5 Revolutionary Locomotives (That Failed Miserably) 🚂 History in the Dark 🚂

[@PowerTrain611]

I love the running gag of British Rail driving you mad over time. If you keep this up, you're gonna end up in a straight jacket!😂😂

[@alcopower5710]

It is a shame that the S1 was not preserved. Outstanding content you have here 👍

[@levidarling5107]

Every one should stop “judging a fish by its ability to climb a tree, wether the engine be an E2, S1, or other similar locomotives.

[@xlthecoolguy-lz7uh]

The T1 trust is actually planning a new S1 after the T1 is finished, so one day you might be able to see the S1 back in action.

[@jamesfisher4326]

The E33's didn't fail. They worked well in the service they were designed for and joined the rest of the Virginian's electric motors serving for 26 years. Most diesels of the that era were gone by then.

[@maciekkra539]

Exactly. The sick politics of Amtrak and Conrail failed.

[@Engine33Truck]

@@maciekkra539 the Virginian was the only railroad that purchased the EL-C/E33 new. All 12 were built for the Virginian, which had very successfully electrified 134 miles of their mainline from Mullens, WV to Roanoke, VA because of the steep Clark’s Gap grade. The EL-C was the third generation electrics to run on that section. So the EL-C was extremely successful for the customer who initially ordered them. Their lives didn’t get shaky until sold to the New Haven after N&W bought the Virginian and disbanded the electric program.

[@maciekkra539]

@@Engine33Truck Yes i know. But if Conrail decided to go with initial study and electrified mainline to Conway yard who knows, maybe they would have worked until nineties alongside E44s.

[@iankemp1131]

The E33s are like the British Rail class 71s. They were designed for a niche application which they did very successfully. Neither belong in this video. Plenty of examples of this, for example Gresley's steam K4s specifically for the steeply graded West Highland Line. Only 6 of them, but successful on that specific route.

[@Joseph_InTheDark]

Imagine a list about the top 5 most underrated engines

[@levidarling5107]

I’m gonna like this video, only because of the part with the “Thomas had never seen such horrific violence before…” thing. That was awesomely funny!

[@4fproductions637]

10:06, one note to point out about the W1 after it’s rebuild: on September 1st 1955, just after departing from Peterborough Station, No. 60700's front bogey frame broke in two at Westwood junction, causing the engine to jump the tracks and onto its side at 20 mph, taking two coaches with it, injuring 5 people. Photos of the aftermath do actually exist along with the inquiry report into the accident.

[@blehtbh]

Oh hello there

[@exarkun42]

Fun fact! The S1 was an exhibit at the 1939 worlds fair, along side of "Coronation"; an LMS Princess Coronation class

[@kevwebb2637]

Don't forget the B&O's No.25 William Mason

[@Wemfsh]

I would sacrifice a British locomotive to bring back 6100 specifically an lner design lner is boring

[@xlthecoolguy-lz7uh]

@@Wemfsh I would rather a GWR design. GWR just uses the same standard parts over and over again. Don't believe me? Search up images of GWR locomotives and you'll see how boring they are, no variety.

[@Wemfsh]

@@xlthecoolguy-lz7uh lner are the boring ones

[@NationalGuard5]

Doctor: What happened to you?! BR logo: I pissed off a KZbinr... Doctor: Did you deserve all those broken bones?

[@saltbombcreations8336]

10:34 When Darkness has had enough

[@karaokebackgroundplaylists9878]

10:28

[@dannyh.s.1936]

The E60s were actually based on the Lake Powell Railroad’s GE E60Cs that were used to transport coal from the mines to the power plant and had catenary wires(those cables seen in contact with the pantographs of electric locomotives)

[@Elliottblancher]

The E60 was built for Amtrak cause they wanted to get rid of the hand me downs that is of the GG1 from Penn Central and the E44 that didn't even work on Amtrak Trains

[@dannyh.s.1936]

@@Elliottblancher that too

[@willhorowitz8806]

A lot of people absolutely bash the S1 because of her length and weight distribution. I commend that you presented more facts that shows that it wasn’t an awful piece of crap that slipped no matter what (which it didn’t).

