N&W Steam Sound Recording - Y6a

Norrfolk & Western Class Y6a # 2163 exiting a tunnel when exhaust notes become sharper. She slows a bit fighting upgrade. As it passes, the pop-off valve is open and you can hear a loose rod. As the freight cars pass, you can hear some flat spotted wheels and draft gear squeaking
Vinyl conversion from:
"Norfolk and Western Illinois Central"
Record No. 7 of The Railroad Record Club
Hawkins, Wisconsin 54530
For more N&W sounds:
• N&W Steam Sound Record...
• N&W Steam Sound Record...
Thanks for watching. Enjoy and feel free to comment.

[@iMadeAPromise42]

It never ceases to amaze me how versatile the Y6/a/b was for its size. It had the power to pull heavy coal drags upgrade at low speed, yet it had an equal ability to run at speed with high-precision time freights. I believe the common practice on Y6 coal trains was to operate in simple until the engine hit 10 mph, at which point the engineer would shift to compound operation. The engine would remain in compound at speeds above 10 mph, but if the load was required to drop back to 10mph or below, the booster would be activated. The activation of the booster characteristically had an audible effect on the exhaust, as the individual beats became a continuous roar. E. C. Eddy was not wrong in saying that the Y6 could technically be classified as a 3-speed steam locomotive.

[@deloreanman14]

The front set of cylinders on these locomotives were MASSIVE. I simply can't get over their size...no wonder they could pull better than the rest of them.

[@animal16365]

that's because the locomotive was a mallet type. it used the steam twice. the rear set were high pressure while the front cylinders were low pressure. some of the Ys were rebuilt had a valve in the cab to allow the front cylinders to run high pressure steam which increased there power and tractive effort

[@tprdfh51]

@@animal16365 They started off in "simple" and as speed progressed the engineer switched them over to "compound" where the steam was used twice.

[@SGolenski]

@Glaudge Yes, In St Louis there's a Y6a #2156... Last one surviving.

[@SGolenski]

@Barricade360 2050 is in the IRM and it is a Y3a. I saw it last summer and is "all there" but in not great shape by any means.

[@1940limited]

People that say none of thee locomotives will ever run again need to remember the Big Boy. After that, anything's possible.

[@cnhendricks]

I agree. You just can't ever say never. They are machines, not human beings. They are comprised of parts that were all machined and fabricated. It doesn't matter what is missing or broken or damaged, if it was fabricated once, it can be fabricated again. It may take a lot of money, but it can be done. All it takes is for the right people (millionaires) to have an interest and passion to see it done. I would love to see 2050, 1218, and 2156 all restored. I would also love to see a Y6b rebuilt from scratch like the T1 is being built now. Now would all this take a lot of money? Yes. But if a group put 40 million dollars up for it, it would surely be accomplishable.

[@NOVARailandWeatherEnthusiast]

2156 has a cracked frame. It’s literally impossible to get it running again.

[@steamenginefan100]

@@NOVARailandWeatherEnthusiast strasburg 475 had a cracked frame and that engine is well over 100 years old and they still fixed the frame. So even a cracked frame is fixable, you just need the right people and the right amount of money

[@infaredxkingz8786]

So Norfolk and western... FIX 2156'S FRAME AND GET HER RUNNING AGAIN!!!

[@b3j8]

Always wondered why the N&W chose the 2156 for donation. Why didn't they pick a newer Y6 like the 2197 which had been built only afew yrs before it was retired?

[@SGolenski]

b3j8 most likely it was the one at the end of the line and easiest to get to when it was donated.

[@b3j8]

Probably the likely reason.

[@brianfalzon6739]

I think it would be awesome if 2050 and 2156 could doublehead together someday.

[@jackhollandthe3800]

Maybe 1218 too

[@overpoweredsteamproduction513]

I’m sorry but that would be economically impossible, 2156 has a cracked frame preventing it from ever running under its own power again. 2050 is in Ok condition. 1218 after being put back together and being put on display had lost a lot of its parts as the overhaul for the locomotive was never completely finished for the 1998 season.

[@EngineerDaylight]

Dream on

[@SGolenski]

Glad you enjoyed it. Thank you!

[@SGolenski]

the rumor is that NS approached the Museum of Transportation back in the 80's about 2156 so that they could have one each of the "Big 3" running (A, J, & Y) and the museum said "No".

[@HustleMuscleGhias]

I bet if somebody offered them 10 million for 2156 they'd probably allow it to be sold. Everybody and every organization has their price.

[@infaredxkingz8786]

I hate that museum, telling Norfolk and western to hopoff their big engines, Norfolk and western can have their big 3 just like union pacific

[@ismailarsa6047]

I Love N&W Steam 2056:)

[@infaredxkingz8786]

Don't you mean 2050? Or one of his scrapped brothers?

[@Glaudge]

is there ANY Y class loco left?

[@1940limited]

Yes, at the Illinois State RR Museum

[@Bassfanatic94]

Nice recording thanks for sharing!

[@SouthernerFloridain2006]

O Winston link?

[@Benry2]

Cool video and by the way what was that rusting Y doing I think its n&w 2174

[@HotboxHolton]

That is 2174 and it was just rusting away in the scrap yard. Quite sad that all of the Y6Bs were scrapped.

[@RailPreserver2K]

@@HotboxHolton they tried to save it but when new owners came to the scrap yard they ordered it cut up regardless

[@skiiipawbs]

i see no virtual differences between the y6a and y6b

[@That_Thicc_Cat]

Y6B’s we’re much stronger than Y6A’s with 170,000 pounds of tractive effort where as the Y6A’s had around 130,000. Also the front of the engines look a bit different

[@skiiipawbs]

@@That_Thicc_Cat yeah I figured it out months ago. Thanks tho!!

[@That_Thicc_Cat]

@@skiiipawbs you’re welcome, I just thought I could help because Y6B’s are my favorite kind of stream locomotive lol

[@skiiipawbs]

@@That_Thicc_Cat same

[@csxguy3002]

2:05 whats that photo and whats the number?

[@HoboJoe-tr1tm]

That’s N&W 2174 which was a Y6b, it lasted until the 70’s when it was scrapped after the new owners didn’t let a group raise enough money in time

[@SGolenski]

@deloreanman14 Some day I'll get to St. Louis and size them up with my own eyes....

[@RailPreserver2K]

Ive been and its incredible

[@srrailfan619]

I'm from near Roanoke and I have not heard nay rumors about engines being restored to operation. I don't know that 2156 has a cracked frame (they did move it by rail from St. Louis to Roanoke) but 1218 nor 2156 will ever run again. Theres a lot of things wrong with both and they would be extremely expensive to restore. Besides there really is nowhere to work so extensively on such big engines.

[@j.christopherlindsey8933]

I will say, with enough money, take both 1218 and 2156 out to Cheyenne. Both are potentially operable, but need the money and desire. Seeing Big Boy (already here) or the A back on the rails is one thing, but I would love to see one of these large, stump puller Mallets slugging along.

[@ismailarsa6047]

Cool Very Nise But Dont Black&White Like The Real Steam Locomotive Clour