Engine bed (GSC)

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Loco112
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Re: Engine bed (GSC)

Post by Loco112 »

Did you read LivingLegend's post of a few years ago about his contacts with GSC;
http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/vie ... 278#p98303
echo
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Re: Engine bed (GSC)

Post by echo »

That GSC loco bed in Locomotive Cyclopedia issue 1947 on page 8-608 is I'm 99% sure a Niagara bed. I recently finished 3D modelling it and it looks identical. In the image the pilot beam ends have been cut off to bore the cylinders.
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gwrdriver
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Re: Engine bed (GSC)

Post by gwrdriver »

That GSC bed photo is a "stock" photo and has been used several times in railway histories (one I have is by Richard Prince) to represent an example of the cast steel frames being used in their locomotives.
GWRdriver
Nashville TN
echo
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Re: Engine bed (GSC)

Post by echo »

I am curious as to the purpose of the concave features on the left and right side of the pilot beam on most? cast steel engine beds.
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NP317
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Re: Engine bed (GSC)

Post by NP317 »

Poling Pockets, if I understand your question.
~RN
TRNAT0315_02.jpg
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Fender
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Re: Engine bed (GSC)

Post by Fender »

I agree about the poling pocket explanation, although the idea of using a push pole with a 4-8-4 or 2-8-4 seems preposterous!
Dan Watson
Chattanooga, TN
Pontiacguy1
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Re: Engine bed (GSC)

Post by Pontiacguy1 »

They were only used to move one or two cars on an adjacent track like in a yard where it would be flat, or to push something up into a siding. Like you, I wonder why it would be on a 4-8-4, but they were apparently on every locomotive. Even some early diesels had them.
A short video showing the practice. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUb8PeeT2WI
I believe the entire practice of polling was outlawed around 1970. Of course, when they started doing this probably about 150+ years ago, the typical loaded car probably weighed about 1/3rd of typical loaded car today.
FKreider
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Re: Engine bed (GSC)

Post by FKreider »

Very cool, I have often wondered what those "pockets" were for!
-Frank K.
Sandiapaul
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Re: Engine bed (GSC)

Post by Sandiapaul »

The link for:
"Jim Kreider’s Berkshire Memoirs"

Seems to be broken, can anyone provide a working link, I'd like to read how he dealt with the cast bed.
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