5 More Locomotives That Almost Survived (But Didn't) | History in the Dark

Sometimes locomotives come so close to being saved in preservation. But it doesn't always happen.
0:00 - Intro
0:58 - China Railways RM-1163
3:19 - British Rail Class 45 45015
5:53 - Uintah Railway 50 and 51
8:03 - SNCB 29.279 and 44.021
11:54 - New York Central 1290 and 1291
🚂 Further reading 🚂
locomotive.fandom.com/wiki/Ch...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uintah_...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SNCB_Ty...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Yor...
🟢Join this channel to get access to perks:
/ @historyinthedark
🟢Patreon - / darknessthecurse
🟣Discord - / discord
🔴Cameo - www.cameo.com/darknessthecurse
🔵Facebook - / history-in-the-dark-10...
🟢Donations - streamlabs.com/edgerabbit/tip
🔴Reddit - / historyinthedark
🔴Tiktok - / historyinthedark
🟣Instagram - / historyinthedark
🔵Twitter - / darkthecurse
🟣Merch - / @historyinthedark
🟣Twitch - / edgerabbit
Other channels:
🟢Prehistory in the Dark: / @prehistoryinthedark
🟣Gaming and Fanfic Readings: / @darknessthecurse
🟣History Stuff: / @historyinthedark
👔Merch: streamlabs.com/edgerabbit/merch
---
I WRITE BOOKS! YOU CAN FIND THEM HERE:
📚Abyss: www.amazon.com/Abyss-Books-Pr...
📚Pryde: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08...
📚Abyss on Audible: www.amazon.com/hz/audible/mlp...
#trains #history #locomotive

[@Simon-Davis]

45015 was a dead duck in 1988, and as a class 45 fan I will say here and now that what was left of 015 should have been scrapped back in the 80s. Withdrawn in 1986 with traction motor failure and bogie frame fractures, it could only be moved around with its affected axle stripped of suspension and jacked up clear of the rails. Over the next year or so it was GUTTED to keep the remaining 45s in service. The remaining shell was riddled with asbestos and then literally forgotten about to rot at the back of Toton shed until 2002 because it was deemed uneconomical to scrap due to the cost of asbestos removal. When some misguided fool decided to buy the thing it went to the Battlefield line, but by then it was a long lost cause. Its best hope would have been around 1991 when the other scrapline 45s were still around, so there was the source of spares needed to completely rebuild it...but WHY when all of those remaining scrappers were in better condition??!!

[@TIMMEH19991]

For your next one of these, please consider British Rail class 22 No. D6319. This poor locomotive actually got preserved but was cut up at Swindon works in error at the end of 1972. What makes it an even sadder tale is it hardly did any work after a major overhaul in 1971.

[@Lamp_2155]

Can’t believe that the Belgian government said “Nuh uh” and just straight up refused preservation

[@TomRedlion]

That Belgian segment needed to be visited by Mr Pearlman and his famous train saw.

[@22pcirish]

Maybe the Belgian railway was run by a distant relative!😂😂😂

[@marcleslac2413]

​@@22pcirishJE VEUX CETTE LOCOMOTIVE A VAPEUR!

[@22pcirish]

@@marcleslac2413 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@marcleslac2413]

​@@22pcirishIK WIL DIE STOOMMOTOR! (Cus flemish too)

[@Sassymouse88]

I WARNT. THAYT. STEAM. ENGINE!

[@davinsmith7543]

One important detail you forgot to mention about Uintah numbers 50 & 51 is that when they were sold to the Sumpter Valley Railroad is that they weren't only converted to oil firing but they were also converted into tender engines.

[@Eric_Hunt194]

The HST as the #1 marker is quite fitting this week, as a set is currently being shipped over the Atlantic to Mexico for use on the new Tren Maya route which isn't being electrified straight away due to cost overruns.

[@dominicbarden4436]

The mad thing for me is that heritage railways are starting to take on HSTs as well, such as the Colne Valley Railway in Essex and the Nene Valley Railway in Cambridgeshire. I saw a GWR HST set at the Severn Valley Railway a few months ago at their Spring Diesel Gala, it was a strange sight seeing a fully mainline spec set (sliding doors and all) on a heritage railway!

