PRR Q Series: The Pennsy's Duplex Powerhouse

The Pennsylvania Railroad was known as the "Standard Railroad of the World". Even with that bold claim, the Pennsy wasn't afraid to deviate from their standard to create some oddball experiments. Among those were locomotives like the duplex types, the S2 turbine, and a three-cylinder compound British import. Today I'm focusing on the short-lived Q Series, a line of super powerful duplex locomotives with quite the interesting wheel configuration.
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
0:22 Q1
3:34 Q2
6:09 Lessons Learned
6:42 Credits
Music Used:
Punch-Out!! - Main Theme
Yakuza 5 - Substory Theme
Yakuza Kiwami - Substory Theme
Team Fortress 2 - Archimedes
Super Paper Mario - Mr. L Green Thunder
Luigi's Mansion 3 - 1F Grand Lobby B1 Basement
Mario Kart 64 - Winning Results
Links:
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RedBubble Shop: www.redbubble.com/people/Amtr...
My Site: amtrakguy365.weebly.com/

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

The Q2 still stands to this day as one of the strongest locomotives of all time, In order to outperform a Q2 you had to look toward UP's 8500hp GTELs not to mention while some classes had to doublehead across HSC or get helper power, the Q2 just needed itself to stomp over the grade. They were just ahead of their time and crews preferred the more simple J1s and M1s. Nevertheless the Q2 was the most successful of Duplex designs with the T1 coming at a very close 2nd.

[@ambercollins777]

Ya gonna do that Indian train derailment,just wanna know

[@Cowl_5544]

Even though the Q1 lasted longer as it was retired in 1949 then scrapped by 1952

[@user-tp7up8lg1d]

The Q2 Duplexes were in the same horsepower league as the Union Pacific Railroad's 2nd generation Oil Turbines~

[@notafanofthegovernment9982]

@@ambercollins777 he’s not gonna do it if you ask.

[@mikeblatzheim2797]

That is, if you don't look at electric locomotives

[@whispofwords2590]

Man the Q1 was such a handsome locomotive. If only prr had built a conventional 4-8-4 with that styling.

[@doge_sevens]

Or the s1, t1 (they're all gorgeous locomotives and to this day I'm still salty the s1 was scrapped since it was meant to be preserved)

[@drosera88]

All the duplexes were great looking, with or without the streamlining. The fact that not a single one of any class was preserved is mind boggling, especially since they were so heavily promoted and unique among American steam.

[@koiyujo1543]

@@drosera88 actually a few still survive I believe but barely but none of these here I believe

[@nathanlerma9891]

I really love the q2,I know putting them on excursion passenger train would have been difficult but I wouldn't mind seeing one in a museum

[@break-van-man9400]

I was just hoping that a Q documentary would exist and Lowe and behold you’ve posted this 5 minutes ago

[@Adder6112]

What are the odds

[@theimaginationstation1899]

​@@Adder6112one in one.

[@robertbalazslorincz8218]

"Q2: Strongest steam locomotive ever tested" Tractive effort numbers: *doubt*

[@157RANDOM]

Gotta say I really appreciate the effort you put into these documentaries. The editing is very good, and the writing is well done.

[@f-1492]

The Q2 was the most powerful rigid frame steam locomotive ever, and it holds the place as my personal favorite steam locomotive of all time

[@pendremacherald6758]

One of my best memories is running an O scale Q2 at a train show as a kid. The same guy was at the Louisville and Columbus train show every year for years. He was a legend.

[@mateogallardo1723]

Now that’s an ‘’absolute unit’’ right there

[@PennsyPappas]

The duplexes get such a bad rap but we're way better than they were given the chance to prove themselves. Had steam been around well into the 60s I think we would've seen these engines been shown to be a lot better than they get credit for. But such is history and it cannot be changed so easily. Maybe the F1 Trust guys will get their day in the spotlight and show what an amazing engines the Duplexes actually we're and could've been if given the chance. Only time will tell I guess.

[@CarlosDeLosMuertes]

5550 has so many chances to shine when she's finished. from taking on Mallard's record to taking a page from UP's book and doing some fast heavy freight.

