QJ 6988 At Speed 

Because the labor was cheaper than buying new diesels.

It’s not that we can’t build new ones at all, it’s just that it would be very difficult to build them at an affordable price.

Cheap labor, abundant coal but limited petroleum reserves, no environmental ordnances against smoke, and lighter safety requirements. If the same conditions in the US existed, Class I's would've run steam into the 21st century. Dieselization and electrification on the coast of China happened long ago, probably in the late 70s-early 80s. Steam ran much longer in the rural western provinces because the entire region in general wasn't modernized. In the west, there are still large areas where there isn't a power grid.

@@joelmarksbury4376 ccQdqw;22222 Kui. Pooˇlnk. Vy

Shows how smart they really are !

从美国的问候。

@@nicolasgoldring7128 你好！我们大家都爱看火车，特别是中国火车在美国。

@@randyyoung3332 真的吗? 哦、太棒了! 谢谢你的赞美!

QJs are wonderful engines.

So far that seems to be the case. We should have another operational QJ here soon since RJ Corman donated theirs to the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp. It still has time left on its boiler certification, and likely only needs minor repairs to run again.

They couldn't build a good diesel locomotive themselves, but they could build a good steam locomotive. They don't have their oil and they have their coal. They wanted to be self-sufficient and they were. If you are looking for something really amazing then compare the development of China and the US since GE showed the Dash 9.

It was based on 1950's LV class (as well 2-10-2), the last Soviet steam locomotive class ever, rather than 1930's FD. (Maybe, the old Chinese series designation FD leads to confusion, but it isn't related to 1930s Soviet FD class). BTW, Soviet FD class itself was very uncommon for Russian/Soviet steam locomotive traditions, being very "american" in design, and also with very low (as for Russian/Soviet traditions) boiler height. While LV was a quite typical late Soviet steam engine class, developed as a more powerful version of previous 1940s (post-WWII) successful class L.

@@tomankt I always thought that the QJ was based off the older FD because more of those were exported from the USSR to China (at least I thought so); I didn’t realize it was based off the more modern LV. Thanks for the info! I will say though, to me it actually seems like quite a few Soviet steam locomotives owe certain design aspects to American locomotives (boxpok drivers, box frames, American-style power reverse, that kind of thing. Both American and Soviet rail development prioritized robustness and ease of maintenance, especially with freight designs, so it makes sense that there would be certain similarities.)

I love your name and the logo. A man after my own heart ❤. And your comment is spot on. Have a great 2022 everyone.

‘Hear the lonesome whistle blow’

She just needs some work done before she can run again

7081 is used for parts on 6988

@@iatif1995 nuh uh

Konstanley Jerknov ....

Bachmann did-for the Asian market. You can still see them kicking around eBay in HO.

For emergencies and dynamic braking.

@Liu Leo Track gauge is different from loading gauge. Loading gauge is another term for clearance. A QJ would be too fat, too tall, and possibly even too heavy for UK track, even though it is the correct track gauge.

@@blackbirdgaming8147 An SY (basically a clone of the USATC mikado) might fit

@@raymondleggs5508 I don’t think there was ever a USATC Mikado. There was a USRA Mikado.

@@blackbirdgaming8147 USATC S200 was a mikado

@@raymondleggs5508 It seems there was. However, it still probably wouldn’t fit since I didn’t find anything on the S200s ever being used in the UK. That means they probably weren’t built for UK loading gauge as it wasn’t necessary. The UK has an extraordinarily tight loading gauge.

Additionally, the last SYs were rolling out when the Acelas were built

From what I hear, they are okay designs. Of course, you'd get better steaming with a 2-10-4, but from what steamlocomotive.com says, these should be comparable to American 2-10-2s from the 30s. However, they have a whole slue of issues, notably bad counterbalancing, undersized running gear, quickly wearing out bearings, using excessive ammounts of oil, really poor build quality from Datong in 1966-1976, et cetera.

Awesome whistle on this beauty. I couldn't get enough of it!

@@SwingTheDoor Could still end up with an improved QJ someday, they are interesting locos and it would have been interesting to see what Lima could have done with one of these back in the heyday of steam

so is the whistle for the people filming or a warning due to lack of barriers around the track? (here in the UK almost all track has fencing around it and it is some sort of offence to trespass on the track so warnings are not needed because you should not be on the track)

@@lekoro1 The whistling is for road crossings at grade. It is a rule in the US that the whistle is blown two long, a short and a long, for every public road. The three camera edit with two tight ground level cameras and a "down the throat" telephoto shot was at a crossing on a curve. All three cameras were set on the pavement.

Overwatch Bachmann build this engines in H0 for 350$ or so.

Yes. Five short trips both days that weekend.

UP 844 would like to have a word with you.

@@lt1caprice57l 😐 It was at this moment that he knew he fucked up

That is a reproduction Southern Railway 3-chime whistle.

That is a reproduction Southern Railway chime whistle.

The original horn and whistle can be heard at 0:51

@@DivergingClear I have the same question, why the original whistle has been replaced by a reproduction one?? Just curious, anyway, great greeting from China. thanks for your sharing.

@@whimsycartoon Genuine steam era locomotive whistles are somewhat rare and expensive to collect, so a small market has developed for new whistles that duplicate the sound of the originals. These are reproductions of original types of whistles. The whistle heard here is based on a Southern Railway whistle and was added to the locomotive in addition to the air horn and the locomotive's original whistle (we heard all three of them tested in sequence at Mitchellville that morning). Several reproduction whistles have been used on #6988, partly on a whim and partly for variety. Also, the American whistles tend to be more musical than the original. This is nothing against the tone of the original, but rather the fact that the original is a push-button on and off valve sounding the whistle while the American whistles have the ability to be "played" using the pull chord. It's just a matter of the engineer's preference. Hope that makes a little sense.