[@littlejoe1633]

A suggestion for your next video would be Central of Georgia "Big Apple" 451. She was saved along with several other CofG engines after Southern took over but never found a home. She languished around till the early 60's before being scrapped in Columbus only a year or two before the steam program began. She would've been double special as she was nearly identical to the SP GS-2 class engines which are extinct as well

[@GoofyVirginian630]

Would've been nice to see a Big Apple preserved

[@leightonolsson4846]

I still think it's astonishing that only one LNER Gresley A1/3 survived into preservation out of a stud if well over 100 locos. Surely 'Papyrus' should have been preserved considering it reached a verified 108mph!

[@lukeslocos6610]

Yeah, unfortunately we are just stuck with flying Scotsman (triggers broom). On a similar lner theme another j36 or even j83 would have been nice. Would have liked to see maude with later classmate "haig".

[@the_greenwood551]

If it's any consolation the Great Northern now converted as Thompson Class A1/1 was supposed to be preserved, attempt to save were made but never materialized.

[@leightonolsson4846]

@@lukeslocos6610 I also have issues with the 'elephant ears' smoke deflectors... not exactly elegant. It's like someone at BR had a grudge against the class or something lol

[@aidansmith325]

If you liked the Uintah mallets I’d recommend taking a look at the Black Hills Central Railroad in South Dakota. The main engines on the line are 2 Baldwin 2-6-6-2t mallet saddle tanks #110 & #108. I’ve ridden on both and they’re a lot of fun to see working as the 10 mile line runs up a 6% grade up Tin Mill Hill immediately after leaving Hill City and is a 4% to 6% down the other side to Keystone.

[@the_greenwood551]

Other engines that were suppost be preservert were Southern Railway Z Class number BR No 30952, Central Railroad of New Jersey Class L-7 No. 774.

[@sambrown6426]

One thing about Uintah Railway 50 and 51. When they first got 50, they realized that she wasn't quite good enough for them, so they quite heavily modified her, including adding a second steam dome with a separate throttle, so that you could carry higher water without carrying any into the cylinders because you could use whichever steam dome and throttle were pointing uphill. After said modifications, they liked her so much that they asked Baldwin to build them a second one, (51) but with the modifications they made already installed. It's honestly pretty funny, even more so when you realize that Baldwin had to build a whole new test track just to make sure the blasted things could do what the Uintah needed them to do, including pulling trains through "Morro Castle," which was a 7.5% grade curved at a whopping 66 degrees. What's even funnier is that the Uintah actually WIDENED the curve from 81 degrees in preparation for the new articulateds.

[@ChrisCooper312]

Leicestershire is pronounced "lestershuh" (or "shire" if you want to be posh, but as someone who lives there take my word for it). Once you've done with good, bad, almost survived etc locos, you could pretty much do an entire series on hard to pronounce railway companies, train manufacturers and railway places. :D

[@sambrown6426]

I would absolutely watch that.

[@fanofeverything30465]

He'll have to get a medic on standby first

[@jacobjcb8883]

Live in Leicestershire as well and have visited the Battlefield Line before

[@mickbjerregaard9286]

For a part 2, you should look in to the danish DSB R 946 and other locomotives the danish national railwaymuseum has scrapped the last 5 year.

[@SteamRailPatreonR761VR]

Why did the license expire? regardless the R class are a beautiful locomotive and it's a shame they are being scraped by the people who are supposed to save them

[@Alpha-oo8]

Good heavens, a BR segment that didn’t trigger a psychotic episode!

[@kennethjosephson134]

The body of Cincinnati Street Railway 2465, a curve sided streetcar, saw a similar fate as RM1163. One of only two single ended Cincinnati Car Company Curve-Sider bodies to survive (the other is on display in Cincinnati), two-thirds of the carbody was removed in 2018 or 2019. The remaining front third of the car had the back end grafted onto it and the truncated body was converted into a kiosk at a commercial development in Georgia. There are two completely intact Curve-Siders left, one being beautifully restored West Penn 832 at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, but both are atypical double ended versions. I may be wrong, but I believe the other intact Curve-Sider is at Seashore Trolley Museum in Maine.

