TVA FM

The last 6-axle FM built in the US was also the last to operate. Purchased new in 1958, this H16-66 "Junior Trainmaster" spent its entire career working for the Tennessee Valley Authority at its Gallatin coal fired power plant. It received a heavy shopping in the early 1990's which included a completely rebuilt prime mover from Fairbanks-Morse. I was lucky to catch it in operation in April, 1996 as a new natural gas fired power plant was being constructed nearby.

[@jordonfreeman166]

Breaking News! This Baby Trainmaster has been preserved at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She is currently sitting in the Grand Junction yard next to the walkway that leads from the parking lot to the Grand Junction station. And there are plans in the future to get it back up and running. I was just there today, May 21st, 2022.

[@barrymartinson193]

I hired on C.P.R. in Cranbrook B.C. in 1971 became a Conductor after one year and an Engineer after 2 years. The Kootinees were dark territory. Interesting learning train orders, schedules , how to run unscheduled trains , class and superior direction. C.P. had a lot of fifties power and I was called to work on a few F.M. Trainmasters just as they were phasing in the SD 40's and C.T.C. I RETIRED IN 2012 AFTER 41 years of service.

[@jedinoob124]

Really glad this locomotive is being restored. The FM Trainmaster series locomotives were absolutely fascinating, and from the few audio/video recordings of both Trainmaster variants that I've come across, their opposed piston engines had a sound unlike anything else out there. I do wish the Canadian museum that owns the sole remaining H-24-66 would allow it to be restored to operating condition/run as well. Stances on locomotive preservation aside - recordings of the Trainmasters in action are scarce at best. Most scale model and digital (game/simulator) railroading companies tend to skip over them, or use inaccurate audio because there simply isn't enough recorded to put together a legitimate soundset for the locomotive class. Probably not something most people would care or fret about of course, I know. As someone who's enjoyed doing amateur sound editing for some time now, however, and is a bit of a history/preservation buff, it feels like a significant oversight to not take the opportunity to correct this - when at least one of the locomotives still exists. But, I digress... This is fantastic footage of the last operating "Baby" Trainmaster during it's final years in freight service, and I look forward to seeing it running again once it's been restored!

[@UCSPanther20]

If I were to go back to the late '60s, early '70s, this would be the sound I would hear on the CP Rail lines in the East Kootenays, since that area was dominated by C-Liners and H16-44s. They had a big diesel shop in Nelson which was set up to service the FMs, and because of that, the CPR was able to keep theirs' going long after most other railroads got rid of their FMs...

[@tommyhunter1817]

I don’t know much about FM units but I know they look like they can handle anything!

[@NorfKhazad]

I love the trainmaster body style so much. It's one of the most brutish looking diesels ever built, and beautiful for it. Add to that the way that FM opposed piston sounds and it's one of my favorite locomotives. It's a pity I'll probably never get to see one run in person.

[@DelayInBlockProductions]

Rich, your videos are simply the best!

[@Fazoo2245]

Be it junior or senior (H-24-66) Trainmasters, they're still my all-time favorite locos. Love the purr. I remember one night walking home along the tracks in Lethbridge, Alberta, from a summer job at age 16 and finding one of my hockey coaches riding a Trainmaster in the yard. He loved seeing me there, then told me to get the hell off the tracks!

[@jackpetrof9460]

What a great and unique sounding engine, was waiting for the horn at the crossing..........Thanks for sharing this video,agree there's nothing like a FM!

[@fakecumberland]

Wow! What a distinctive-sounding beast!

[@lawbench191]

I just love to hear this old beast of a locomotive! Nothing like that FM sound!

[@VilquinProductions]

That is KICK-ASS! Thanks for catching this awesome piece of railroad history!

[@Tom-Lahaye]

Found her on Google earth, in high res as well! The spot where she sits now is close from where this video was shot, a shame that the whole yard has become a sort of storage facility now. This beast should go into preservation instead of left rusting away there (Tennesee railroad museum????)

[@trainsontape6531]

@@InfernalHibiscus holy crap! Someone needs to preserve this!

[@dumbbuff]

And so it is!

[@Danvers97]

Tvrm has it now

[@craigpennington1251]

Good sounding loco and great paint. Very cool.

[@alcopower5710]

FM & Alco are my favorite all time diesels.

[@105C09]

A really fine engine and a great reminder of those great first generation diesel days.

[@TPW900GP35]

Good video! Haven’t heard too many FM units. They sound close to EMD’s 567 powered units, or maybe somewhere between 567 and 645; non-turbocharged, of course!