@@DivergingClear Thank you very much, so appreciate. It really made many senses, actually I also noticed that the tune of reproduced American whistles can be adjustable and alterable, so interesting, however I never know the operational differences between these two whistles. When I was small and railways in China were not barricaded, I liked to play near the track and once this loud horrible whistles scared me into crying. That's the reason why I missed it. BTW, is that original air horn retained or replaced by the bell? and what is the bell for? Locomotives in China were, are and will never be equipped with bells. Again, thanks for your sharing, both the video and the valuable loco knowledge.

Both of the QJs operated by this railroad are still running

@@willausterman3104 No, only the one shown in the video is currently operating. 7081 is stored serviceable. Needs some minor work in order to operate again. If 7081’s boiler certificate is expired, it would need a full rebuild in order to operate again. At bare minimum that means tearing out all the tubes and flues, replacing them with new ones. All other minor work must be completed, and then the locomotive must be re-certified.

not until the prdouction of these 2 QJs, now theyre move into GE diesel power

For that sort of loco eh. British ones can kick up faster and are lighter and smaller but still an amazing speed for such a small driving wheel diameter

Quality

This in the US state of Iowa

I believe its a kind of SOU 3 chime, like that worn by 4501

@@thestarlightalchemist7333 ok thanks!!

@@thestarlightalchemist7333 I believe it's an MD reproduction of a Southern 3 chime.

No other reason than because they could and they wanted to.

China.

The problem with 2-10-2s is not that they can't go fast, its's that they are not allowed to. The low driver size, often poor counterbalancing and other factors contribute to create very rough riding locomotives often limited to low speeds as to not damage the track, and the QJ is no exception. You should look to the B&O 2-10-2s. Those could really be allowed to go fast, 50 mph on a regular basis, I think.

@@engineerskalinera Very true. The "Big Sixes" were pretty good. They were proof that you could make a ten-coupled engine that can reach a decent speed

@@kevinsharpe9716 Read up on the British class 9F 2-10-0's,. One of them reached 90mph!

@@cliffleigh7450 Of course, I know about them. I was mainly referring to the 2-10-2 or 2-10-4, but I should've clarified it. I still don't know how they made a decapod that can go fast. Maybe because they use smaller engines that everything's in proportion better

@@kevinsharpe9716 The 9F's only had 5 foot diameter driving wheels too - the piston speeds must have been awesome!

That Livery was too old and was switched into a China-Shaped ALCo Locomotive.

@@TM24_MBP But the old livery is part of its Chinese heritage.

@@danielcreed2328 no need to worry IAIS 7081 is still kept in her Chinese paint

Because the QJ's were based on a Russian design.

@@justarandomf-4gphantom170 and pretty much any other Chinese design

Except It looked like it was built by ALCo

@@TM24_MBP well I said look like, not exactly a Russian loco

Crazy Harry the Muppet “Last run before retirement” lmao it ran like yesterday or earlier this week

Crazy Harry the Muppet from my understanding, it was designed to be able to run well with crap coal.

Its not up 844

It basically is

No its not i does not say Union Pacfic on the tender and no 844

It’s a 4-8-4, smoke deflectors, it’s basically that loco

@@Sonic.Mario.64 How so what ur saying. Is UP 6988 That does not exist wow.

Perfect amount of whistle. It was a historic day...and didn't you see all the people along the tracks gesturing for more whistle? It's what people wanted to hear as it went by...duh.

Compared to the 15 to 20 miles per hour at most tourist lines and museums, this is at speed. Apples and oranges, sir. Apples and oranges.

It's speedy for a 2-10-2

They max out around 50-ish. Definitely hauling since QJs were never meant for fast trains in revenue service.

The British Railways Class 9F 2-10-0 could touch close to 90 MPH when pushed !

Haha. "Old 6988". Pretty sure she was built in the late 80s lol.

Which today would be 40 years old........Pretty old for a steamer!

@@StryderK that’s pretty young for a steamer

Well, the reason is that many Chinese fans(including me) seems more like the Origin Chinese look on QJ 7081, and don't like this black look. But as I know, this appearance was used for somewhat a special anniversary, and that's why the IAIS change 6988's look, and I have to say that they did a wonderful job-not just painted her a whole black but decorated her with a couple of lightning-like line at the side of her, which made her look industrial :D

Doesn't that one belong to Boone Valley Scenic Railroad?

@@thunderbird1921 That’s a different locomotive. A QJ is a 2-10-2, the Boone & Scenic Valley has a 2-8-2. It’s either an SY or JS class locomotive.

The QJ's were rated at a maximum of 50 mph, but rarely ran that fast. Their counterbalancing was never quite right. They tended to run rough and also their rods and valve gear consumed a lot of oil. They were in their element double heading enormous goods trains at about 25 mph. More than 7,000 of them were manufactured (finishing in 1988) and they were cleverly designed to steam well on rubbish coal.

Was quite common in Europe esp gernany

It's only about 40 - 45mph. The reason it looks like it's going faster is because of its ridiculously small drive wheels.

BoilerRoom4 Makes me wonder if it would theoretically be possible to economically correct the counter-balancing and restore a survivor for faster speeds (65 mph max for example).

We may see a couple more highballing 2-10-2s in the next 5-10 years. Southern Pacific #982 is going to be restored to operation, supposedly it’s good for 60 mph. RJ Corman QJ #2008 was donated to the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp. not too long ago. They’re currently restoring C&O 2-8-4 #2716. #2008 was supposed to be in great shape, but apparently it isn’t in as good shape as was thought. However, it is on the list to be evaluated for restoration when time and budget allows. One steam loco at a time.