[@TitanicKid]

I live locally to the SVRy where Uintah 50 & 51 wound up. The SVRy converted them to tender engines with concrete running boards to make up for the lost weight of the water tanks. One of the tenders is still preserved, and the SVRy was extremely close to getting 251 back. They were only a few days short of saving it.

[@Pyrotrainthing]

Uintah Railway 50 and 51 are some of my favorite 3ft gauge locomotives. It sucked hearing they could never be saved. if I ever could be a part of any projects to build new members of the same design, ideally one example representing how it looked on the Uintah Railway and another representing the later representing how it looked on Sumpter Valley Railway. Also for help in pronouncing: I think it’s pronounced: You-In-Tuh. But I’m no resident to Colorado anywhere near the line.

[@Sohave]

Also worth noticing DSB R 946 in Denmark. Preserved by the Danish Railway museum as an operational locomotive, Then when it was in the midst of a major overhaul the museum got a new academic management who decided to scrap it because they already had another Class R preserved, despite the fact that it was a different model and overall shape. Adding insult to injury forfeiting the resources and volunteer man hours going into the overhaul. R 946 was scrapped in 2018! Also DSB E 978, but unlike R 946, E 978 was in a really bad condition ever since it was withdrawn and put on static display, which did not benefit its condition.

[@Zombiehunter2_0]

As SOON as I saw 1290 and 1291 were from the New York Central, I knew an Alfred E skit was coming

[@marcleslac2413]

Same

[@richiehodson262]

There is a class 45 that does still run on the great central railway. Between Loughborough and Leicester north. Class number D123

[@Marc_von_Hoffrichter]

Great vid. Thanks mate.

[@Paraffinmeister]

Exellent video as is always. Re 45015, she was missing vital electrical components and I believe she was privately owned (not owned by the Battlefield Line, but a private individual). She never really had a chance at running again, but lingered on, rotting in to the ground until her owner finally gave up.

[@CrossOfBayonne]

I remember you from back in the day

[@Mr.MurdochTimothySchmidt]

You know. Here in finland, several steam engines were scrapped in preservation, mostly because the lack of storage room.😥😭

[@nathancorcoran5347]

Here’s how I would imagine if all of these locomotives are preserved to this day. China Railway RM class No. 1163: Could’ve been displayed over at Hyogo, Japan (Along with QJ No. 6200). British Rail No. 45015: Could’ve been displayed at the main station of the Battlefield Line Railway in Lycestershire, England, rather than being put on a siding. Uintah Railway 50 and 51: Could’ve been in operation at the Sumpter Valley Railroad with 2-8-2 #19 and Heisler #3. SNCB 29.279 and 44.021: Could’ve been displayed at the Hungarian Railway Museum in Budapest, Belgium. New York Central 1290 and 1291: Could’ve been in operation at the Heber Valley Railroad in Heber City, Utah and the Conway Scenic Railroad in North Conway, New Hampshire.

[@trainglen22]

The Belgian section should have had Mr. Pearlman there.

[@FuelFire]

Hey Dark, Uintah is pronounced Yew-IN-tah. At least that's I've heard until now, ever.

[@Magnumenforce]

If you are going to make another video about locomotives, that almost survived, but didn't, then I have to candidates, from the same railroad: DSB E 999 and R 946. E 999 was the last mainline steam engine built for DSB in 1950. While DSB discontinued steam from it's roster in 1970, E 999 was first withdrawn from service in 1976, as it had been used as an excursion locomotive by DSB. After the official withdrawal, it was placed in storage in Struer Roundhouse. In 1981, the roundhouse burned down, causing damage to multiple locomotives and other equipment that was inside the roundhouse. E 999 was so damaged that restoration wasn't possible anymore, and she was scrapped in 1983. R 946 was a different story. It was built in 1918 and had an unremarkable career until 1951, when it was in an accident, where it crashed in to Pr 904 head-on. Pr 904 was so damaged in this accident, that DSB decided to scrap her. R 946 however was repaired and was put into service again. In the end, this accident and repair job was what got her scrapped. R 946 had a similar end to her mainline career as E 999, with her being an excursion locomotive at DSB until 1976, when she was put in to storage. She was first restored in 1987, with the restoration being done in 1996. Normally locomotives doesn't need to be restored often, but her second restoration began already in 2003. This restoration however was abandoned some time in 2013 due to her needing A LOT of work, even after all this time, and it was just going to cost a lot more money, than other steam engines. They then change priority on which engines needed to be restored first. Later in 2017, the National Railway Museum in Denmark began on their controversial downsizing of their rolling stock collection, it was decided that they should scrap R 946, because, they didn't want to restore her, and no other preservation railway club was going to take her in. so in 2018 she was scrapped.