[@ronalddevine9587]

I'm a Lionel collector/ operator, and my favorite Pennsylvania engine is the Turbine. Pity they couldn't work the bugs out. I think the New York Central had a more conservative approach. Pity that they didn't allow the Niagaras to reach their full potential.

[@kennethlacewell1517]

I remember reading somewhere that Electro Motive realized that most steam locomotives were very poorly designed for the jobs they actually did. Like these locomotives, massive horsepower at the wrong speed.

[@asteroidrules]

It really feels like in the 30s and 40s Pennsy was throwing everything at the wall, and that's why I love them. Some of the strangest arrangements for duplex locomotives, one of very few steam turbine locomotives, and absolutely fantastic visual design on all of them, they really did have a unique roster, even if more conventional designs and the rise of diesel-electric won out.

[@pacentralrailfan145]

Great video as always Jared! You always do an incredible job on these documentaries and I really appreciate all the hard work and dedication you put into them. The PRR Qs were really cool and strong 💪 engines. They just look so awesome. It’s really sad that not a single one of them was preserved.

[@Adder6112]

Gotta love sound of medicine in the background

[@VietTheKong]

This is gonna sound picky but imo I think the Q1 is one of the most pleasing large steam locomotives the PRR made...I think the streamlined roof design flush with the tender panels. Kinda like the S series locomotives and the T1's... I feel like the large gap from the top of the cab roof to the top of the tender in locomotives like the J1, M1, and Q2 just don't sit right with me. I understand they are freight locomotives vs the style of passenger locomotives but it was just a weird niche design that I could never unsee.

[@CarlosDeLosMuertes]

yep it just has a nice flow and balance, even though it proved to be a bad choice the reversed cylinders made it look extra clean.

[@nathandeal9703]

At least we can take consolation in knowing that a T1 will soon turn a wheel again.

[@notknightbean]

Q class is still one of my favorite lost locos. Imagine what could have been if they had more time to mature.

[@trainman264]

Good to see my Q2 model being used 😊

[@rainierbagatsing1073]

7987 horsepower dang that makes them one of the few big steam engines to rival the union pacific big boys

[@drosera88]

I'm pretty sure not preserving at least one of these violated the Geneva convention. I mean the PRR was so proud of their duplexes putting them front and center in their promotional materials, you'd think at least one person would have thought to save one.

[@Stooltoad5017]

You’d think they would have sent at least one to a museum. I don’t blame the various railroad companies for switching to diesel, I just wish they had spent more time preserving steam.

[@09JDCTrainMan]

They actually tried to save the S1 6100, but financial hardships led to them scrapping it.

[@vivyan92]

Can you tell the next story of the Pennsylvania Railroad T1 steam locomotives and the T1 Trust for the future locomotive 5550? That will be great while the organization is still working on it.

[@gregrowe1168]

I’ve actually heard that the wheel slip problem was more operator error than poor design. They could be made to operate without wheel spin but it took very precise throttle control to make that happen. Most just couldn’t find that perfect balance.

[@AlexThePatriot]

If they could've found a way to make the q2 alot cheaper to operate, didn't the 50mph limit, and found a way to fix the water issue then the q2 could've possibly been amazing.

[@OADINC]

Hey man, love the videos. Your editing style is nice, the graphic design is done very well. The only thing which I didn't like is the song at 5:50 it felt out of place to me. Anyway keep up the good work! Can't wait till another one of your design of videos.

[@TomedysTrains]

The Pennsylvania Railroad Q2s were such cool-looking steam locomotives. It's a crying shame that none were preserved, because even if just one were preserved, it would've been a fantastic museum piece on display at a museum or as an operational mainline excursion locomotive.

[@newobanproductions999]

"If you think that bigger's better, then you're making a mistake." I guess the Pennsylvania Railroad just to find that out the hard way, didn't they?

[@metalheadrailfan]

Invest in Northerns and Articulateds or Draw 25. That's the Pennsy in a nutshell.

