The Soviet’s attempted to one-up UP’s 9000s to their advantage and failed spectacularly| The AA-20

#TheRocketCityRailfan #AndrewRailaBammers #AA20 #DeadOnArrival
Previously Dead on Arrival, we, or at least I roasted the Great Western Railway's only 4-6-2 Pacific, the Great Bear. I won't spoil the episode so I put an annotation to it at the end of the video for you to check out also.
In this episode of Dead on Arrival, meet the only steam locomotive in the world with 14 coupled driving wheels, the AA-20. Arguably Russia's biggest engineering flop in the railroad industry.
Also find out why the AA-20 didn't work, while the locomotives it was copied from did.
And don't ask me to build this locomotive out of Lego. A. it sucked, and B, I don't like it, though I don't hate it as much as the A2/2s, the Great Bear, nor the PRR S1 and Q1.
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Disclaimer: all music and sound effects in this video ARE NOT owned by me/are not mine, they are credited with their rightful composer or movie/TV show they came from.

[@mdctt9021]

Russian engineering is when you make a racecar for the road but you dont have roads.

[@physiocrat7143]

Russians generally do engineering very well, based on the principle of keeping things simple and capable of being fixed when there is no-one out there to help. When it goes wrong, there is usually politics behind it.

[@nameless5512]

69th like **Dab**

[@physiocrat7143]

Funny that this locomotive was ever built. They ordered the largest ever Beyer Garrett around the same time, which was never heard of after it was delivered. The Garratts were generally successful.

[@olayinkafadipe2565]

9000 & 9029 is big

[@olayinkafadipe2565]

1218????

[@olayinkafadipe2565]

1218????

[@physiocrat7143]

@@olayinkafadipe2565 Class Яа

[@isaiahmarchington7614]

Thank good ness you made a new intro for episode 3, just shows how far you’ve gotten better at making these videos

[@Thomasthestreamliner]

That's insane dude, 😰😰😰 I never seen anything like it and I even said that there's no way there could be an engine with more than 12 drive wheels. I guess I thought wrong

[@MOHAWKL4A3124]

Some Railroad company: let's make a 14 driving wheel engine. (Learns about the AA20) uh never mind.

[@NW2174Fan]

I don't understand why they didn't turn it into an articulated. They not only made a locomotive with two sets of six drivers, but they also made the 2 P38s, which were yellowstones

[@stuartaaron613]

The French also use the axle counting system as well.

[@LukeLovesTrains-Mr.RailYard]

What a crazy steam locomotive design.

[@alexlife470]

Atleast we have 9000

[@dmrr7739]

Do you still think that background music was a good idea?

[@jjimapro9756]

Why can’t you just make the music quieter your already editing the photos in order for your video

[@astridvallati4762]

The other main failure was the poor state of track...Rails too light, poor ballasting, poor rail attachment to cross-ties. Unable to support Axle load and lateral motion on even large curves.

[@simonmcowan6874]

Thank you from Wales UK, that was very interesting. (newly subscribed) 👍

[@Waskotorowy]

Chat, is a 2-10-6 freight tank engine a good idea

[@generalprincecodyhedgewolf2944]

Ill make a 4-10-10-4 wheeled Articulated Steam locomotive but I wish to know what itll look like and how itll function and tests

[@DiscothecaImperialis]

4:20 Other European countries uses this classification system too. A fine work of Andre Chapelon , the A2 is referred to as 2-4-2 which actually 4-8-4 (and it is a REAL Northern since it was made as tender locomotive) in Whyte notation.

[@jamesdaredpandaoffical]

Wait have you built Pere marquett 1225 out of Lego

[@ALCO-C855-fan]

WAITR GERMANY?! We have 2-12-4's?! (No seriously reply. I never saw these.)