[@ModelingSteelinHO]

Trainmaster !!!! Yes,finally a video with sound. Going into favorites,thank you for sharing this rare beast.

[@rager522]

Nice manual sanding!!!

[@Form44208]

What an imposing looking locomotive. Truly awesome and love than FM sound. It's like the difference between the old muscle car sound and the new. Thank you for posting!

[@railrunner01]

priceless footage. Thank you for posting.

[@douglasskaalrud6865]

They really did a nice job with the engine rebuild. I saw just one smudge of exhaust and usually FM's threw a lot of oil. Spent a pretty fair amount of time in my youth watching MN&S's pair of FM switchers from the Theodore Wirth Parkway bridge in Golden Valley, MN. You could look right down the stacks on those if they weren't belching unburned fuel at the moment. Milwaukee Road also had some FM's in the Twin Cities. I had to ride my bike 15 miles if I wanted to see them. Milwaukee wasn't spending any money on them as they were going to be traded to EMD on MP15AC's.

[@johnholden3062]

The Fairbanks Morse biggest problem was that you had to pull the upper crankshaft to work on a Cylinder, and the 12 cyl turbo engines we never got 5000 hrs between rebuilds, compared to EMD 20 to 30,000 hrs and a lot easer to work on.

[@TrainmasterCurt]

Very nice, amazing sound that opposed piston engine! Would love to hear CPR H-24-66 8905 Big Trainmaster running at Exporail in Québec

[@9751asd]

sadly i dont think that will ever happen

[@K4JW]

I have always wanted to hear one of these! They are awesome!

[@allegheny48]

Great video! Interesting that during the rebuild they used an FM prime mover and were still able to obtain on after all those years. I noticed that they are running it long nose ahead which was the way FM designed them. Not crazy about the paint scheme but it good that TVA kept it running all those years. You must have some really great gems in your video library. Thanks for posting this one. JM

[@cektito87]

Thanks for sharing!!! Love the FM!!!

[@patmancrowley8509]

H16-66, 1,600 horse-power with 6 axels and 6 traction motors. The Fairbanks-Morse company made diesel engines for the U.S. Navy Submarines and used these same motors for these locomotives. Fascinating, I know.

[@bogthing1]

Nice to hear that FM throttle up. Was on a ship with FM power.

[@steamgent4592]

Wow never knew any FM trainmasters ever survived. Thought they were all scrapped. They seemed to have such a bad reputation as well. First time I ever saw one in action . Kool video thanks for sharing it.

[@fmnut]

This is not a Train Master. It is an H16-66, a shorter 1600 HP version with an 8 cylinder OP engine rather than the 2400 HP 12 cylinder version in the Real Train Masters. This model is sometimes referred to as a "Junior" or "Baby" TM. The only remaining proper H24-66 is a CP model in the museum at Delson, Quebec. It is non operational. And the correct form is Train Master, two words, both capitalized, not trainmaster. The latter is a title for a railroad official.

[@steamgent4592]

@@fmnut didnt know they made big or small ones. Not particularly a diesel fan. They look identical. I'm a steam junky. As I subscribed to your channel for Reading Steam (which my family all worked for back in the 1890s-1940s for the Reading) or that's how it started, this came in my feed. Glad to here a real "Train Master" survived. I thought they were all gone even if it's in Canada. But I'd take the sight of a P5, L10, G1, or N1 in original form anyday instead.

[@fmnut]

@@steamgent4592 For me it would be a K-1 dragging a crossline freight up the Old East Penn through Temple wit an N-1 pusher. Or the Crusader hitting 80 at Belle Mead.

[@steamgent4592]

@@fmnut Crusader would be a definite! K1 you sound like Godshall he loves the K1 and wants to put a book out on them!

[@PRR5406]

Wow! That is the classic FM wind-up I remember as a boy on Long Island! Great!

[@paulcrowshaw4232]

I was working at a printing plant in 1991-92 or so, and I saw this at a crossing (light engine) I could not believe my eyes! It looked much worse than this I can tell you. I remarked to the others in the rent-a-car hey at least it's RUNNING! Thanks for the vid.

[@michaellindsey8044]

It the most beautiful train engine I ever seen

[@Greenelectra78]

There were a few H16-44's on the New Haven in the 60's and I always thought they were skipping (as in misfiring)! I didn't know they normally sound like that.

[@stansmith4054]

A beautiful loco!

[@UCSPanther20]

I like the large headlights on the old FM road switchers.

[@Tom-Lahaye]

First time I hear the sound of a Trainmaster, and it sounds BEAUTIFUL. (better than a Russian 2TE10 and a british deltic, which are both opposed piston engines too, and which I heard live) And luckily the engine sound isn't disturbed by long horn blast sessions, as is the case so often in train video's from the USA (I understand its by regulations, but why not walk a couple of 100's of yards away from a crossing?)

