Trains... Choo Choo, not the dirty kind.

[xoxoxoBruce]

William McKeen was the Union Pacific Railroad’s Superintendent of Motive Power when he, and/or staff, came up with this design. The Railroad built the first four cars, and subsequent units were constructed by McKeen in leased space at Union Pacific’s Omaha Shops. So McKeen started a company to build this design.

I wonder if that was Union Pacific didn't want to risk liability?
Couldn't convince stockholders this was a geed investment?
Up's charter wouldn't allow to selling to other railroads?
McKeen's name was on the patents, unlikely if he was working for UP?
It was a sweetheart deal between McKeen and the UP brass?

I also wonder what engines were used in the first four?
FOUND IT!

The first McKeen Car was built in 1904-5, and was reported complete in March of 1905. This car was built with a steel frame and wood body, was 31′ feet long, and sat 25 passengers. It had a Riotti 50 H.P. Gasoline engine, which, when tested in the Omaha Yards, proved too weak for a train car of that size, and in two months, a 100 H.P. Riotti engine was fitted before it was sent off to Grand Island, Neb. for further testing.

They whole concept of an unassailable giant like Union Pacific, trying to carry the public on the cheap, is kind of scary. I mean if you try to raise corn or rabbits and fail, then it's too bad. Carrying 80 people and fail, is much more serious. But in those days, Union Pacific might refund the price of the ticket... to the next of kin. Think how little White Star paid to Titanic victims.

[xoxoxoBruce]

OK, after the first four cars built by UP, they started using an engine of McKeen's design, except 3 Rottis, 1 Samet, and 1 Sterling.
The cars McKeen built for other railroads had his engine or Hall-Scott, or Winton engines.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Here's a Stover from that era.

[xoxoxoBruce]

And winter in the Rockies...

[xoxoxoBruce]

1943 menus with the highest priced item on each.

Burlington


New York Central


Frisco and Dixie

[xoxoxoBruce]

Wiki says...

The Shay locomotive was the most widely used geared steam locomotive. The locomotives were built to the patents of Ephraim Shay, who has been credited with the popularization of the concept of a geared steam locomotive. Although the design of Ephraim Shay's early locomotives differed from later ones, there is a clear line of development that joins all Shays.
The strength of these engines is that all wheels, including, in some engines, those under the tender, are driven so that all the weight develops tractive effort. A high ratio of piston strokes to wheel revolutions allowed them to run at partial slip, where a conventional rod engine would spin its drive wheels and burn rails, losing all traction.

I'm guessing there's some track under that water.

[Griff]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Wiki says...


I'm guessing there's some track under that water.

I wonder when that baby went out of service...