America's Six Pack Of Chinese Steam Locomotives

[@RedoubtProductions1754]

This Video Is Doing Astounding In The Views. Welcome New Viewers And Future Subscribers! If you are looking for more on railroading history, I have an arsenal of videos you can follow once you are done here: kzbin.info/aero/PLNgJ7OIb1qKd1QorcQJj9n6OXvo4Uu519 Enjoy the rest of your day!

[@marcleslac2413]

Iowa interstate with a chinese steam engine hauling canadian made passenger cars.

[@RedoubtProductions1754]

Got to get all them nationalities in that consist.

[@rsobr2game242]

Mr. Worldwide

[@InkblotHyena]

I work with the guys at the Valley Railroad, otherwise known as Essex Steam Train & Riverboat, the current home of Class SY #3025. She's a beautiful, strong locomotive. #40 and #97 were definitely rough back when she was added to the fleet, and she's really helped her older sisters. Sure, she's now one of our _three_ Mikados, but she's a well-loved member of the fleet. With Frisco #1352 coming to us, we've got quite the fleet. #3025's back home with us, and I feel like she's far happier.

[@DaylightProductions1029]

As a Kentuckian myself, seeing “Ol Smokey”(2008’s nickname) in a video is always nice to see.

[@topgunfurry]

The QJ is my favorite steam locomotive of all times cuz they look my dream locomotive

[@Voucher765]

NYSW 142 is my favorite since the Susquehanna ran in my area

[@henrywang3977]

It took all the good traits from previously existed 1-5-1 freight or dual-used European locomotives to be designed in 1950s.

[@sp786fanboy9]

Yes! Thank you so much for making this. I’m sure a lot of people have been waiting for anyone to make this video, because the topic is so fascinating. Also, I don’t know if this will help your knowledge about 2008, but Richard Corman, the founder of RJ Corman, passed away in 2013, and that was when 2008 stopped running.

[@AtomSmasher-l4b]

Neat bit of history. Thanks for covering it.

[@Redshirt214]

3025 is really sharp looking! Though I quite like the locomotives that have retained their original Chinese shapes too. Honestly, the SY are such sweet, small engines that really encapsulate that work-a-day steam locomotive that used to be so common in the United States, but was always overshadowed by it's bigger mainline counterparts. It's just the thing for the small branch lines that are now scenic and historic railroads.

[@Trainguyrom]

I once saw both of the QJs triple-headed with MILW 261 but was largely too young to remember it. But I missed a railfanning trip in june of '22 to go to a wedding in Davenport Iowa and of all things stumbled onto IAIS 6988 in steam. My wife saw the smoke while we were heading from the ceremony to the reception and said "oh my is that a fire over there?" Then as we got closer I saw the extremely clean and shiny passenger cars then what was at the head of the train and simply said "uhhh go faster that's a steam locomotive" A friend who does some kind of building contracting around Davenport and the Quad Cities had a callout at the steam facility there a few months ago and snapped a picture of (I believe) 6988's boiler fully disassembled for its 10 year. We talked about it when seeing CP2816 at it's scheduled stop there this summer

[@tibbers3755]

I remember seeing these engines in early vhs tapes, loved how they looked with the trim and decor and not to mention those smoke deflectors

[@Voucher765]

142 is making her comeback but so is C&O 614 and it's owner Ross Rowland is pleased the RJM group is buying her to take it to Strausburg for restoration

[@RedoubtProductions1754]

I just heard about the news relating to 614 yesterday. A good future for mainline steam in America is seems.

[@Voucher765]

@RedoubtProductions1754 Same we're in this together, Nobody thought it could happen since the 614 sat for a long time but it's finally here along with 3001's restoration

[@NWCell1138]

Have you ever thought about making a video of the SS United States, given the recent controversy about her fate? I think she’s still in South Philadelphia if you want to try to film your own footage of her before it’s too late.

[@RedoubtProductions1754]

Unfortunately she's too far from me to pay a visit at this time. I have mentioned the SS United States Conservancy on an a past edition of our livestream Uncut History.

[@Elinam7878roblox]

​@@RedoubtProductions1754 dude the Chinese steam locomotives can call the United States of America home it's their home Chinese steam locomotives from China is very cheap and they're going to USA for some preservation Excursion you didn't know that there was a Chinese steam locomotive in the United Kingdom did you look in the internet recently or what

[@JSmith19858]

@@Elinam7878roblox In the NRM. There are Soviet, American and Japanese locomotives too, because it's a museum of UK rail history. British companies built locomotives for export to those countries and they're just mostly examples of that

[@SONICX1027]

Considering that I’m from New England, my favorite out of the 6 is the 3025

[@MiddletownBranchProd.]