[@oldninjarider]

You - In - Tah (Uintah) of the Uinta plateau region of eastern Utah and Western Colorado south of the Unita mountain range. The range being the only east-west running mountain range in North America.

[@SPACE_NERD_2009]

"Barry,One Day I might just scrap YOU!!"

[@NarodowyPolski1864]

Here we go again with Perlman.

[@matsv201]

Its worth saying that TR07 A-unit, the first working high speed maglev, is just sitting out doors and rotting away, The B unit was moved to a private company where its used as a conference room and its maintained in a good condition. TR06A unit is on a outdoor display outside a museum, also in terrible condition. The B unit is at a dump just rotting away. TR08A crashed and the B unit is also sitting at the emsland area. TR09 that is in very good condition was bought by a food manufacturer and used as a display peace, also keepd in good condition. Its horribly how bad those units are treated, they are very expensive units, and all of them (except the TR08 model) is one of a kind. Friends of mine was granted access to visit the TR07 and TR08 unit left in Lathen. They are not in good condition and they will not last forever.

[@MustangsTrainsMowers]

Thank goodness for the people who hid 611 from a railroad executive saving it from the cutting torch.

[@fanofeverything30465]

Not to mention 2933

[@doge_sevens]

I wish they had done it for 6100, though she's probably too big to hide

[@williamclarke4510]

I think that they pretended that it was needed as an temporary steam boiler.

[@vincentstuer]

Considering the state of some Belgian trains I really don't think selling off some old steam locos to people wanting to restore them is going to tarnish their image, they are actively running trains with a basic design from the 30's (despite being build in the 70's) covered from top to bottom in graffity

[@marcleslac2413]

15:27 I LOST IT!

[@Snoapyfluff]

I got to see NYC 2933 at the St. Louis museum of transportation it's kind of surprising how 2 Mohawks were saved tho I wish the Hudson's and The Mohawk That Wouldn't Quit was saved

[@CrossOfBayonne]

3001 is also still around too, Some day it would run again although attempts to restore it failed but she's the last of the great NYC steam fleet

[@Trainboy587]

Can you do a video about Nickel Plate Road 587?

[@bowo8079]

Also there are 3 locomotive from Indonesia that nearly survived but was scrapped it was B2504,C2856 and C2801 and 3 of them was scrapped during Preservation efforts

[@jaggergradwell6287]

You should do the history of the Reading railroad from beginning to it’s current form.

[@robertwilloughby8050]

Agreed. I have a soft spot for the Reading.

[@TB76Returns]

Somehow BR's Cycling Lion didn't appear. Also Leicestershire is 'Less-ter-sher'

[@fanofeverything30465]

He's just resigned himself to having to talk about British Rail in every video

[@EE12CSVT]

45015 for the win! Always causes a monumental argument when it comes up in forums.

[@lukechristmas3951]

I really liked this one. These are engines that should have been preserved. I'm especially disappointed about RM Class No. 1163 as I feel more of that class should've been preserved. Oh well, time to make models of them.

[@TomRedlion]

I've always heard Uintah pronounced yew IN taw.

[@KnapfordMaster98]

"Progress! and by that I mean a PARKING LOT!" Man if that isn't everything wrong with the world in one joke.

[@thesudricmerman3318]

If you going do 5 more engine that where nearly scrap but where save then Q6 63395 should be on the next list as well as J27 65894

[@AdventureswithGeneral]

How terrible of Belgium. More than the locos, a steam depot, turntable and facilities?That better be one heck of a parking lot

[@callumnichols7652]

I agree that diesels need to be preserved, especially the GE Dash 8 line.