[@FazbearEntertainment414]

Build the museum where the giant train is displayed and build it out of Legos and put it on display

[@noname-ug7ki]

But I am making this AA-20 Locomotive with lego blocks ha ha ha ha lol

[@FazbearEntertainment414]

Really are you 😃

[@noname-ug7ki]

@@FazbearEntertainment414 yes I am making right now ok

[@FazbearEntertainment414]

Ok make a video about it when it’s done and make a video on how to build the AA 20 ok

[@noname-ug7ki]

@@FazbearEntertainment414 ha I am making video about AA-20 LOCOMOTIVE with lego blocks in you tube

[@robertcouch9021]

There was plans for a second AA20 but as you said it was so unsuccessful it never happened

[@tigleafmidny1683]

could you do fowlers ghost for the next DOA episode

[@รุสลีเพียรสกุล]

Up 9000 : you been troll you been troll yes proboly been told

[@alexlife470]

I will built a replica of the s1, butt this time, it will be fitted with a articulated frame, and ad more whait on the driving wheels, and less wheels

[@ALCO-C855-fan]

Sth. that made me laugh hysterically😆: The AA20 only has 3,652 horsepower (2,723 kW) as well!😂 WHAT?!🤣 (Hope you pin this for info XD!😆 I'm laughing SO hard!😂🤣😄)🤪

[@TheDefiantPirate]

I feel you are being too harsh I mean its not the locomotives fault the designers had the worst idea ever

[@thomasdeturk5142]

I’ll build a 4-24-24-24-24-24-4 locomotive.

[@DynamicDuo795]

The Soviet Big Boy.

[@martinanschutz7410]

No, that is the P38. A 2-8-8-4 with 16 wheel Tender.

[@redneckpyromania6965]

Holy shit i can't even hear you man good video but the music is way louder than your speaking

[@АлександрЛапченко-н4е]

Like defenitivelly

[@haroldwilkes6608]

Da, comrade, bigger is better...well, maybe nyet.

[@AburntBurrito67]

Also if l bulid 6-4-2 locomotive

[@vinceruss1593]

would have been nice to not have to hear all that damn terminator etc music in the background

[@AndrewTheRocketCityRailfan4014]

Would be nice if you could remember that I was a noob and an idiot at the time I made that video, unlike my current self which has improved alot in this stuff.

[@torquetrain8963]

love the AA20. Love the coal burning gas turbine locomotive from Union Pacific. Hate pop culture and car centric car culture in America. Failed and experimental locomotives from around the world appeal to me. Thanks for showing the rare locomotive. I find it interesting you ''hate'' the aa20, but to each his own.

[@fodor7069]

Can’t stand your background noise (music)

[@amazingdecks1]

Good content and commentary. Very irritating and annoying "music".

[@noname-ug7ki]

There is 4-10-10-1 driving walls that means 10 driving walls in one axle 10 and 10 walls in another axle walls in American it is steam locomotive in 1800s year yes it was it is just like big boy if you think how the train looks ok ok ok

[@catthecommentbothunter6890]

Fun fact: the locomotive is so communist even the capitalist did not exist and it fail 🤣

[@robertswickard8355]

Get off praying to the U.P. #9000 as sometype of a """GOD """" THE #9000 CLASS barely 5000 HP THE Q2. CLASS. 8000 HP GUESS WHO """ GOD """ NOW

[@ns3421thelocomotive]

It bad terrible locomotive

[@MsCreepyChan]

Sound mixing at the start is terrible. Can't hear a word you're saying over the music.

[@AndrewTheRocketCityRailfan4014]

Because I was an idiot back then and learned from it fast. Yeah yeah yeah I know and I care, which is why I'll be remastering it in the future.

[@kingofthepod5169]

Everyone else uses moderate to calming music for their background , this guy uses boss music. It's an interesting experience.

[@marceloazzirabelo]

Yes I Did

[@AndrewTheRocketCityRailfan4014]

Atleast, I used to……

[@alexlife470]

If i'd built a steam loco with 14 driving wheels, it will be a 4-8-6-4

[@shroomzed2947]

Why would you put the eight-coupled wheelset on the front? The resonances and forces on the flanges would be awful with that arrangement.

[@ThomasWLalor]

Denver & Salt Lake built several successful 2-6-8-0 wheel-based locos

[@torquetrain8963]

@@ThomasWLalor as well as the Great Northern.

[@brendanstrains9725]

@@torquetrain8963 the GN 2-6-8-0s were decent locomotives but when they go over 25 miles an hour they are known to shake pretty badly. So bad that one crewman put it “I couldn’t even keep my shoe laces tied”.