3025’s my favorite, but as a Connecticut native, i am a little biased.

[@RedoubtProductions1754]

Does that mean we have to reignite the Yankee-Pennamite War to determine who truly lays claim to the SY? 😸

[@MiddletownBranchProd.]

@ i guess so!

[@MrSleepy677]

New Haven 3025 personal favorite. Next to the LMS Black 5 and the GNR Stirling Single(Emily).

[@micahmelter1591]

8419 is my favorite Chinese steam engine in the United States

[@thundercreekcustoms]

Being a volunteer on 142, I always appreciate seeing more content with her in it.

[@4-8-4Northern]

What happened to 142? Is she running?

[@benc.5863]

Undergoing its 1472 rebuild right now, it had its first steam test earlier this year and hopefully should be returning to service relatively soon

[@ansonleeXD]

The thing is, China just retired all its steam locomotives in *January 2024* and the last locomotive to be retired is also a JS type, the same as 8419. Also when the Jitong Railway retired their QJ locomotives in 2008, they only place that one can see operating QJ class locomotives would be the US of all places. The same can also currently be said for JS 8419. Mind blowing if you ask me!

[@RedoubtProductions1754]

Very good point. I will say it seems every few years I've heard the "last china steam railway just closed" line. China's network is so vast and remote its difficult to ascertain if every single little short line has cease commercial steam use. These six locomotives went from being novelties to being genuine historical artifacts as they are some of the last of their operating kind.

[@gcycaas]

Not yet, they just retired all JS, not all steam locomotives. Jiayang Coal Railway still using steam locomotives as their primary motive power, Tieling Faku Railway and Huanan Forest Railway are also using steam locomotives for excursion trains.

[@ansonleeXD]

@@gcycaas great point, but the railroad you mentioned are more like preserved railroad lines, even though they are operated by the same company when they are in revenue service. Especially with the case of the Tiefa railway (now called diaobingshan) it became the one of the only standard gauge heritage railway in China, which makes the steam locomotives there preserved in operational condition, not in revenue service, similar to the heritage railroads and the US and UK. The Sandaoling railway, which uses its steam locomotives in actual revenue service retired its last beast in Jan 15, 2024.

[@gcycaas]

​@@ansonleeXD I heard that Jiayang Coal Railway also using steam locomotive to haul commuter train for local residents, not sure are they still doing that at this time. Others I'm sure their steam locomotives are for excursion service only.

[@LRF152]

2008 was donated, not sold, and it’s boiler ticket just recently expired. There are no plans as of yet to restore it to operation, or to move it to Ravenna. RJ corman is storing it in Lexington KY.

[@nathancorcoran5347]

Out of the 6 Chinese Steam Locomotives, my favorite would go towards Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad 8419. It does have a most wonderful lucky life of the Chinese Steam Locomotives in the United States. I love the unique design features of the JS Class Steam Locomotives from the China Railways, and I also really love 8419’s new black livery that it received this year 2024. As for the other Chinese Steam Locomotives, 142 is a neat one that had a decent run of it’s short life for the Connecticut Valley Railroad and later more for the New York, Susquehanna & Western Railroad. I do love the black livery that it got when it ran at the NYS&W that I must say here. New Haven 3025 is another neat one too. It’s excursion career of it’s brand new life at the Knox & Kane Railroad went out well, when it was 1658 and then later 58. My Aunt Nancy has a picture of it running across the Kinzua Bridge at the Knox & Kane Railroad, while it became Knox & Kane No. 58. Along with a picture of New Hope & Ivyland #40 (Built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in December 1925) at the New Hope & Ivyland Railroad in New Hope, Pennsylvania that was from sometime years ago. It’s also quite interesting that they decided to masquerade it as a New Haven J-1 Class Mikado despite it’s tragic arsonist end at the K&KRR back in 2008. As for the three QJ’s, their pretty cool. Out of the three, my favorite would be 6988. It has a nice life after working in China, I love the new paint scheme of the locomotive that it got later in it’s life at the Iowa Interstate Railroad. 7081 is a pretty good one, it does pretty well on the trips at the Iowa Interstate Railroad, especially with it’s sibling 6988. And 2008 did a interesting job on excursion runs at the RJ Corman Railroad, even though it didn’t get to run a lot at the RJ Corman. The nickname of 2008, Old Smoky is just a typical nickname that gives a bunch of characteristic to the locomotive. I wonder where they got that nickname from for that bazaar looking steam locomotive. But still a cool steam locomotive.

[@rockguitarist931]

2:49 Geez, look at that grade!!!

[@scottpender143]

The IAIS locomotive is kept about a half mile from my house. I’m looking at the shed it’s in out my living room Window right now. I watched it head back to its shed for the last time in ‘22. Hopefully it’ll run again.