[@harrisonofcolorado8886]

13:52 Plot Twist: Berry knows what ten wheelers are, AND knows what steam engines are too, he's just playing dumb and doesn't know when to stop playing dumb.

[@doggerbendrailway6002]

Can you look in to the story of nsw 3813 she’s in parts but never put back together

[@TheTransportationFanfromCA]

Pls do a video on Empire State Express 999

[@muhammadfadhiil5992]

PNKA C2856, C2801, B5138 and D52086 would be a good candidate for this series

[@randombread7535]

if you do another part you should do one on br class 304 number 304021 it was put up for preservation in 1998 and stored away but unfortunately people damaged it so it was scrapped in 2000 if it was saved, it would've been the only class 304 in preservation

[@lukeslocos6610]

The 304 looks like an amazing thing, that really is sad it wasn't preserved. I know this doesn't count but I would have liked a full class 442 wessex electric was preserved. Just shows how alot of emus got the short straw when it came to preservation.

[@fanofeverything30465]

​@@lukeslocos6610Nobody cares about them being scrapped because of how many there are

[@lukeslocos6610]

@@fanofeverything30465 there is one coach _-_

[@randombread7535]

@@fanofeverything30465 there is only really one coach preserved. You do realize that right

[@fanofeverything30465]

@@randombread7535 I'm not talking about that particular EMU I'm talking about EMUs in general

[@neohistoryfan1014]

when you mention the battlefield heritage railway, you pronounced Leicestershire as "lycestershir", it's pronounced "lestershir". The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic RR in Ohio had an ex Burlington northern RS3 with the road number of 4056, that was scrapped sometime in the late 90s or 2000s due to so many mechanical failures.

[@SteamboatWilley]

*sees thumbnail* Ooh, Darkness is doing 45015. *grabs popcorn*

[@harrisonallen651]

Was the CR RM-1163 the basis for Young Bao?

[@AndrewTheRocketCityRailfan4014]

I know that GTW 5629 is eventually going to be an episode of this series, should this series continue on

[@fanofeverything30465]

She already got her own video

[@The_Goldenhammer.]

Can you talk about the Litra E Class Locomotive from Denmark?

[@mynx_uk]

the English county is pronounced Lester shire. you did ask. great video.

[@I_like_planesandtrains860]

Do the strongest British diesel and locomotive

[@someNewYorkCentralfan]

I want more steam engines!! *Mad chainsaw noises*

[@user-yi3fb7mv4w]

He's still doing it

[@lukeslocos6610]

The 45 im pretty sure wasnt owned by battlefield so wasnt there job to sort it, also pretty sure it has no engine, no wiring, no fuse/wiring cubicals and a 45 engine wasnt guna fall from sky. Tbh idk it was even saved.

[@karaokebackgroundplaylists9878]

3:28 NO LION TODAY

[@iancook2036]

Well I've seen videos recently on KZbin of 45 015 . So it isn't scrapped yet unless there doing sections at a time in 2023.

[@joshuaW5621]

I can’t tell if you’re messing or not. Surely the footage dates to before November 2021.

[@iancook2036]

@@joshuaW5621 it's still not classified as scrapped on WNXX if it was it would be on that list by now.

[@Whoasked-bc5ui]

I heard that an NYC Hudson was going to be preserved but it got scrapped (can you guess why?)

[@marcleslac2413]

Hmmm. Let's see, doese he like, chainsaws. And scream out, I WANT THAT STEAM ENGINE!

[@jakeandfriends3554]

as a person who lives next to battlefield they have a few common nick names which I would put but I don't want to get in trouble but the main two is we can't look after steam engines line (reason behind this is that they put the wrong sort of oil in the macanical lubricator which didn't go through the pipes and caused the rods to jam and reck the engine and in the process bent the frames they also had the correct oil) the other one is s***field line and that's due to how the keep non working engine (as seen with 45015 they have another 3-4 locos in a similar condition)

[@jakeandfriends3554]

Correction to the video have been the the railway today 45015 is still there and in its space just not couched

[@FabianHunor]

Some hungarian suggestions for almost saved, but sadly scrapped lists: MÁV 301 001, M63 001 & 002

[@Trainhead23]

i swear one of these days im gonna end up punching my laptop because of perlman.