[@mlp-hot-rod5824]

Real shame the S1 never got a chance to really gun it. Had she been preserved and put on lines that fit her, she could've been the ultimate steam engine. I'm glad a new T1's being built, but I'd live to see a new S1 one too. And a W1. That had the potential of being Britain's fastest had it been modified accordingly.

[@ethanspaziani1070]

I agree perhaps a new S1 and W1 could be constructed after the T1 one!!! Let us hope that the construction of the t1 goes well and after it's completion generates enough money to be able to recreate the S1 ....

[@kingofthepod5169]

10:32 onward had comedic value that I appreciate.

[@karaokebackgroundplaylists9878]

Actually it starts at 10:28

[@TB76Returns]

The BR Running Gag reaches new hights yet again!

[@karaokebackgroundplaylists9878]

10:28

[@robertbufkin5568]

Thanks!

[@marcosacceleronhotwheels2806]

''thomas has never seen such horrific violence before'' my god i am laughing to death rn

[@harmab2]

The S 1 would've been running through my town!! Great video, thank you

[@robertwilloughby8050]

Wait. Now I agree with you if it is the Class 74's, but, Darkness, buddy, hands off the Class71's, they only failed because they ran out of work for them to do, not because they were actually bad - weird, and occasionally dangerous, but in no way bad. Edit: And when are you going to do something about the Class 73's? A highly successful design (if deeply idiosyncratic) that has survivors to this very day (please ignore the one that caught fire.......😉)

[@ashleyjiscool]

And there still in passenger service WHITCH IS VERY HARD AND LIKE THEY ER THE LAST 60S ERA STILL IN NORMAL PASSENGER

[@christianness8983]

It would've been awesome to have seen a second gen GG1 and or have a new generation made today. I feel like rail lines might be more popular if they were of course more efficient and smoother, but also if the rail companies would get creative again and push boundaries and use unique new ideas in their trains.

[@kamokev_92]

The EL-C 4601 that went to RMNE was held at the Valley Railroad in Connecticut, I was part of the crew that moved her from the yard in Old Saybrook to the Wye to be transported. Ah the memories..

[@alexbaxter9512]

I originally thought your style was OTT, but it grew on me, thanks for the entertainment.

[@australiasindustrialage689]

The ELC did not fail, The Virginian Railway was sold to Norfolk and Western, whiched abandoned Virginian's electrification scheme. These were really a forgotten loco, a topic of one of your other videos.

[@jacobwhittington2462]

Can your next list PLEASE be "Top 5 Most GORGEOUS trains"🥺🙏

[@crocowithaglocko5876]

Gotta have Daylight and A4

[@LastGoatKnight]

And maybe top 5 cutest train?

[@saltbombcreations8336]

All the Engines on the Talyllyn Railway

[@Philip271828]

One of the GWR 5' 8" 4-4-0 double framed locos with Indian Red frames...

[@austinschmuck7814]

I hope it either has the Baltimore and Ohio em-1 class or the southern Pacific ac-9 I'm a big fan of articulated locomotives btw

[@Xalerdane]

A lot of locomotive history can be summed up as: “Hey, want to hear a joke?” “Sure.” _”British Railways.”_

[@TheNWClassA1218]

They were all some good locomotives, even if design problems (whether excess weight or limited electrification) prevented them from performing as well as they were intended to.

[@agolftwittler1223]

Thank you Sir. Keeping my steam up 🚂

[@ethanspaziani1070]

Rip the S1 probably one of the greatest locomotives ever built I still get mad thinking about that they should have put that thing in a museum I would have loved to have seen it today it's pretty much the Pinnacle of American steam locomotive design

[@FireAlarmBoy1974]

13:15 oh god now I just thought of the ALP44M class

[@SouRwy4501Productions]

One thing of note; the LNER w1 was technically a Baltic type locomotive. Only the New York Central called their 4-6-4s Hudsons, since they named their locomotives after rivers along their route. Any other 4-6-4s are called Baltics.

[@manga12]

ah the s1, that was well known around these parts of north indiana, crestline to fort wayne to chicago, the s1 was not just built by the altoona shops, all the the big three contributed to her, she was known as the big engine, but soo big it could only be used on that line due to the straight runs, it could not take sharp turns, it is a shame it was not saved, some say it had 7000 hp output, but I have ran into differant figures, she had a huge boiler though, and could boil the water you bet, there was also the s2 it was a steam direct drive turbine, worked real good over 30mph but had to run the blower hard at slow speeds cuz of its appatite for steam was huge, and the low pressure and temprature changes the firebox got did a number on the staybolts and sheets.