[@DounutCereal]

And then people complain about the T4 EMD's having no exhaust note. Like, even if they had one you never would have heard it over the horn anyway

[@TPW900GP35]

I agree. I enjoy the sounds of the prime mover/exhaust. Have been trying to hear the new EMD prime mover. It’s usually filmed next to a crossing and the sound, what sound there is, is lost in the crossing bell and horn. And if it’s mu’d with other power, it gets drowned out by the other power (I realize you guys have no control over the power consist).

[@billporter9494]

yow,. that's some pretty serious tractive effort!, I still have the article in the popular periodical, always liked the look of the trainmaster series, got a little info on the O.P. engine, sucker had to be a pain to keep up on

[@PowerTrain611]

As I recall, that's why the H24-66 and other FM OP engines were retired. The railroads just didn't know how to keep them running well enough. OP engines are a totally different beast than your typical "V" engines. They were intended more for marine use and the maintenance crews for the railroads were left scratching their heads and contacting FM for support. Long story short, they were more work than they were worth for the railroads to handle.

[@chuckabbate5924]

@@PowerTrain611 damn shame beaut machine ,and when they could they hauled ass and took names!

[@PowerTrain611]

@@chuckabbate5924 I totally agree. I think FM would have stood a chance in the locomotive market if they had only made their engines more... user friendly, I guess. Still, It's good to know there are still several running in museums. I grew up assuming that they would have ended up like the first-gen diesel units with engines like the Winton 201a, which is fairly certain to never see service again. Glad that wasn't the case here.

[@paulcrowshaw4232]

@@PowerTrain611 Hey Bryson, I think the bigger issue for the railroads was the Westinghouse electrical gear.They exited the heavy traction market and that left FM and the RR's that had the units in the lurch for motors and generators etc. I don't think it was so much the engines being a problem. Paul C.

[@PowerTrain611]

@@paulcrowshaw4232 Come to think of it, that does make sense. I know some FM units were offered with GE electrical equipment in place of the Westinghouse setup. I guess that would explain that much. I know the electrical systems on ALCo's tend to be the stuff of nightmares and is common problem with first gen locomotives. I could swear I read a scanned document saying something about difficult upkeep of the OP motors, but it could just be half of the problem.

[@PennRailVideos]

Very cool!

[@eleon96218]

I like this engine sound and GP-7 & 9

[@Edyth_Hedd]

Has a much deeper, richer sound than the EMDs from this era.

[@daveboydell2896]

Junk compared to EMD's quality and reliability.

[@justinstrickland5382]

Who else is here after the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum’s announcement that this locomotive is joining their collection?

[@benharleman587]

She is now at Tennessee Valley museum in Chattanooga, TN!

[@bearbon2]

Looks a bit slippery on those wet rails. Somebody forget to fill the sand boxes? Nice video - I'm a big FM fan.

[@BenjaminEsposti]

3:39 Love them grey CSX dash-8's (At least I think that's what they are...)!

[@harrimanfox8961]

Benjamin Esposti That's a Fairbanks Morse, not a GE

[@harrimanfox8961]

And, you're off by a minute for the real dash-8

[@onrr1726]

I believe that the TVA still has this unit in storage and they still fire it up once a month. I do not think they intend to ever sell her.

[@sooline3854]

What else do they have on their roster?

[@daylightbigboy]

Little off topic but there's a few rebuilt Trainmaster slugs still around. NS has 3 or 4 I believe, one is at VTM. I'd like to see them rebuild at least one of those slugs back into a Virginian or Norfolk and Western H-24-66

[@jeffreymcfadden9403]

i saw NW 173 in aug 1979 in roanoke. supposedly, the NW was going to send it to the museum, but NW slugged it anyways. 173 was the last running tm. also there was an alco repowered tm, still in blue paint, and up to its axles in mud. the parts needed for a slug to be rebuilt would have to be fabricated. aint going to happen.

[@daylightbigboy]

jeffrey mcfadden I was hoping VTM would try and do that but it's basically a frame with motors. Needs the prime mover, generators, cab controls, sheet metal, etc.

[@bigreed67]

This is the only footage I have ever seen of this locomotive operating. It was usually parked in the facility and was not accessible to the public , though I do have pictures of it when TVA brought it out for display during the "Spirit of Tennessee" train's Gallatin stop in the summer of 1996.