[@HSMiyamoto]

When considering the 10, 12, and 14 coupled locomotives to modern designs, remember that wheel slip detection technology did not exist. The general idea was to put as much of the engine weight on the drivers as possible, and use pilot and trailing wheels to help the locomotive enter curves, and limit axle weight, although the extra drivers helped there too. A 14 coupled locomotive was simply too long for most existing rail lines in the Soviet Union.

[@richieosborn2639]

And that’s why Britain and America had a driving wheel limit on steam locomotives.

[@larrygraus2648]

You did not mention that the 9000s had three cylinders, which certainly contributed to their higher reactive effort compared to the AA20.

[@jordanalexander615]

The early ones did yes but they removed them because they were a maintenance nightmare. Still had very high tractive effort.

[@DaylightFan4449]

as a book i have on trains stated, "an articulated design was really needed for more than 10 driving wheels" 12 wheel would be pushing the limits, but 14? thats a no go straight from the start

[@chrisdelux125]

And maybe one day, we'll see 9000 restored for excursions in 2029 for the golden spike at the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869

[@gamerfan8445]

This is amazing

[@noname-ug7ki]

Yes it is

[@reesochacon1448]

At 85% cutoff, the locomotive would have had 88,314 pounds of tractive effort. However, I take it that the Soviets would have measured the AA-20's power at 69%, hence the 71,490 pounds of tractive effort. Her tractive effort at 85% cutoff would be somewhere between that of a Southern Pacific 4-10-2, which has 86,590 pounds of tractive effort minus the booster, and a Chesapeake & Ohio T-1, which had 91,584 pounds minus the booster.

[@AndrewTheRocketCityRailfan4014]

Well, thanks for the info! I'm very new to Russian steam locomotives

[@claudekeith7840]

@@AndrewTheRocketCityRailfan4014 what if aa20 managed to outperformed 9000 and all type of locomotive

[@williamsquires3070]

If it didn’t have Cyrillic lettering on the smoke box door, I’d think it was another Union Pacific stunt. 😏

[@frankceeko4596]

The Prr T1 was not a failure. It was tested on the N&W and C&O and their crews love it !!!

[@AndrewTheRocketCityRailfan4014]

I was lead by the wrong man at the time hence why I made such an idiotic conclusion. I do believe now they were awesome and deserve to not only be brought back but also tested to their absolute limits.

[@ironhorsehistorian9871]

Good video, background music is too damn loud at the beginning

[@isaactheausteritytankengin2362]

i was thinking about an engine with 20 connected drive wheels thats somewhat bigger than this engine in my head itself...

[@ShadeIsLikely]

Did I hear him say “worser”? I did…”worser than the 9000’s”. SMH

[@60sgalesburgerrfan]

The Russian RR used lots 'O drivers because they used cheap iron rails and widely spaced ties on the TransSiberian Ry. Take for instance the Frisco (etc.) 2-10-0s to do the work of a 2-8-0. The Frisco bought the embargoed Russian engines. The 4-14-4 was probably an attempt at providing a large engine to run on brittle frozen iron rails.

[@brendanstrains9725]

There is the ATSF 5011 2-10-4s that can produce more tractive effort then the 9000s.

[@XxXuzurpatorXxX]

Comparing tractive effort of locomotives with vastly different adhesive weights is kind of unfair. AA70 had 20ton axle load, while 9000s were scratching 30tons per axle - if I recall correctly. 320kN at 20 tons per axle gives it factor of adhesion of 4.37, which is bloody good for a steam locomotive. That being said - AA20 was a 'publicity stunt' of the russia stronk variety. USSR never needed such a beast, so, since it was a failure, it was just sidelined and scrapped. You could probably make this beast work, but there really was no reason to do so.

[@ALCO-C855-fan]

Comrad. (HITD joke.) It would habe worked in the states... With a bigger firebox.

[@amtrakproductions-mx9ib]

9000 is the only surviving 4-12-2 steam locomotive in the world

[@rizaferdiana9607]

Here, in Indonesia, we have a crazy-looking F10 Locomotive. it was a 2-12-2T tank engine!