[@cammando2363]

There are so many neat contraptions that have no place to go after their “usefulness” are done. We have scraped so many things that would be awesome to see now.

[@planetobjeciaou5302]

The part when HITD has enough of the British Railways Logo makes me laugh for some reason.

[@karaokebackgroundplaylists9878]

Agreed 😆🤣😆🤣😆🤣

[@SinnedP1]

10:29 killed me, so unexpected, so much rage

[@trainglen22]

The E-33's were not failures. Virginian was smart to use them as was New Haven.

[@paultastic]

you really should do a video on the German Breitspurbahn trains, a super interesting topic with not to much coverage online, have a good one:)

[@robertferrick463]

Let's be honest, you could make a whole series: just about the Pennsy Railroad and their designs. On some cases; they acted like a locomotive production company.

[@That_One_Guy_In_A_Band]

In some ways, they were, as they had their own shops. Most of Pennsy's locomotives were built at the Juniata Shops in Altoona. The only engines they had that weren't home-built I believe were built by Baldwin, which being located in Philadelphia, might as well have been an extension of the Juniata shops when building locomotives for the Pennsy.

[@michigandon]

The GG1s were THE last locomotives in everyday operation that were actually built by and for a railroad. They had more in common with steam as far as that aspect was concerned.

[@tl-Jadon]

10:30 Jesus Christ Thomas have never seen such rage against the British

[@kevwebb2637]

Here is the one thing you can add to this topic. Burlington Northern's Bopper Cars. I know you might ask, Bopper cars is a Combination of a Boxcar and a Covered Hopper to save cash on rolling stock since the Standard Covered Hoppers used for Grain transport can only be used in summer and not winter.

[@blanetrain9584]

Although it makes sense to judge the EL-C by its low production numbers compared to diesels, it ignores that in North America most electric locomotives were built and sold for specific applications as opposed to being broadly generic as the diesel locomotive (this is even seen with electrification by N&W and VGN as both were around the same time and used side rod/jack shaft units yet each was built specifically for them in that application similar to steam engines being built for a specific section of railroad). This is even true with the PRR as most of their electrics were only ever used or seen on their lines as well as those on subsequent PC and Conrail such as the E-44 and GG-1 of which the former was based off the EL-C built for the VGN a few years prior (E-50C had even fewer units built than the E-44 but was followed by the E-60C a few years earlier which was used as the base for the E-60CP) In short, it was never meant to be mass marketed like diesels as they were being specifically built for the VGN as seen by the history of electric locomotives built before where some designs were similar or even constructed around the same time yet were still different

[@definitelynotakgbagent6612]

To be clear about the S1s speeding fine it wasn’t that steam engines weren’t meant to go that fast it was that steam engines weren’t allowed to go that fast without a speedometer

[@australiasindustrialage689]

Hush Hush is the ultimate example of a revolutionary loco that failed miserably, It should have been No.1

[@Alpha-oo8]

So, uh, we got a few ideas for some diesel and electric locomotives… we haven’t quite refined the designs yet… British Rail: “we’ll take you’re entire stock!”

[@Aclr03]

You should do the top 10 Extinct revolutionary locomotives next

[@TrAiNZiLLA]

CAN THEY MAKE A NEW PRR S1 DUPLEX TO BREAK THE ACTUAL WORLD SPEED RECORD FOR STEAM

[@ethanspaziani1070]

They're in the process of rebuilding a single T1 from pretty much nothing they could do that with the S1 if there was enough funding and support

[@AshCatTrainz]

NO BUT THEYRE CURRENTLY MAKING A T1 IT SHOULD BE DONE BY 2030, THEYRE GONNA TRY TO BREAK THE RECORD WITH THAT

[@ianhodgson221]

The thing about the SR Class71 you don't mention is that it was designed as a dual power pick-up locomotive. Its main source of power was the standard SR 750V DC Third Rail which covered roughly 90% of of the Eastern Section of Southern Region and was used to haul prestigious trains like the "Night Ferry" and the "Golden Arrow" from London Victoria to Dover Marine, where the coaches were put aboard a boat and thence sailed to Dieppe and thence hauled by an SNCF locomotive to Paris . The Class71 could use a pantograph for overhead supply at 650V DC in sidings and marshalling yards. This was done for safety purposes as an exposed outside third rail was even when they were built seen as a safety hazard. I, personally, don't think they can be classed as a failure as in the 60s and 70s i would see them working the North Kent line with continental freight to and from Dover, as well as passenger trains out of Victoria and Charing Cross when the EMUs were not available.