[@Cowl_5544]

The Q1 lasted longer as it was retired in 1949 then scrapped in 1952 outlasting the Q2’s

[@russellgxy2905]

True, but there’s a huge asterisk to be added there. The cylinder placement really shot the Q1’s availability and while it might’ve been retired in ‘49, there’s a good chance it was already out of use beforehand

[@Cowl_5544]

Ik but man we hope one day we get replicas

[@koiyujo1543]

Q1 looks beautiful kind alike a rocket at the front in a way but very handsome and wonderful

[@pavelsovicka5292]

"How much power do you really need?" - To be a proper railway nerd my guess is less than 1000 HP if "get moving" is ment literally as to start the movement. As the old railway proverb says: "Adhesion tells you how much you can pull, power how fast you can pull it."

[@MatthewTheRBXMan]

This is pretty neat

[@koiyujo1543]

I think duplexes could of been sucessful if more research was put into it, with the t1 trust getting built prehapes we could finally see if the duplex concept could of really been a success

[@luislaplume8261]

The class S1 of 1939 was the biggest and most streamlined passenger steam locomotive ever built in America! 😊

[@sernajrlouis]

Awesome video. Always enjoy your videos

[@amandahoward1437]

Too of my favorite KZbinrs ❤

[@DillianTrainzStudios]

The PRR G Series locos are underrated in my opinion.

[@lassunsschaun6859]

3:42 Remark; in UIC classification of locomotive axle arrangements the Q2 is a 2'BC2' 😉

[@ThatTrainBoi]

bro your documentaries are fire 💪🔥

[@octopus1066]

i remember speaking one time with an old vet of the NYC steam locos, claiming he droved mohawks and hudsons all his carrer as an engineer. They had heard and seen some of the duplexs, but he made sure he told me straight as he was laughing. "Had the dups been on the NYC and not the penny, they would have been 1000 times better since we always went crazy fast on those rivers of steel." and i think he is right. the NYC was all about speed, and the penny just didn't have a lot of places were that "speed" could be used, but the NYC lines did.

[@Dallen9]

I think the real problem with the Duplexes was PRR not investing in their infrastructure in this time period(which was a contributing factor in the down fall of Penn Central later down the road). They weren't doing the maintenance so these marvels of American ingenuity were just wastes of time. I think the T1 trust will have one amazing locomotive when they complete 5550 and it might inspire someone to make a q2 Mk2 also later down the line but the PRR was one of those text book how not to run a company.

[@northpennvalleysteamrailroad]

Great documentary!

[@CarlosDeLosMuertes]

I knew I saw a version of the Q1 that had a bigger trailing truck at some point. Mechanically I think the Q1 is one of the best looking engines there was. Though it would have been nice if they lived up to their mixed freight role and saw one with a full passenger sharknose! That would probably be the first fantasy model I would make whenever I get the time. As always it seems like the biggest issue with those late PRR locos was Pennsy themselves. I imagine in an alternate world where dieselization held off for another 5~10 years the Q2's would have just as much fame as the Big Boys since they really seemed to trade blows in specs. It's a shame that PRR saved so many engines, but none of these amazingly complex Duplexes.

[@djl2519]

I LOVE YOUR VIDEOS!!!!

[@kjramirez3751]

5:34 in other words, it's me in the summer

[@user-zf9oo8gs4z]

Welcome back to a KZbin channel about Amtrak. That never seems to actually talk about Amtrak.

[@vodnikdubs1724]

Please give us an Engines of Amtrak on the GG1 :( One of the coolest streamliner electric locos with an iconic livery from Amtrak as well. I feel GG1s are way too underrated, especially in the realm of streamliners

[@eugeeropel5572]

The Q2 was in short, sheer brilliance and should be still operating today, as well as many other steam locomotives. Let’s face it, before today’s locomotives and their technology, they helped build this great nation

[@BringMayFlowers]

I love duplexes, I'd love to see some more get built. Especially with the modern steam stuff developed since the '60s.

[@TailsFan369no2]

See t1 trust

[@BringMayFlowers]

@@TailsFan369no2 You think I'm not aware?

[@AutZentus]

I do hope you plan to cover the PRR T1 the next time you look at the pennsy engines.

