1906, HK Porter, Compressed air mine locomotive demonstration
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- čas přidán 12. 09. 2024
- Short demonstration of a HK Porter, mine locomotive that runs off of compressed air. As you can see in the video the locomotive does not run very long with the air in the tank. Normally the locomotive would have a air hose hooked up to it suppling air all the time for operation. Locomotive has no brakes, and braking is accomplished by putting the locomotive into reverse and opening the throttle. This locomotive was built in 1906 and is 24" gauge. This was shot at the Western museum of mining near Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Very rare to see something like this running. I wish more people would restore these to operable condition.
Ex Homestake Mine, this is the same as was ran on the upper levels. You could pull one train of ore out, recharge with air, push the empties back, and repeat. I remember the pipes becoming frosted over pulling loaded cars. The one in the video is a 3 ton, we used mostly the 5 ton for hauling, and there was a much larger two tank one on the tramway to the mill. These were eventually phased out for
Electrics. For those interested the operating pressure was about 800 psi. Mostly pulled 3 ton Granby cars maybe 5 or 6 at a time
They need a longer track
A layout more like
It’s very cool to see the small unusual stuff run
I love how he blew a shave and a haircut at the end lol
Somebody learned their train code today
So, no, they are not designed to run connected up to the air main- rather, they would run something like a mile at a time, before reconnecting to the HP air lines in the mine. It's being run on perhaps 100 psi air, rather than the 300-600 psi that it is designed for. Porter 4077 is restored as well, ex Coleman Alberta, it is a 3' gauge engine. When I saw it 2 decades ago, the wheels were so worn from use that they were double flanged !. Another one of the 18" ones was converted to steam and used in Port Townsend, WA.
Yes and from what I have read you could do quite a bit of work on a single tank of air.
I thought the thing wasn't even going to make any noise, thankfully it does make sound. And it Has A Whistle too, Yessss!!!!
Wow, every day something new. Even it`s from past.
That is the most adorable locomotive I’ve ever seen
I would agree. They need to reproduce and sell these little locomotives. I would buy one.
There are several locomotives runs with compressed air in Japan!
JNR 9600 49671: czcams.com/video/quzGMTlpoQg/video.html
JNR D51 146: czcams.com/video/KRBry57GV8w/video.html
JNR D51 827: czcams.com/video/-okh6fV0T8o/video.html
JNR D52 70: czcams.com/video/3Iem-KRck7g/video.html
JNR C12 167: czcams.com/video/zYBbiKt4gqw/video.html
This location is the Mining Museum at Colorado Springs, CO. They have a large number of very interesting artifacts and exhibits including a completely working stamping mill they run once or twice a year.
I'm sure you remember the delightful children's book "The Little Engine That went nowhere"
I never really thought this was possible
You should research "fireless locomotives". They are essentially steam locomotives with no firebox. They are filled with boiling hot water and can run for several hours depending on how hard they are working. It would seem like it wouldn't work but it was a successful design. They are pretty rare locomotives. Here is a link to one in service czcams.com/video/VixrQYaBvz0/video.html
@@travelingtom923 Unfortunately, I think that one got scrapped. I found video of another one operating in Germany at a solvent plant as recently as 2013.
It works almost exactly like steam locomotives, just that it works on pressurized air, instead of pressurized steam.
In fact I think it's fairly straightforward to convert an old steam locomotive to work on air, for small runs on museum pieces.
The first locomotive I ever got closer than 5 feet away from was a porter
Amazed to see such a thing
Hi, I am working on a documentary and I would really like to use some of your video in mine. Can I have your permission for this? Thank you
Nice pneumatic locomotive. I think it has inside Stephenson valve gears.
Certainly one of the most interesting locomotives. All it needs is to be full of hot air.
What a strange but interesting locomotive 🤔
Poor little loco is like a caged animal. No place to go, no load to pull.
I wish these were in g scale model train form. I would buy one if it were for sale
I wouldn't think it would be too hard to for a company to build a G scale version of that.
@@travelingtom923 yea, it’s just a model train with real elements. It looks really cool, and could seek well if bachmann or Lionel would make that
The wackiest thing about these little locomotives is the finned cylinders, presumably to keep the cylinders from icing, rather than overheating!
A very wacky design indeed.
I love seeing H.K. Porter Locomotives. I was wondering if you know where it was made? The reason I ask is my dad used to work at their Forging plant in Somerville Mass and from 1896 to the 1950s they used to make Locomotives there! I have tools as old as 1906 that were made there.
No I don't know that information. Not too many books were written about Porter locomotives. They have made some interesting locomotives over the years.
This has to be something from 1880's like
The H K Porter Co made their locos in Pittsburgh, PA. These little locos could have been made as late as the 1940s.
I love that museum ... they still have that big Corlis stationary steam engine inside? They used to run it with compressed air.
Yes they do. I will be making a future video on that engine as well as some others including the steam shovel in operation.
I look forward to it. I also attended an antique tractor pull at the museum years ago. Colorado has some very cool transportation museums. Your videos are making me want to start revisiting them.
Sputt Sputt sputta sputt
It may run on air but it still sounds like a like a steam locomotive
Anybody knows about the spec of this train? i.e. what's the tank pressure? how much horsepower does it produce? what's the range? etc. I've been looking for it everywhere. Can't seem to find it.
This website should help douglas-self.com/MUSEUM/LOCOLOCO/airloco/airloco.htm
Wow! I have so many questions I tried following the link to the description of the engine specs but there are about 200 engines on that page 😆Do you know what pressure this run is at!? Do you guys in America need liability insurance for things like this!? Do you have a yearly pressure test?!?!
I don't think it is more than 120 PSI. You probably do not need insurance as no passengers are being carried. I do not think they do any pressure testing as this is only run about once a year.
Man if that was for sale free I would get it
fun fact air engines are almost inventid almost arou the steam trains time
Ex Homestake Gold Mine. Note the UNIVERSAL TRAMAIRE on the other track.
Im surprised at how easily it accelerates!
Why don’t they put a compressor on board? Might keep it topped up a little longer.
They were designed for underground mine work. Combustion of any type would be dangerous and would use precious oxygen. The engines could run quite a distance and would be filled with hoses running through the mines. Compressors would be at the surface. Modern mine engines use batteries.
@@JamesWillmusSome battery locos are still around; even more diesel locomotives are in service underground.
Funny sounds
The whistle sounds like it’s saying choo choo
Tartarian technology
Oops all rivets
i dont get why is ther no funnel