[@Blacksheep1968]

Lol. Wow. That last one was well developed

[@retrogamelover2012]

#5 is kind of a Ship of Theseus type of specimen, really.

[@warriorstar2517]

14:03 Here's Perlman!!!

[@brenthinshaw8391]

You-in-ta Theres your algorithm bump

[@warmstrong5612]

What's a ten-wheeler?

[@TheEerieMaster]

Belgian railways... now on my official shyt list

[@robertwilloughby8050]

Another Peak that was supposed to survive was "The Lady" herself, number 46 026, named "Leicestershire And Derbyshire Yeomanry", hence the nickname "The Lady". It was earmarked for preservation but a mixup lead to her being scrapped. Once the preservation community found out, there was blood on the moon, they were LIVID! The nameplates were transferred to a Class 45, but it is not the same. And there is a light at the end of the tunnel - there's a plan for a new build "Lady", but it's very much still on the drawing board.

[@thepolishgenerator5915]

3:28 "We don't gotta be racist about our locomotuves arround here." Meanwhile James The Red Engine:

[@kittensinmittens2010]

Well good to know that us in America are not the only ones that get rid of historic buildings for a fluffing parking lot.

[@poowg2657]

BR 45015, talk about your "green" locomotive.

[@Mariazellerbahn]

4:15 The Battlefield Line .... most diesels end their days there an the preservation "SCRAPYARD". BTW Leicestershire is pronounced "Lesta-shire.

[@alaskacowboy1]

"Lesta-sure"

[@rafaelwasnthere7727]

5:54 As a Guatemalteco myself who loves Thomas and trains in general I do apologíse for the Mega stupidity the people of my cuntry made.

[@Jimboliah3985]

4:20 *Not even close. It's pronounced as Lestershire.*

[@TIMMEH19991]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! you must never mention 45015!!!!!!🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@williamnichols467]

The Uintah 2-6-6-2s we’re not Mallets. That is a common misconception

[@riderstrano783]

Sandy River and Rangely Lakes number 24

[@vaclavmacgregor2464]

What happened?

[@riderstrano783]

@@vaclavmacgregor2464 she was bought by a collector when the railroad went under in ‘35, and she along with a parlor car, the rangely (which is actually still around) were put in a specially constructed building on one of the old yard sites. However after 2 years, the mortgage payments came up short, the parlor car was removed and sold, the building was knocked down, and the loco cut up for scrap to pay off the debt

[@Eric_Hunt194]

Did you say Leicestershire wrong on purpose, Darkness? 😉

[@Brydagr8]

yus

[@user-di1dy8nq1i]

45015 Should have been given better treatment by battlefield

[@azzifyy5988]

Leicestershire (Less-Ter-Shear)

[@user-yi3fb7mv4w]

Dose he mean lestershire

[@JVoltCUAF]

u...nightah :P but yeah i want the algorithm to do things for you soo yeah

[@SteamboatWilley]

>Zombiefied arm. Thing origin story.

[@sambrown6426]

Uintah is pronounced "Yoo-in-tuh" btw.

[@Shunteration]

I would say something about the Belgians brushing things under the rug... *_But we have the history of the Congo for that..._*

[@Sleeper____1472]

You-In-Tah

[@ordinaldragoon]

Gonna be that guy, but its pronounced: 'Les-ter-sheer'. Besides that, it is really upsetting that 45015 was never properly preserved. A lot of these heritage locomotives usually end up outside exposed to the elements because there is no suitable inside place to keep them.

[@lukeslocos6610]

As sad as it is the gutted shell of 45015 should have been scraped in the 80s.

[@newhaveni]

Unitah from what I have heard is pronounced u-in-tah

[@ALCO-C855-fan]

45 115 was SCRAPPED in 2021?!?!?!?!?!?!😲 😮😮😮 NNNNOOOOOO!!!!!!😭😭😭😭😭😭 (Sorry, but I could cry.)

[@JackCarsonsRailroadVideos]

It's pronounced like You-In-Tah 😉

[@micoasters]

The chinese engine need to be visited by pearlman and his train saw (patent pending)

[@lonewolf4215]

Leicestershire is pronounced less ter shire although you are forgiven its a very strange spelling