motive Power! There were a number of Authors,who wrote on the SP,and they should be cross referenced! I'm working from memory,so I've tried to get a least some information that's useful! Thank you 😇 😊!
There's some great info here, thanks! About the NP's Yellowstone's. They built what they needed for the short 200 mile division they were designed to operate on. They had two failings, the drivers would not balance well, so pounded the rail to ribbons at design speed. Therefore the speed was restricted to 25mph until new better balanced wheels were installed when forged frames were applied. The cast and riveted frames originally applied were the second major flaw.
Like I said, breat info being put out here.
czcams.com/video/e9_tQoHk5VQ/video.html Thats a link to my original Yellowstone video that talks more about them.
@@TheRailroadCrossing-SteamPower Great, I will!
One other thing,as to the Atlantic Lines! Since the Texas &New Orleans,was on the Gulf of Mexico,definitely it was on the Atlantic!! Thank you 😇 😊!
Thanks .
You're welcome!
The lines that those locomotives operated over was the former El Paso & South Western! The Southern
Thx.
You're welcome!
it looked like Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range
Nothing beats the Missabe Yellowstone! :)
Thanks!
How about one on rail mounted traction engines, both as constructed by various manufacturers and those were "bush" engineered.
You got it! Thank you as always! See ya tomorrow!
Great stuff as always. Thanks. if you have info on how far an engine can go on its water supply, I'd really appreciate hearing that. Cheers
I dont have the info specifically for the AC9... But I can tell you that the Duluth's Yellowstone's consume 12t of coal and water an hour which gives them 2.5 hours roughly of continuous running time at full power. That figure would be a solid ballpark for the AC9
@@TheRailroadCrossing-SteamPower Thanks. Sounds like another reason diesels took over(much longer distances without having to stop to refuel).
Oh for sure