[@PhillNigro]

Holy cow I leaned how to crew a steam engine on the 142 I now get to some times (I'll do it every day if they let me") the U.P. 4014 "Big Boy"😊 thanks for teaching me that nifty tid bit and thanks for your great video i learned something new 😂I didn't even know that the 142 wasn't an American steam locomotive 😅😊

[@3xfaster]

I love that these locos probabaly destined to just trudge around in an industrial setting get to live it grand doing tourist runs on American rails and representing a niche facet of steam locomotive preservation.

[@funtechxtream8753]

My favourites are 6988 and 3025. The way 3025 thunders down the tracks sounds so aggressive, and I just love it. 6988 is just a perfect locomotive for me. I don't know why, but anyway, thanks for sharing!

[@1344ch]

RJ Corman Railroad group has put out several videos on KZbin on the 2008.

[@robertbalazslorincz8218]

"The original Chinese control configuration of the engineer being on the left and fireman on the right was retained" *proceeds to show that the engineer sits on the *right* side of the cab*

[@obelic71]

the majority of people are right handed so it made perfect sense to put the firemen on the left side of the cab to fire the engine.

[@RedoubtProductions1754]

You got me on that. My mistake. I Should have put fireman in the quote. I will make a slight adjust to the video.

[@coeng.5714]

That's actually the fireman you are seeing in that pictue, just he can sit down as they are headed downhill in that photo, so not too much work for him at the moment. I volunteer with 8419 and the engineer does indeed sit on the left. The only door out onto the catwalk is on the fireman's side as the engineer's side would be blocked by brake stands and reverser equipment. I still have to actively think about which side of the locomotive I need to be on to be able to communicate with the engineer.

[@mpowell4030]

My current favorite is 7040 aka 2008, I hope to see her operate in the future.

[@railfanjordan8141]

Personally, 142 has always been the favorite for me. Hoping go see it one day maybe next year. Fun fact: 142 doubleheaded with at that time, 2 operational 4-8-4s. During the Steamtown grand opening in 1995, it doubleheaded with Milwaukee Road 261 on an excursion from Scranton to Syracuse. Then the doubleheader with 614 on the Erie Limited in the late 90s

[@CelticRailwayTraveller]

I am hoping that one day, these 6 Engines can be at one Railroad Museum together.

[@jonichielochielo3209]

my favorite is FD Russian Locomotive

[@minecraftertracey01]

6988 did make a move towed by IAIS 707 on 8-10-24 from Silvis, Il to Des Moines for a event, then it was moved back to it homes shops in Newton, IA. new public release on plans for the 1472 day inspection have been made. 7081 also remains storage indoors at Newton, IA.

[@TheGs4_4449]

Personally me, I like the Q.J.s

[@Voucher765]

@@TheGs4_4449 Same here bud

[@P7777-u7r]

The Chinese were actually daily driving steam locos in a very remote region until very recently. Maybe still are. The video of those working in all conditions was a far cry from most surviving steam locos that are kept completely pristine, freshly painted, and dirt-free.

[@mikeharazim9272]

My MOST favorite Chinese American Steam Locomotive in the USA is the NYSW #142 of New Jersey. Cause it's the most historically popular, the first Chinese Engine as a long steam railroading preservation aid since the early 90s and compare to the five other Chinese Steamers the longest, rostered on the Bel Del Railroad running steam excursion trains along the Delaware River Valley from Phillipsburg to Riegelsville, New Jersey which is closer to my home in Bloomsbury and Highway 78 near our neighboring state of Pennsylvania. Boy, living closer to a steam powered railroad with a International Steam Locomotive in operation is great. Speaking of New Jersey, the Garden State would have THREE operational steam locomotives by probably next year, including NYSW 2-8-2 #142 of Phillipsburg, BR&W 2-8-0 #60 of Flemington and Ringoes, and even recently restored Woodstown Central Railroad 0-6-0 #9 of Woodstown, NJ... of course, after #142 and #60 are completed with their 15 year boiler overhaul and upgrades. It would be so unique to live in New Jersey in style with three running steamers for generations to come. Bel Del #142 feels right at it's permanent home at Phillipsburg, NJ along the Delaware River next to Pennsylvania. We people of New Jersey and Pennsylvania were so lucky to have an exotic #142 here... Yup.

[@evanf1293]

If I had to choose a fav out of the 6 chinese steamers that call the US their home, it's a tie between 142 and 6988 for me personally. Mainly cause I've know 142 the longest out of them all, while 6988 has gotten my attention over its most recent/last few years of operation and how it's seen more use than 7081. Still, deciding on which one I prefer is kinda hard as I like both engines very much.

[@RedoubtProductions1754]

Why not both? Both are good.

