I just realized it was big coincidence this happened to be going up on Father’s Day. And so as such, I’d like to wish a happy Father’s Day to all living and deceased Fathers, especially those with good hearts who raised every precious child into young adults with promising futures, and making them, those who worked on railroads, whose children became railroaders, and who introduced their children to Thomas The Tank Engine as toddlers. I was among those toddlers who got to see it growing up, and it was thanks to people like that why I have since been hooked with trains and railroads and why aspire to working for a railroad the rest of my working life!
As my father took me too in strasburg to the Thomas And Friends date event all the time and i even got to see real engines such as Canadian National 89(my 2nd favorite Canadian National steam engine) Norfolk and Western 475(I still hate and speechless why it got hit) and 15 which is dressed up as Thomas is why this video was made
@@A_Lazy_dudeI’m more disappointed of it recently being fitted with the centered headlight, and that Strasburg didn’t use the accident as an opportunity to revert it to the old high headlight look.
There is a E2 locomotive trust here in England who is trying to get enough money together to build a replica of a E2 tank engine who thomas is based on
I went to strausberg one day as an adult or just a regular ride. I saw Thomas in the barn with his face off either getting repaired or just regular maintenance
Same. I like that face better anyway since I grew up with the older seasons with static faces. I only witnessed a bit of the cgi saga before I outgrew the show and moved on to more realistic trains and locomotives
It is my understanding that they are no more due to a heat issue with the Smoke Box being too hot. They melted. The new animated faces have been adjusted to deal with the heat.
I for one think it went hand and hand, Thomas being the icon he is/was, helped alot of people get into the train scene I think, plus this modification actually made 15 "a really useful engine" again
Strasburg Railroad replica is a steam locomotive known as Brooklyn Eastern District Terminal #15. Its a saddletank which Strasburg altered to resemble Thomas with a few minor differences. He explains it very well how Strasburg got their operational Thomas for their Day Out With Thomas. The #15 was altered to look like Thomas. The Strasburg EDT #15 Incident occured when the eyes melted due to the firebox heat. BEDT #15 is steaming as Thomas. BEDT #15 also switches occasionally.
I remember my first time visiting Strasburg Railroad at age 3 or 4 (probably in 1999 or 2000), and the sheer joy I had at seeing Thomas pulling a train Somewhere in my parents’ house is an old video tape of that life changing encounter
According to Wikipedia for "Brooklyn Eastern District Terminal 15", Strasburg Rail Road purchased the BEDT-15 from Toledo, Lake Erie and Western Railway in 1998 as a working locomotive on their yard. As if by fate, they were approached as a film location for a future Thomas film by the producer and the idea to build an actual Thomas the Tank Engine was conceived. Since 1999, the refurbished engine has sparked interest in steam locomotives for future generations. The eyes of my children were opened with excitement watching Thomas steam down the track into the station. They equally were excited riding on the coach being pulled by Thomas with the soundtrack playing on the speakers. We enjoyed the trip to Lancaster, PA for three straight years for the Day Out with Thomas events.
This was informative. I've known about the controversy about the BEDT 15 rebuild. But I didn't know in its original state it couldn't run the full length of Starsburg Railroad!
I've seen one of the sister locomotives at the age of steam roundhouse over here in pennsylvania, it was a sight to see, sadly it was one of the only ones i forgot to get a picture of
Also the engine infront of it in the picture is a mine engine which uses compression rather than coal burning, thought it was a nice little detail to add in
Here's something you missed in the video: during the replica's first test run, it couldn't run under it's own power, the face wasn't finalized and was made of a flammable material, and it's been said that the smokebox's heat caused the eyeballs behind the face to melt, it was never seen by the public eye and was quickly fixed, then the replica was completed and was ready for its first day in operation for the first American version of Day Out With Thomas shortly after its completion as shown in the opening day, which is seen on the 10 Years of Thomas The Tank Engine & Friends VHS tape as thomasdotd stated in his video.
I wouldn’t necessarily say forgot, I just never came across that bit of info. My research(I.E the topic) was more focused on how Strasburg got a working Thomas in the first place, where it came from, and the controversy of this decision.
I've heard from Hyce (content creator and employee at the Colorado Rail Road Museum) that for them at least (something along the lines of): "Day out with Thomas keeps the lights on, Polar Express keeps the trains running" its not quite what he said as i cant remember it exactly but its something like that i think.