[@pennsy6755]

0:38 actually… it *kinda* was? After the study, between 1944 and 1953 (or 1946 depending on what source you are reading) 40 M1as (Including survivor 6755) were given water circulators, an extra 35 ft in the firebox, and increased the PSI to 270. With a final result of 69,700 tractive effort, the M1B was “born”. it’s interesting to note that when they were nearing retirement, these M1Bs hauled coal/ore drags upwards to 10,000-11,000 tons. Another interesting thing was that in the late 1940s *more* plans were considered for an M1C but was very quickly hushed and cancelled when diesels came around. Oh yeah if you want to know a reason why m1s were 99.8% on freight trains, their heavy rods made the pullmans bump a lot and gave passengers complaints. Bert Pennypacker is a helluva drug kids.

[@iMadeAPromise42]

The T1 tends to get all the criticism for being slippery, yet no one seems to mention that the Q2 had a lower FoA than the T's, and apparently the anti-wheelslip mechanism didn't work most of the time.

[@PositiveTigerGamer]

Amazing video. Love your history researched based history. The playlist gave me an idea to do over on my channel for a playlist similar but completely different. ❤

[@adensrailfanningproductions]

very cool video 10/10

[@Paper246]

Love your vids

[@Mooxystrains]

Nice video man!

[@Tyron-fc8wv]

This is really nice

[@StephentrainboyRailfanbrony]

I hope there will be a rebuild of the prr q1 and q2 class steam locomotives in the future

[@ASPEST2017]

I really like the Q2 class

[@iron1349]

Given the 50mph speed limit, the Pennsy would've been better off building Challenger-like locomotives since hammerblow gets worse with speed

[@Delaware-Lackawanna-railfan]

Where do you get this art-deco style thumbnails from? They look amazing!

[@AmtrakGuy365]

I make them myself using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, glad you like them!

[@Shipwright1918]

Good God, just shy of 8,000 horsepower....

[@roberthoffhines5419]

Too bad they didn't have it ready to go when they needed to borrow the C&O's T-1 to make the fabulous J1s. They still would've been wiped out by the late 50s, but the nadir of failure for a great locomotive would've never stuck with 15 years of service.

[@harrisonallen651]

Not a bad nickname for Pennsylvanians

[@marvwatkins7029]

No Northerns for the PRR.

[@MainlineThruTheRockies]

It’s sad dieselization happened so fast cause these poor engines never really got the chance to prove themselves. Despite what other people might say, the PRR’s duplexes were a success, and were very well made engines, they just came at the wrong time. Hopefully 5550 will put the duplex hate to rest

[@pennsyrailfan]

Aww yeah pennsy video

[@Sleeper____1472]

This made me think of something, why did the PRR never develop a 4-8-4?

[@gamerfan8445]

Because they think the duplex’s will be better. And they shot them self in the foot.

[@ThePTBRULES]

​​@@gamerfan8445The T1s were better than a 4-8-4s though.... just not worth the extra trouble, nor did it actually seem to hurt them much at all outside of the S1/S2/Q1, those were all single locomotives. And they would have dieselized by 1957 anyway.

[@gamerfan8445]

@@ThePTBRULES not really. speed yeah, the T1 is one the fastest American locomotive. But everything else? No, T1 are behind the Niagara, GS, FEF, J class, heavy mountains, and the greenbrier in term of maintenance, and reliability.

[@Sleeper____1472]

@@gamerfan8445 They were notorious for wheelslip

[@gamerfan8445]

@@Sleeper____1472 that shouldn’t even be bring up. Because many locomotives wheel slip

[@russellgxy2905]

The Q’s are kind of an anomaly to me because I’m never too certain what the PRR was going for. Especially with the Q1, I’m thinking a 4-4-4-6 with the 70 or 72 in drivers would’ve worked better, with the use of roller bearings. And while the Q2 has the highest horsepower output of a steamer, it’s by a measurement at the cylinders. I’ve yet to find any details of its drawbar power like with the S1 and T1’s. I’m sure it would’ve been less than, albeit very close to, the 7,500 HP of an Allegheny

[@terrier_productions]

Could you do a video on the PRR K4 4-6-2? Its my one favourite American classes

[@JohnJ.Crunchalot]

👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@jesseusgrantcanales]

If money allowed I would resurrect the Q2 for the marvels they are! Join with 5550? 2 amazing steam giants!