[@fmnut]

I was VERY lucky to catch this. I made several visits over the years, my first was in 1980 when I got permission inside the dumper area to take still photos. On subsequent occasions it was always shut down until this time. The stills at the beginning of the video were from 1996 when it was on display.

[@fluffnose3386]

I believe they have just donated this locomotive to TVRM. They haven’t said if they will restore it to working condition, or just cosmetically.

[@Creeperboy099]

TVA should keep this unit at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum

[@fmnut]

Agreed, but it would have to be trucked out as the rails to where it sits have been torn up.

[@Creeperboy099]

@@fmnut ok, it’s been 2 years and I see the TVRM posting this locomotive on their Instagram; holy crap, it actually happened

[@EMDSD14R]

Awesome and practically the best video I've seen of such a wonderful unit. Btw is the H16-66 is the same length as the H24-66?

[@fmnut]

Length of the H24-66 is 66'0". Length of the H16-66 is 56'4".

[@EMDSD14R]

***** Thanks for that info. I was looking at some pictures of both but I wasn't to sure. Thanks again!!

[@sooline3854]

EMDSD14R The H-16-66 also has less horsepower. that is what the "16" in H-16-66 stands for. She has 1600 HP vs the Train Master at 2400 HP, hence the H-24-66.

[@EMDSD14R]

Soo Line Indeed that's true. Same HP as the H-16-44..1600 hp...But the H-16-44 has 4 axle trucks were as the H-24-66 and H-16-66 have 6 wheeled trucks. I have 3 of the H-16-44's and 1 Train Master in my collection. Thanks again!!

[@sooline3854]

+EMDSD14R you were lucky to get the trainmaster, that is for sure! Only a handful remain, and only one real trainmaster. And from what I have heard, the trainmaster isn't going to run anytime soon because of traction motor damage

[@rgsnidow1]

The 2400hp Trainmasters had a much better sound to them I can remember when the Virginian railroad had them and you could hear em coming for miles because of the popping sound the engines had...haven't heard another since the late 60's..

[@Engine33Truck]

j snidow all got turned into slugs, sadly. I was in Roanoke a couple of years ago, and one slug was still in the yard

[@thomasabramson100]

Was it sent to a museum thats a real rare beast

[@fmnut]

thomasabramson100 no, it's still there

[@shawngregory7596]

the engine is still at Gallatin but unfortunately in the 13 years I've worked there I haven't seen it run.

[@jonruehle9186]

Where is it now?

[@PainesvilleRailfans]

Where is this at? What state? What RR/ coal company is this? More info plz!

[@fmnut]

Tennessee Valley Authority. Gallatin Steam Plant. Southeast of Gallatin Tennessee. Please read my intro and all the comments for more information.

[@PainesvilleRailfans]

+fmnut thanks!

[@daveboydell2896]

Only one Trainmaster preserved today it's H24-66 Canadian Pacific # 8905.

[@amtk415w]

Awesome video. Whatever became of this locomotive? Still out there running?

[@fmnut]

as far as I know it's still there.

[@fmnut]

+fmnut but not in use

[@lucianolampi6249]

hermoso

[@mattsmocs3281]

I need to find this. Get it running, paint her in DL&W scheme, then take it home.

[@daylightbigboy]

I'd like to see her in Virginian paint

[@mikehawk2003]

I'd like to see this loco in Southern Pacific paint

[@elisasuperiordork6755]

The funny thing is that all the names you listed here happen to be names that were somewhat reproduced on Lionel locomotives, although technically the SP one wasn't made until after the MPC switchover, and later.

[@AndreiTupolev]

Nice to see one of those in action. Sanders didn't seem very effective, though ...

[@kettlerunrailfan]

Most recent satellite image from 2019 still had her trapped inside the plant. I'm surprised that someone hasn't expressed interest in preserving it by now because it's a slick looking engine.

[@huntermossakajunkerman9646]

Well, it's preserved now.

[@kettlerunrailfan]

@@huntermossakajunkerman9646 I’m surprised someone actually came back & commented on this after a year. That being said I am aware (and therefore excited) that she’s been saved. Bravo ti the TVRM boys!

[@huntermossakajunkerman9646]

Now, the real question is will they restore her to full mechanical working order?

[@traingp7]

Why does the builder plate say Chicago. They were built in Wisconsin I thought. Where was the plant located at.

[@fmnut]

Corporate HQ was in Chicago. Manufacturing plant for locomotives was in Beloit Wisconsin. They had other plants at other locations too.

[@AlcoLoco251]

Is it still running?

[@nathanvitchner4104]

On Google Earth it looks like this engine is trapped in its resting location. All the tracks torn up or grown in.