I volunteered at that same museum over 10 years ago (I believe before Hyce was there, I don't remember meeting him) but recall the same thing. The volunteers there seemed to not think all that highly of it, felt cheesy to them and the Thomas not a real locomotive (just a cart basically) but it was the main funding for the museum. Polar Express I recall them thinking more fondly of, as the museum volunteers got to do a lot more fun stuff like decorating and acting, felt more like their own thing rather than an outside entity coming in and running things. Plus using their own real steam locomotives.
Is the tank still being used by the WK&S? I'm pretty sure #65 hasn't been operated for some time and I'd think they would still have the tank lying around, and when the time comes when Thomas wanes in popularity they could probably convert the engine back into it's previous form, albeit with some modifications.
While the fact that they completely changed no.15 bothers me a little, I really do love Thomas. The good thing is that Railfans like me and kids and their families get to have an awesome time seeing Thomas in Real life.
With the way you made this video, I'd like to see videos on the other BEDT engines, probably combining them all into one video. I live near BEDT 12 and grew up with it, so I'd like to see the engine get some more love.
7:38 The Illinois Central Railway Museum was where I saw the working replica of Thomas that actually made steam. I wanted to ride with him along with my family, but we didn't because it was jam packed with a lot of people. I finally got my chance in 2006, just two years after we moved to Round Rock, Texas. The Thomas I rode on was one of the dummy Thomases, but I liked that, because it looked exactly like the model from the show, except for the fact that it had the knuckle coupler instead of the screw link hook and coupler, but I was okay with that because it had to hook up to American passenger cars. I also saw the working Thomas replica in the 10 Years Of Thomas VHS tape. But what I didn't know was that it was originally a Porter locomotive on the verge of retirement, which was something I learned.
This past weekend i did the Shop tour at Strasburg. Saw thomas up close as they were preparing for the upcoming DOWT. Talked to one of the mechanics. If Mattel would ever revoke the rights for Strasburg to use the Thomas brand, it wouldn't take much effort at all to convert the locomotive back into #15.
It true about the dummy units I went to strasburg for my birthday 3 months ago and I went on a tour of the workshop and learned that the Strasburg railroad was responsible for the all dummy unit Thomas’s for the other heritage railroads in America can you believe it
I can. Infact I’ve even seen one of the dummy units in person, specially the one in Nashville in 2009 when I was 6. I had completely outgrown the show within a few months after so it was one heck an experience for me. I even discuss it in a completely short to my E2 video
I have heard of their plans to expand their shop complex in size so hopefully it’ll give them more room to put their surplus equipment, especially LIRR 35 and CP 972
This makes a lot of sense actually - in its original form the locomotive was really unusable for them, to make use of it they would have to modify it in some way. They probably could have done so without highly altering the appearance, perhaps adding more tanks below the boiler, but no matter what it wouldn't be original. So might as well turn it into a cash cow. Sort of the same mindset behind hot-rodding Duke of Gloucester - "We've already had to modify it to restore it, then fixed the original construction flaws. It's not original anymore, so might as well see what we can do to make it more powerful!" Though as an adult railway enthusiast, hot-rodding sounds way more fun than attaching a face from the depths of the uncanny valley.
I shouldn't worry too much about tampering with the authenticity of heritage railways by bastardised Thomases. That little American freight loco also serves a very worthwhile purpose as Thomas. Thomases are commonly seen on British heritage lines as well, and are very profitable events indeed, making lots of money for the true heritage side of the operations - rebuilding, renovating and restoring old engines and coach stock, the stations, track and infrastructure. And besides, the kids really love these events - and some of them may well end loving old railway engines and carriages so much, they end up doing voluntary work for heritage lines.
The fact that The thomas replica was built off of a pre existing locomotive is pretty insane. Also, how do the animatronic components not melt from the heat?
Although this is a one of a type railroad and knowing how real it is but knowing the engine through problems like THE EYES MELTING FROM THE HEAT still its great and it continues the legacy of engine 15
So what your saying is that number 15 is the Strasburg Thomas? I just thought it was like a shell that they put onto the engine at first. Also I’d like to ask, does the Thomas still operate even outside of DOWT events?
i think they know that while modifying it would go against everything they are known for not doing it wouldnt draw near the attendance as it does hey kids lets go see a old shunter tank engine that ran the docks! or hey wanna go see and ride behind thomas the train it serves a good purpose and likely would have been mothballed like the amtrak toaster never to run a train again
Uk locos sometimes had inside cylinders. I never knew how they drove them with internal cylinders, sometimes up to 3 or 4, but I guess it is similar to the crankshaft of a car?
Atleast once, as recently as 2013, though Strasburg has one of if not the best equipped shops for steam locomotives so I imagine in a quick time period between annual Day Out With Thomas seasons.