[@southernpennsyrailfan8579]

damn. Beat me to it

[@solarflare623]

When is engines of New York central coming back?

[@zeleznicnicuba9229]

I´m always wondering how do you make these thumbnails. :) Wish to know.

[@AmtrakGuy365]

I use Adobe Illustrator and sometimes Photoshop to make my thumbnails. I find some reference images of a train and draw it out in Illustrator.

[@zeleznicnicuba9229]

@@AmtrakGuy365Alright, thanks for the tip. Gonna try this out.

[@Elliottblancher]

what type of artwork is that in the thumbnail?

[@theimaginationstation1899]

Hi. I'm curious as to the speed at which the horsepower was developed? Or is the figure for cylinder horsepower?

[@threepea1151]

Horsepower isn’t as good of a measurement as tractive effort, so no these aren’t really as powerful as a big boy or Allegheny, plus the boosters were rarely used as the increase in steam usage would always be more than the steam generation thus losing pressure. Horsepower is better for acceleration than total power. Plus the locomotive had much less driving wheels than the big boy or cab forwards for example, In reality, the Q2s were just UP Challengers with less adhesion due to the less axles and more axle load on the tracks

[@theimaginationstation1899]

@@threepea1151 I'd agree if it weren't for the fact that neither the Qs or the CSAs were freight drag locomotives - the speed at which they created their horsepower thereby remains relevant.

[@muir8009]

​@threepea1151 tractive effort is solely a calculation and provides a given amount to set a train moving. Horsepower, of course, is the ability for the train to keep apace. There's interesting tests done with the unique 10101 Fell diesel mechanical locomotive which provided some very interesting information regarding this. That's of course the big difference between the C&O boosted T1's and H8 Allegheny, both having the same train loadings, and why the Y6's were so successful

[@09JDCTrainMan]

That figure is for cylinder horsepower. In terms of power at speed (drawbar horsepower), the Allegheny takes the crown as the most powerful steam locomotive ever built.

[@theimaginationstation1899]

@@09JDCTrainMan I kind of had the feeling that I had read that before. I imagine the UP design team were looking for a higher road speed to peak at for their perishable traffic. But either way, that's a whole heap of power for one unit.

[@zingxiu6123]

POWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[@STHSIndustries2K6]

PRR Q series was powerful. Steam turbine locomotives that are the Q series. Too bad we didnt save any duplex or Q series locomotives for preservation. But hey the PRR #5550 getting built. Why not do the same with the Q series of locomotives?

[@ThePTBRULES]

I wouldn't, there are other more popular locomotives to build first, even if the Pennsylvania is my favorite railroad besides the BLE.

[@Ry_guy7]

Nobody gave me a godly video warning 🤔🔥

[@maozilla9149]

cool

[@connorflaherty175]

It should be noted that the t1 duplex is being revived a new build numbered 5550.

[@Cowl_5544]

It’s should be finished by 2030

[@Cowl_5544]

In 7 years

[@jodyreeder4820]

Where does the big boy fall into?

[@muir8009]

Fall into where? PRR was using something completely different for a different railroad. Not sure what relevance a big boy is?

[@KingOp0ssum_II]

Hmmmmm now we have engines of Pennsylvania railroad? :)

[@JayTheTrainFan]

1 Question:Why does the Pennsylvania Railroad not make Northerns?

[@jonathanpan6110]

Eh, during the 1920s and 1930s the PRR wasted a great deal of money double and triple heading K4s on freight and passenger trains

[@BattleshipMan_]

What kills PRR engines for me is the overuse of streamlining and the absolutely abhoring, disastrously, badly proportioned, oversized tenders. Like seriously, they hurt to look at. In my eyes an example of streamlining done right is with the GS-4 and GS-64. Maybe I'm just biased to tough and powerful looking engines, Big Boys, Berks, Alleghenys, etc. But the PRR engines are overdone. At least in my taste. However, speaking of giant streamlined beauties, I'd love a video on the Southern Pacific AC-9s.