[@MarceloBenoit-trenes]

Only the Night Ferry was able to cross the channel in a boat.

[@iankemp1131]

Absolutely right, they were a small class built for a niche application that they performed very well.

[@Nitroispro]

10:30 HOLY COW...you lost it. Thanks for doing it for me.

[@AlexDahlseid2002]

The E60s were originally equipped with steam generators hence the CP prefix because of Amtrak’s inherited passenger cars which where steam heated and they got a weight increase when they added HEP equipment in the E60CH. The SDP40F was failure because of being based of SD40-2 for the locomotive frame and you count in factors like heavier loading, use of freight locomotive trucks and constant derailments caused by rough rail conditions of 1970s. Amtrak gave a majority of the units to the Santa Fe where they regeared to freight usage.

[@iankemp1131]

Why the shot of the British Rail HST at 0:43? One of the most successful classes ever, revolutionised British express trains, and some still working 45 years later.

[@skylerditton3052]

I enjoyed that revolutionary war pt 2

[@domcataldi5188]

You can thank Amtrak for the reason fright electric traction is no longer. They raised the electric rates on Conrail to the point simply cost too much.

[@kevwebb2637]

Which you can put them along side as British Rail. Oh, don't forget Union Pacific because of SD70M 1979.

[@KayoMichiels]

Man, love that Art Deco PRR GG1 design!

[@newhavenrails1234]

4:26 Thats the image i used for my pfp. (i put a face on it tho)

[@boxcarthehusky420]

If you ever get a chance look into a locomotive named Argentina, it's a high pressure 4-8-0 designed by Livio Dante Porta. As far as I know it's the only successful high pressure steam locomotive, it operated until Dieselisation and was literally abandoned, there was some attempt to save it not to recently but scrappers found it first.

[@MarceloBenoit-trenes]

It was worse. The locomotive was in a museum, the museum was vacated and the locomotive (that one and one other steamer) were moved to an abandoned workshop where they were stripped by squatters.

[@fanofeverything30465]

@@MarceloBenoit-trenes What are squatters

[@Fangs-jo4bq]

Top 5 trains that where persevere with a interesting back story.

[@nscaler6938]

Bro you included my favorite locomotive the E60CP/CH

[@VSigma725]

Since Virginian came up, have you ever done a video featuring the infamous Fairbanks-Morse "Train Master"? Virginian were one of the few railroads to actually make use of them.

[@joshjones3408]

Man i just fell out of chair with the hole tomas the tank engine ..great video 👍👍👍

[@brentboswell1294]

Many of Amtrak's E60's were sold off to either the Black Mesa and Lake Powell or Ferrocarilles Nacionales de Mexico, which had an electrified main line between Mexico, D.F. (what we called "Mexico City") and Puebla, Mexico (to help alleviate air pollution in Mexico City). I saw them running in Mexico in 1997. In a stunningly bad move, NdeM decided to de-electrify the Puebla line later...😢 Fun fact: there were two versions of the passenger E60: the E60CP (which had a boiler for older steam heated passenger cars) and the E60CH, which had a head end power generator for the newer electrically heated and cooled cars, like the Amfleet coaches.

[@BuckeyeNationRailroader]

Actually, that wasn't the FNM that dismantled the Electric Line between Mexico City and Santiago de Querétaro, the Electric Railroad System is actually still in place today. It was taken out of service in the early 2000s because the line between Mexico City and Santiago de Querétaro got sold to Kansas City Southern who didn't want to go through the hassle of operating it.

[@maciekkra539]

Not at all, you need to check your facts before writing something like that. About half of Amtrak E60s went to NJ Transit and two went to a coal mine out in Southwest. All mexican E60s were new from factory. Black Messa and Lake Powel got theirs originally from factory and later a few former N de M joined their fleet when Mexicans decided to scrap their unfinished electrification.