[@evanf1293]

@@RedoubtProductions1754 Eh screw it, why not.

[@Voucher765]

@@evanf1293 142 for me because she's NYSW

[@alexpiper9475]

nicely done. thank you.

[@ronalddevine9587]

3025, since I live in Connecticut, and have ridden the Valley RR many times, including when the Chinese steam was brand new. Many employees complained about many steam leaks and generally poor quality control.

[@cruikshank]

Being from PA I’m surprised you missed the Chinese Made Lincoln Train Steam Locomotive that’s operating out of Southern York County. The name of the actual RR escapes me. I went to ride behind it this year but it was pulled from service earlier in the year because its boiler inspection was due. They hinted it will be quite some time because they don’t have the money to perform the maintenance. It’s a shame because it’s a beautiful locomotive and unlike anything else out there on Standard Gauge Tracks in the USA.

[@RedoubtProductions1754]

York and Leviathan were built by David Kloke in Illinois. They were assembled in america (now the raw resources I can't be certain upon)

[@hbengineer]

I’ve driven 3025 so it’s my favorite!

[@kc4cvh]

I suspect that the reason steam locomotives persisted longer in China than in the USA is the difference in labor cost. American railroads were enthusiastic for the expensive new diesel-electric locomotives primarily due to the reduction in high-wage labor they allowed, in China and India where labor is cheap the costly new technology was less attractive.

[@henrywang3977]

The state railway department of PRC has been interested in dieselisinng and electrifing the lines since as early as 1960s. But, 1. There was never enough diesel and electricity to power the railway, but QJ was designed to be able to use almost any type of coal better than peat, 2. It was expensive to design and build entirely new locomotives, China was not really good at manufacturing diesel engines, while QJ has enough tractive effort(more than 320kn when enhancing adhesive weight) and horsepower(designed to be 3000hp but in practice can be over 3300hp) to fill most jobs until 1990s. When in 2000s, China finally got rid of steam locomotives from main lines, the state railway has never been interested in running any steams any more.

[@turdferguson4124]

I understand the initial cost advantage of acquiring a new or ready-to-operate Chinese steam locomotive, as compared to finding, purchasing, and restoring a preserved U.S.-built steam locomotive. However once the locomotive has been in excursion service long enough to require the mandatory FRA boiler work and other labor-intensive running gear and appliance maintenance, it seems like there is no longer any cost advantage to running a Chinese locomotive in excursion/tourist railroad service. In fact, there is likely a revenue disadvantage because I would argue that the railroad tourism customer base in the U.S. is more likely to support operations running U.S.-built locomotives.

[@benc.5863]

Have to disagree with customers supporting US locomotives more. The Valley Railroad which owns and operates SY #3025, and the Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad which owns and operates JS #8419 are both extremely popular and successful operations to this day. The 8419 is the BSVR’s only steam locomotive which draws in a lot of people and the 3025 came in at a crucial time for the VRR and was a big help to the railroad. The other Chinese locomotives are currently out of service but people are waiting for them to return so I’d argue that they’re just as popular as US built locomotives

[@CelticRailwayTraveller]

Can you do a video on the 7 other Chinese Steam Locomotives preserved outside China? 4 in UK. 1 in Germany. 1 in South Korea. 1 in Japan. (as well as the front of 2 others)

[@CelticRailwayTraveller]

Can you do a video on the 6 non North American Steam Locomotives preserved outside Canada? 2 from UK. 2 from Croatia. 1 from France. 1 from France.

[@kevp9601]

NOICE ❤🧡💛💚💙💜

[@trahall6632]

Now this may just be being gullible, but I heard somewhere in the us that there maybe another one coming to the us somewhere. I remember reading an article about it however I can’t seem to find it anymore.

[@RedoubtProductions1754]

I had found a few forum posts back in 2012 about Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern rumors of them looking to acquire a QJ but that appears to have gone nowhere. Must have been when they were contemplating over restoring 2021.

[@MiguelNavarreteCruz]

Me gusta como hablan en ingles las trains

[@rogerlollar4325]

What state are you from

[@kylehc15]

makes since china has used steam till the early 90s/2000s and they had coal mines so why not. sure we have coal plants in the usa but we went diesel a long time ago

[@danius_huganius]

"Made in china" is so fr

[@gabriellecobban4606]

I prefer Queensland Railways C17 classes

[@lonewolfe31619]

Sorry Only American Built steam locomotives not to keen on Chinese steam locomotives. I'm only into Santa Fe Steam Locomotives.

[@tibbers3755]

nobody asked

[@steamsearcher]

RPRPRPRPRPRPRPRPRPRPRPRPRPRPRPRPRPRPRPRPRPRPR PLEASE STOP THIS SO ANNOYING. UNWATCHABLE.