[@fmnut]

+Nathan Vitchner That's correct. Looks like it would probably have to be trucked out or tracks reconnected to go to a museum.

[@JonatanGronoset]

Jeremy Clarkson would say: opposed piston POWEEEEEER

[@kellcash6800]

wow

[@ble643]

Is she still around?

[@gregorygordon8747]

Too bad Fairbanks-Morse did not get a chance to sell more Loco's. Love the trainmaster

[@drby0788]

There's a guy who has a five part video of this engine, before it was repainted.

[@fmnut]

If you watch all 5 parts, it covers both before and after the repainting. They were posted since I posted this video.

[@redthepost]

Where did they installed oval Windows? A beautiful engine no matter.

[@fmnut]

This unit never had oval windows, it was a later production phase built in 1958. The oval windows were on early H15-44, H16-44 and H20-44 models built before 1952.

[@RailPreserver2K]

Update on the engine, its been saved and was given to TVRM

[@strobx1]

What's wrong with the sanders?

[@fmnut]

probably clogged the engine spent a lot of time sitting and it was really damp.

[@thatd59ladlarry]

Are there any others trainmasters around still?

[@fmnut]

One in Canada in a museum.

[@thatd59ladlarry]

@@fmnut Thank ya!

[@pimpassjakegames2791]

Address please. or is it covered in white now?

[@fmnut]

you can google the address

[@pimpassjakegames2791]

Is it the Gallitin Fossil Plant?

[@fmnut]

+BCLASS Railfanning/Vlogs yes.

[@pimpassjakegames2791]

I Can't find F3060 or is it covered by white now?

[@fmnut]

+BCLASS Railfanning/Vlogs 36.319445,-86.402404 exact coordinates

[@patrickhill82]

kida sounds like a detroit diesel

[@TheGrayRatArmy]

5:23 its look like heavy diesel locomotive

[@Danvers97]

This engine is now at tvrm

[@fmnut]

Are you sure it's been moved? Yes it was donated but last I heard they were still raising the money to crane it and trailer it out.

[@Danvers97]

@@fmnut i was at tvrm last weekend it is now parked near the depot. Apparently the plans now that its on site is to get it running again

[@fmnut]

@@Danvers97 ok thx 4 the update.

[@michaellindsey8044]

Lionel call these beautiful model engines am fm models engine

[@alexandergrube6437]

why is the guy riding the locomotive in a hazmat suit

[@fmnut]

lightnindash 3804 it's a rain suit. It was pissing down rain that morning.

[@user-kz4ye6lm9v]

🌐🌐🌐

[@Greatdome99]

Baby Train Master (three words), not Junior. . .

[@fmnut]

Greatdome99 H24-66 = Trainmaster. H16-66 = Junior Trainmaster. H16-44 = Baby Trainmaster, all of the above with the full height walkway the full length of the unit. Earlier body versions don't qualify.

[@fmnut]

Greatdome99 you are correct in that FM did use the Train Master branding in its advertising. However that term only applies to the H24 model. The rest are just rail fan nicknames so there really is no right or wrong usage.

[@LeoA2600]

As Greatdome told you, it's Train Master, not trainmaster. The former is the name of these locomotives, the latter is a name for a particular type of supervisory occupation in North American railroading. All H24-66's are Train Masters and it's the last phase of H16-66 production that's commonly nicknamed as a Junior Train Master or a Baby Train Master for their similar looks to their bigger brother. Post 1953 H16-44's usually weren't known by the nickname that you said they did, even though they had similar styling. But some through the years have also used the Junior and Baby nicknames for them, although most publications (And Fairbanks Morse employees like Robert Aldag) are referring to the H16-66 when using the Baby Train Master nickname. In fact, if this happens to be TVA #24, Trains Magazine even specifically called her a Baby Train Master in an article about US military Alco's back in 1980.

[@Oilersfan1392]

she can be seen on google earth 36.319651, -86.402601

[@trainzguy2472]

It's still there, but don't think it runs.

[@anb740]

Too bad this giant is now collecting rust behind the plant with no more cars to pull/push. Yet another casualty of the war on coal.

[@fmnut]

Yes, I'm surprised it has not yet found its way into a museum. It underwent a complete rebuild shortly before it was mothballed. I wouldn't be surprised if TVA have to wait a number of years before they can write it off the books account of the capital investment.

[@whiteknightcat]

The newest of the coal units is more than 60 years old. There is no war when plants age out - no plant lasts forever regardless of the fuel. The new gas plant next door will mean no more coal ash to deal with like the 20 million tons of it the TVA will now have to get rid of over the next 20 years. The locomotive is now at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum awaiting restoration.