[@solarflare623]

Could you do top 5 extinct locomotives that were undeserving of their fate.

[@Robert-S-World]

I'm go full American revolution on you quote had me rolling and laughing my ass off

[@bennickss]

Can you include the Class 37 in a video? They were both 60s BR Modernisation Plan diesels, but they’re still in regular use today!

[@seanwhitman8353]

10:25 This segment of gratuitous violence is so good. Favorite moment in this video

[@karaokebackgroundplaylists9878]

10:28

[@thomaswatkiss9484]

I love the hush hush omg so happy 😊 great poster and channel

[@AndrewTheRocketCityRailfan4014]

GE’s subsidy Wabtec has recently released a new battery electric locomotive with the same horsepower as a modern GE diesel. So if that technology develops further, we could see 0-emissions/(battery) electric locomotives make a comeback in freight service in North America

[@blackbirdgaming8147]

The E60C was a pretty solid locomotive, and I wouldn’t classify it in the same vein as the E33 because it generated a decent number of orders. That would mean it wouldn’t necessarily be a financial failure (w/o looking at R&D numbers). But E60CP, E60CH, and E60MA? Oh yeah, *chef’s kiss* hot garbage.

[@bertmeinders6758]

The W1 demonstrated again that what works well at sea does not necessarily work in the very demanding environment of railway traction. Apart from the EMD engines, marine diesels have needed significant detuning to survive rail use. And NZR had steaming and cab heating problems with their only Vanderbilt boilered locomotive E66.

[@markfoley8582]

A classic example of that is the Napier Deltic engines used by the Navy, BR derated them in the 55s.

[@BNSF_SoCal_Productions]

Could you put the GE Genesis units on the next 5 of the best trains 🚂 list

[@bigtrainguythore]

Could you please add the class 390 to a top 5 list?

[@D.S_Productions]

In the Microsoft Train Simulator you can find the E60 as Computer Controlled Locomotive

[@Engine33Truck]

I disagree with the assessment of the EL-C. The Virginian conducted one of the largest scale electrifications of a freight railroad in US history because of a major grade at Clark’s Gap, WV. They had previously tried large Mallet locomotives on the Mullens to Roanoke portion (which includes Clark’s Gap) - the class AE 2-10-10-2 and the XA 2-8-8-8-4 triplex to name a few - and they proved inefficient. The electrification proved a resounding success with the gargantuan “box cabs” EL-3A (some of the largest and most powerful locomotives of any type ever built) working well, with them also purchasing the 4 massive EL-2Bs. They further supplemented their electric fleet with the 12 EL-C units, being the only railroad to purchase them new (the name designation follows VGN’s system of designating their locomotives). After VGN was bought by N&W - who had no desire to continue the electric program - the EL-Cs were sold to the cash strapped New Haven who needed to replace their own 1910s model box cabs. They designated them the E-33.

[@miles_da-tractor_man]

I when the t1 trust is done building their t1 they should build an s1

[@USSMaineBB-95]

I sometimes wish they would, but the issues the S1 had during would mostly likely resurface again and make operation difficult And the it would need a certain track to run on since Duplex Engine don’t have any articulation

[@joefrew1614]

True, the only way I can see the S2 working in present day would be to slim it down and make her a little bit smaller.

[@tram-train]

I would love to see a best/worst trams video!

[@FM60260]

One of the best has to be Hiroden 651

[@maozilla9149]

great video

[@Cnw8701]

I always thought the S-1 Duplex looked betrer than the T-1.

[@StephentrainboyRailfanbrony]

I hope the prr S1 locomotive will have a rebuild #S1Trust

[@ethanspaziani1070]

I agree I hope the T1 being rebuilt and it being successful will be able to generate revenue for rebuilding the S1

[@danielferrovias]

Could you do. 5 obscure GE locomotives? here's an example: GE U10B

[@matthewpowell2429]

I ironically love the PRR S1.

[@gecko221281]

If the W1 was a poor steamer they should have given her special welsh coal

[@CommodoreFloopjack78]

Poor Thomas was never the same after that fateful day...