[@KeithShizuo]

Bro. I love your stuff but would you just strait up like some help with editing your videos audio. It's all over the place

[@charlessmith9903]

In America train moves on track, but in Soviet Russia train moves track

[@skylarjensen3249]

even if the locomotive was a complete failure, it should have been preserved as a piece of Railway History.

[@K-Effect]

The 9000 is also one of the few 3 cylinder American locomotives that I know of

[@marceloazzirabelo]

4:09 This Locomotive Looks Like 4-8-6-4

[@marceloazzirabelo]

4:09 This Locomotive Looks Like 4-8-6-4

[@Tom-Lahaye]

I have to add something on the tractive effort subject. You stated that the boiler was undersized, but boiler size has nothing to do with the maximum tractive effort a locomotive can develop. Main parameters are cylinder bore, stroke and wheel diameter, as well as max boiler pressure. The boiler size determines how well a locomotive can maintain tractive effort trough a range of speeds so to say, this is known as power output, the amount of horses a locomotive can develop. Power output on a steam loco can vary quite a bit depending on the quality of coal and how well the fireman/stoker does his job, even on a loco with mechanical stoker. On the AA-20 not the overall size of the boiler would have been the problem, but its design, it didn't have a combustion chamber in front of the grate and boiler tubes that were too long, features which the 9000 class had. But said this, the tractive effort of the AA20 was disappointing. A German Br44 2-10-0 which operates at a similar boiler pressure and has an axle load of 21 tons can develop 340kN (76,400lbf) of tractive effort, but this too is a 3 cylinder engine.

[@AndrewTheRocketCityRailfan4014]

Yeah, I was still just phasing out of the semi-expert side at that time. I have developed better expertise on this stuff since then. I'm sure my college education will further improve it once I enter my major.

[@Contrajoe]

The one difference I have with the video is that I personally WOULD LOVE to build an AA20/4-14-4 in lego. It'd be worthless because lego's track curves are *far* too tight but it'd be a cool looking model :)

[@brendanstrains9725]

will you do the PRR Q1 sometime?

[@NW-gi1cp]

👍

[@briancooper562]

One solution used on the UK 9F 2-10-0 was for the central axle wheels to have no flanges.so the wheel was still load bearing in the vertical. For a #-12-# it may require the middle two axles to be flangeless and a $-14-$ the middle 3 axles. The wheel tyre width may need to be wider to stay on track. All dependent on track geometry and condition, design loading , axle rigidity and suspension detail.

[@ralfie8801]

He did say that only the leading and trailing end drivers were flanged on the AA-20, the other 10 drivers didn’t have any flanges

[@billrey8221]

I would have liked to watch the whole movie but the music was to loud and bad.

[@AndrewTheRocketCityRailfan4014]

Yeah... I'll remake it at some point in the future

[@jacobsquartzminecart7632]

I love 9000 saying lol on the thumbnail. it's been my favorite locomotive for about a before watching this. 8:39 Also nice know the 9000 class isn't as bad as I thought.

[@harrisonofcolorado8886]

I bet the designers of this locomotive were executed after this considering that this is Stalinist-era USSR.

[@zangryomani1257]

you know your locomotives bad when locomotives with less boiler presure and firebox area are out hauling it

[@mitchellenginevids1140]

Look Russia points for effort but maybe leave the big locomotives to the US

[@mpeterll]

Your background music is way too loud. Trying to listen to what your are saying is giving me a headache. Can't finish watching it.

[@AndrewTheRocketCityRailfan4014]

Yeah, just part of it being an older video of mine at this point. I do have plans to remaster it in the future

[@KuddlesbergTheFirst]

Didn't Russia make something similar to Challenger or Big Boy, but only 3-4 were ever built? At least it had flexibility. Also European track are slightly more narrow and won't handle the weight of American locomotives?

[@trainguy2780]

The aa-20-1 4-14-4 could be a really neat display lego locomotive honestly instead of building a lego running version. Just a thought of mine Also am I the only one who wished the aa20 was preserved

[@franzburgstaller7417]

There isn't even a db 59 preserved. Of this 2-12-0s were 44 locos built. It's amazig, that the russian never build a locomotive with 12 tractive wheels in a single frahme.