[@jeffreyayscue2425]

Hey can you help me please and thank you I have a question for you

[@Lucius_Chiaraviglio]

Pennsylvania Railroad management seemed to get a lot of really stupid ideas in the 1930s and onwards. The GG1 was not too shabby, but they got that design more or less from the New Haven, and look at what preceded it (class O-1 with the wheel arrangement 2-B-2, the electric equivalent to a 4-4-4) and what followed it (the DD2, supposed to be the successor to the GG1 for hauling freight or mixed traffic over the never-completed Allegheny electrification . . . so they went from the GG1 wheel arrangement of 2-C+C-2 DOWN TO 2-B+B=2!). So it's no surprise they had equally idiotic ideas with their steam locomotives. If the locomotive weighs over 1 million pounds and has a tractive effort around 100,000 pounds, you're not leaving much headroom for getting over a grade. And by the way, it's not horsepower you need for starting a train -- it's tractive effort. That is one of the reason that the M-U'd diesels won . . . although properly designed electrics would have been better (if only they had run with the E44 idea and completed the Allegheny electrification after all . . .). Back to steam, plenty of ideas for improving steam were going around in the rest of the world, and some even got decently wide adoption, like the Bayer-Garratt. If the Pennsylvania Railroad would have adopted that, they could have had good power output, a decent number of driving wheels for improved tractive effort, and decently short wheelbase. But for some reason, railroads in the Americas never considered these, even though they worked fine elsewhere.

[@hiawathabeast]

the short answer regarding the garratt is not invented here. longer answer, look at the tractive effort of the strongest garratt ever made and the strongest mallet, east african's class 59 vs norfolk and western's Y6B. as far as improving steam goes, the second the EMD FT came along, american steam was on a timer and WW2 only delayed the inevitable.

[@Lucius_Chiaraviglio]

@@hiawathabeast Agreed about Not Invented Here. Not the first time, and not the last. With regard to tractive effort, remember that the African locomotives other than the more modern South African stuff had a lot lower axle loads than US locomotives, so matching US tractive effort was not possible with Garratt or Mallet designs without going to a LOT more total driving wheels. Likewise, African freight other than South African ore trains was not as heavy as US freight.

[@clinchfieldtheghostfriendly]

So, Q series, you say your powerful, well then. I assign you to haul 154 tanker cars full of nuke oil!!!!

[@09JDCTrainMan]

The 7,987 HP isn't drawbar HP though, that's cylinder HP, which always has a higher figure than drawbar HP. From what I could gather, the Q2's drawbar horsepower (power at speed) was 6,645 (not sure at what speed though), well below the Allegheny's 7,498 DBHP at 46mph. So, the Q2, while still super impressive, is not the most powerful steam locomotive ever, at least not at speed.

[@muir8009]

Altoona shops. UP'S Big Boy #4000 was 6200 dhb according to UP's dynamometer car, N&W's A was slightly higher at 6300 dhb. Likelihood is Q2 still had the highest dhb

[@09JDCTrainMan]

@@muir8009 I keep hearing that the N&W A's 6,300 DBHP figure is a fluke and really produced around 5,300-5,400 DBHP. At this point, I'm not sure which figure to believe. Also, I still think the Allegheny is the king of DBHP when it comes to steam locomotives.

[@threepea1151]

Horsepower isn’t as good of a measurement as tractive effort, so no these aren’t really as powerful as a big boy or Allegheny, plus the boosters were rarely used as the increase in steam usage would always be more than the steam generation thus losing pressure. Horsepower is better for acceleration than total power. Plus the locomotive had much less driving wheels than the big boy or cab forwards for example, In reality, the Q2s were just UP Challengers with less adhesion due to the less axles and more axle load on the tracks

[@jimmypetrock]

:)

[@marvwatkins7029]

Too brief with the captions.

[@Routeofthe400productions]

twelfth

[@consisepepper73]

So they tried be Union Pacific but failed

[@muir8009]

Producing gas turbines???

[@SiegmaDarius4876]

Aww I didn’t get to comment first

[@tristschannel5611]

Nuh uh

[@Thunderbolt_1000T]

38th

[@TB587.3]

Meh, in my opinion, tractice effort is more important than horsepower