[@USSMaineBB-95]

Despite all the flaws the S1 had she still has a gorgeous appearance and has become my 1st 🥇place as my favorite Pennsylvania Railroad locomotive I’ll make a list of the other favorites 1: Pennsylvania S1 2: Pennsylvania T1 3: Pennsylvania 1361 4: Pennsylvania 3768 5: Pennsylvania 520 I also don’t get why 4 different Railroads have a Engine Called the T1, Like it’s not that hard to choose a letter or name *STOP CALLING THEM A T1!!!* Plus I noticed that she’s *7 feet longer than 4014* as he is 132 feet long

[@VIgnatik17]

I think, TEP80 locomotive can be part of this top. 2 TEP80 locomotives were built in Kolomna in 1988 & 1989. They have 2 bogies with 4 axis each and 6000 hp engine. One of them set a speed record for diesel-electric locomotives (not Guinness record) in 1993, reach the speed for 271 kilometers per hour (168 miles per hour). But they were very expensive and passenger traffic fell with collapse of USSR. TEP80 0002, which one set a speed record, is staying at the museum in Saint Petersburg.

[@cbolanz1]

what if the S1 did work? Let's just take all her flaws and give them to a Baldwin-built diesel and call it a day.

[@number9-sk921]

If I remember correctly, freight E60s were used only on Black Mesa & Lake Powel RR. This was isolated network near (No shit Sherlock moment) Lake Powel. Running from Kayenta Mine to Navajo Generating plant in Arizona. There were used GE E60Cs and they were like not best but pretty well made and was serving well. And what about that you use only, ONLY 40 years old locos. Here in Slovakia we have 70 years old loco in regural service and nobody complains because they are good.

[@TheOriginalJphyper]

Ironically, I missed the premier because I was playing a transportation simulator.

[@TheOriginalJphyper]

And yes, it does have one of these locomotives available: the BR Class 71.

[@ethribin4188]

When British rsil builds an electric instead of a diesel,its actually good. Even though it didnt take off. Nearly as if diesel < electric

[@karaokebackgroundplaylists9878]

10:28 *History in the Dark VS British Rail lion* battle begins 😆🤣😆🤣😆🤣😆🤣😆

[@edwardvincentbriones5062]

Speaking of revolutionary failures, according to a great source about the "Leader": "One thing that is certain is that everyone has a view, be it favourable or unfavourable, on this class that, at best, can only be labelled as a brave experiment in pushing forward the case for steam during its dying years." You know what, Mr. Bulleid eventually lost interest in the project because he felt that British Rail wont approve such a revolutionary engine, if you can call it. But Mr. Riddles, BR's Chief Mechanical Engineer, persuaded him to stay just to finish his project because he (Bulleid) is the only man for the job.

[@user-jq6wh8fn2b]

10:22 WHY IS THERE A PLATE THAT SAYS THE FLYING SCOTSMAN AT THE FRONT??????

[@voidjavelin23]

because flying scotsman originally was a train service name which then No. 4474 would be named after the service

[@comicfan1324]

HITD when British Railway does something stupid: “How many times do we need to teach you this lesson, old man?!”

[@ginahodgkins1103]

I had a nice chance to see the e-33 in Roanoke.

[@kevinbeverly4086]

I have conrail 4608 in ho scale. Neat to learn more about it.

[@Reptilianmaster-1120]

8:37 A big water tube boiler.

[@urbansnipe]

class 71 would have been okay if they had a generator tender car as a stop gap for the electrification shortcomings

[@Wawa111_Mainline]

I've seen the one electric at irm there's talks about many bringing it back if they can buy it depends on the currents

[@BuckeyeNationRailroader]

Excuse me, but, why wasn't the SDP40F not at number one...

[@AceFightyr1701]

Please do a video on the top 10 British railways freakouts 😂

[@mickon7404]

Man I love Czech and Slovak trains. They do separate into 2 types as usual (Passanger, Freight), but every locomotive is build for freight job (except sets) they just use them for both they don't give a s#it :D If it can pull cars (any), than it's good enough

[@ashleycordery2976]

The British rail seen had me laughing for way to long....... 😅🤣😅🤣

[@marcleslac2413]

Class 71 is Rotund Boi, with added S P I C E!

[@BR60163tornado]

I dare you To Compare 4468 mallard and prr s1 together👀