[@martinanschutz7410]

Adolph Giesl-Gieslingen has written a book about 6 and 7- coupled locos. In the chapter of the AA20 stands that this Monster had no

[@martinanschutz7410]

Sorry, no rigid wheel base. That is the reason for derailments.

[@60sgalesburgerrfan]

Probably the most widely built ill-considered locomotives were the Atlantic's, not powerful enough for the new steel passengers cars, poor braking power, and if built with 80' drivers, way too fast for existing track structure, or schedules. But they did fit on existing turntables and in existing roundhouses. And who wanted to build a more logical Pacific and tell the board of directors all those would have to be replaced? 🤓

[@konechno1]

Honestly, it looks really cool. I thing making it articulated would have made it much better.

[@jsgaming3248]

aa20-1 's footage I can find: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJ2ZaXqejcibkNk didn't thank me instead a youtuber called : @UCTXPL5uOGhq64P7AOeFamDw but in russian.

[@marceloazzirabelo]

0-14-0 Locomotive Exist?

[@Dr.Disney]

I hope not

[@marceloazzirabelo]

@@Dr.Disney Why Does?

[@generalprincecodyhedgewolf2944]

USSR should See the Bigboys and Watch Sad Story of Henery and We Are showing Troll faces to USSR

[@1035pm]

If you can make the background music a little bit loader that would be great, I almost couldn’t here it playing.

[@suzcant3320]

Remove the one about the E2 since it is Thomas the tank engine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@AndrewTheRocketCityRailfan4014]

No, the E2's for the most part sucked.

[@amtrakproductions-mx9ib]

WE HATE THE AA20-1

[@mrcrocker2638]

Awesome video of roasting the AA-20

[@davemachoukas6175]

Kill the music. My God. Let me listen to the history

[@Skipjack2012]

Why is the music so loud I can barely hear you

[@jamochashake57]

yep, they shoulda copied the 9000

[@michaelnaisbitt7926]

Boy you do love to wave the flag don't you I am surprised you even know where Russia is most Americans cant name the countries to the North and South of you

[@AndrewTheRocketCityRailfan4014]

Dad gum! Really? Man this education system sucks so bad. I'm lucky I saw the best of it while I was working my way up to my high school graduation and now my ongoing college journey. Though I am intellectually gifted with aspburgers syndrome and especially in high school was enrolled in high quality private ones to make sure I'd be as prepared as possible, so there's maybe some bits I might not have noticed. Still though, it shocks me so many Americans' brains are like that these days. No wander this country kind of has a bit of chaos going on right now, not to mention the fact the only Americans who understand trains at all, are those who actually like them and are passionate. Thanks for the compliment, sir!

[@victorcontreras3368]

Why music to drown out your breathing? Does your breathing sound like a steam locomotive?

[@AndrewTheRocketCityRailfan4014]

Simple. I was a noob at this at the time and my MIC sucked. I’ve corrected such issues in my newer videos(2022-present) 2020-2021 was a bit of a turbulent time for me

[@dsingh412]

why not build it out of cloth

[@nicolek4076]

Background noise too intrusive for anyone with a hearing difficulty. Turn it down - it really doesn't need to be so louad.

[@AndrewTheRocketCityRailfan4014]

Luckily for you, and pretty much everyone, my videos made since July do not have such an issue

[@gamingsquad16]

Im a bit confused ik the big boy is a 4 8 8 4 but that means in total of driving wheels they have 16 yet they work great but the AA20 dosent work

[@Dr.Disney]

Unlike the AA20s, the Big Boys were designed to work in specific areas and can easily navigate tight curves.

[@donnixon3528]

Turn your music down

[@stephenmesser4196]

here's an idea....if you can't control the background music then get rid of it so we can hear you.😀

[@AndrewTheRocketCityRailfan4014]

Oh no problem, says me from the future.

[@SirRamone]

kill the music

[@jfreelan1964]

I have always wondered about this locomotive. Al i ever saw of it was an obscure photo of it I think it was Trains magazine.