They brought this real steam powered Thomas Replica to the Illinois Railway Museum in 2000 or 2001. I remember seeing it there operating alongside Frisco 1630. I remember the crew joking about cooking eggs on the outside cylinders.
The Disneyland Rail Road has destroyed so much historic equipment. #15 is the tip of the iceberg. They’ve completely altered some of the last pieces of rolling stock of a railroad. Why destroy 15 when 13 was more in Thomas side tank for across the street is something i always wondered? Also BEDT 16 is a larger heavy duty class by Porter. She was the largest locomotive on the BEDT.
#16 is still in New York, but it's missing multiple drivetrain parts, so it's unlikely it will ever run again. As for #13, I believe the museum was adamant to allow them to convert an engine from their own collection, despite deeming it surplus and selling it to the Age Of Steam Roundhouse in 2011.
Perhaps 15 was in better shape, or they simply just chose 15 since it was there first, perhaps 13 wasn’t even in Strasburg by the time the rebuild began. One of those 3 I suspect.
@@AndrewTheRocketCityRailfan4014 13 was still in Strasburg during the rebuild, 15 was in better mechanical condition than 13, which had last ran in 1968 I believe.
@@TheRealStikShady Just what I suspected. Going in locomotives in better shape for restoration/saving has been a running trend in steam locomotive preservation and in the restoration field since the end of steam in America
@@AndrewTheRocketCityRailfan4014 most BEDT engines are probably going to remain static displays, except for 13 ironically. It is on a list of possible restorations at the Age Of Steam Roundhouse. 12 is in Florida, where it's restoration isn't much of a priority to the Florida Railroad Museum. 14 is still somewhat stored in Arkeville New York, so it won't really be the point of much attention. And 16, like I mentioned before, is missing many critical drivetrain parts, so it may never run again.
I’ve heard otherwise, from a critical standpoint of view. There is a video out there discussing how it derailed the franchise but I haven’t got the chance to watch it yet
@AndrewTheRocketCityRailfan4014 The movie costed a lot of money and it didn't return profit, witch led to Britt All croft selling the franchise to Hit entertainment and then Hit era happend before it got saved by Mattel. Witch turned out to be just a "Lets make thomas great again only to make it WAY worse then it was ever before" so that's what happend.
It derailed the franchise. The thing that made Thomas so special, being realistic, was thrown out the window by that movie. The Rotten Tomatoes score is terrible too. As to what Britt Allcroft was thinking, I have no idea. I’d rather see her make a film about the NWR’s beginnings and how Thomas came there, in a realistic fashion
It does have the advantage of being an inside cylinder locomotive and being closer in size to Thomas than 15. 15 meanwhile has the advantage in having a more accurate smoke box.
One thing i just don't get: why hasn't anyone basicly scratchbuild the variation of an e2 just for being thomas? Even if it's just to haul his two friends annie and clarabel..
Simple answer, it's difficult to get a manufacturer to build a new functioning steam locomotive or form a steam locomotive trust in the present day. But I do see the possibility of converting one of the dummies into a functioning locomotive without altering their appearance, given enough money and hard work.
Terrible rush job on my part, coupled with outdated Wikipedia articles. Then again I detest swapping out the Martin Sheman recordings for his AEG VA since AEG is so terrible
I have the Hardback DORLING KINDERSLEY DK EYEWITNESS GUIDES Book of TRAIN. Discover the story of railways - from the days of steam to the high - speed, sophisticated trains of today. In association with THE NATIONAL RAILWAY MUSEUM.
you forgot to leave this in the description so I will do this in the comment section 🔵 Thomas' Theme -- • Thomas & Friends ... 🎵 Cover by Luke Pickman -- / instrumentmaniac
I watched this video and I noticed you said 1999 was when it was built and operational. This is wrong I have video proof from when I rode this engine at The Great Smokey Mountain Railroad in 1998. Just wanted to throw this out there. Even though it's just a 1 year difference I wanted to add this correction.
It was mostly finished in 1998, however no public record of it running at The Great Smoky Mountain Railroad that same year, considering that it was inoperable and had to be pushed by a diesel. You might be thinking of one of the dummy units, as they were built around the same time.
@@TheRealStikShady unfortunately not. I have a VHS of when I rode it in 1998 my family took me this was when tickets to ride Thomas was $10 a ticket and was a 15. Minute trip that took you from Dillsboro to the Cowee Mountain Tunnel. If I could get the VHS converted I'd post it.
@@edwardhensley9331 like I said before, nothing you've really said makes me think it was the real engine, the dummy units also have the ability to puff smoke, and the ride price is the same with dummy units I believe
