1884 Locomotive Roundhouse | The Henry Ford's Innovation Nation

Steam locomotives required constant maintenance from an army of skilled and unskilled workers, and the roundhouse is where that work took place. This roundhouse was built in 1884 in Marshall, Michigan, for the Detroit, Toledo & Milwaukee Railroad. Today it services the locomotives and equipment of Greenfield Village's Weiser Railroad.

[@wildmanofthewynooch7028]

The largest steam locomotive ever built was for Union Pacific. It was called the big boy. And it’s sitting in Wyoming getting fully restored. The 4014

[@glenndowney6375]

There were three Big Boys built. I do know where one of them is. You can see it on Interstate 80 going west as you cross the Nebraska line. It's up on the hill parked at right angle to a modern diesel electric. Saw it just a couple hours ago.

[@trainman2226]

Glenn Downey there was 25 built but ok

[@benwetzel8449]

Calling Allegheny the biggest steam locomotive is... debatable. In terms of weight, absolutely it is. However, in terms of size, Big Boy is the winner.

[@bigtoysforbigboys2873]

Thank you, that was bothering me lol

[@TerminalSports45]

I know it's old but even THAT's debatable. The Big Boys were the longest yes, but in terms of actual size, that title goes to an engine that's sadly extinct. The Pennsylvania Q2 class.

[@benwetzel8449]

TheDixieNutjob actually, the Big Boy wasn’t the longest. That goes to the S1 at 141 feet in length

[@Chris9017]

Allegheny was the heaviest and most powerful, however Big Boy was the largest ever built. However when it comes to horsepower, the engine with the most horsepower was the Pennsylvania Railroad Q2.

[@rafibausk7071]

And if you want to go by pure tractive effort. Then the Erie railroads triplex locomotives are probably the true winners of the title. They had 176,256 pounds of it. While the big boys stand at 136,375 pounds. Though power isn't everything. Since the Eyrie triplexes couldn't build up a head of steam to save their life. Unless they were going in the single-digit miles an hour. Which pretty much ended up relegating them to banking locomotives.

[@eleventhowlgamingLoganHiggins]

this is really Awesome I been here before in my life and I live in Livonia Michigan I seen it as well

[@charlesgault3777]

Some railroads still use turntables, especially since some diesel locomotives have desktop controls, which means that like a steam locomotive they are not bidirectional.

[@jacksalvin364]

The Roundhouse was fill of other locomotives.

[@Orc-icide]

No shit Sherlock. What's your point

[@oldenweery7510]

Okay, we know the largest steam locomotives---in all respects---in the US were, officially, the 25 4-8-8-4 "Big Boy" articulateds of the Union Pacific. Also, stating that the turntable at the Henry Ford Museum is 13'6" wide by _six hundred sixty-eight feet, eight inches long,_ is the most collassally wrong "fact" ever published! IIRC, the longest turntable in the US was 132 feet long, somewhere on the Pennsylvania RR, but I'm sure more knowledgeable viewers will correct me. Stay safe, everyone.

[@the_snowman873]

The Allegheny wasn't the biggest, that award goes to the Union Pacific Big boy. A 4-8-8-4. The Allegheny is a 2-6-6-2

[@rafibausk7071]

I know it's a bit nitpicky. But the Allegheny is a 2-6-6-6. I mostly find this noteworthy since you don't really see 6 trailing wheels on a locomotive very often.

[@drrollercoaster4130]

The bigest train is big boy

[@user-bv1og2uw5c]

The Big Boy is a locomotive, not a train.

[@davidrichie9570]

Turntable diameter is incorrect

[@Orc-icide]

What the fuck are you on about?

[@327365hp]

More like 66'

[@user-bv1og2uw5c]

If you widen the door JAMS, the door opening becomes smaller.

[@tmaze7487]

Interesting

[@protoharry552]

0:40 Thats not the biggest locomotive built in america, that would be the Union Pacific 4000 class, or the Big Boy as it's known. (The 4000 class is also the biggest steam locomotive built ever.)

[@ThePTBRULES]

Even then that's not the case! The PRR S1 is longer, the PRR Q2 class had higher HP... All these large locomotives are Bigger/smaller based upon what metric you use.

[@rafibausk7071]

And if you want to go by pure tractive effort. Then the Erie railroads triplex locomotives are probably the true winners of the title. They had 176,256 pounds of it. While the big boys stand at 136,375 pounds. And the Q2s with 100,816 to 115,816 depending if they have a booster. Though power isn't everything. Since the Eyrie triplexes couldn't build up a head of steam to save their life. Unless they were going in the single-digit miles an hour. Which pretty much ended up relegating them to banking locomotives.

[@RavennaRailfan4070]

do the steam trains run in November? like sometime next week?

[@Orc-icide]

Google it dumbass

[@charly1247]

Uno así está en Aguascalientes México

[@user-bv1og2uw5c]

Locomotives are turned on turn tables not trains. The roundhouse has NOTHING to do with turning locomotives.

[@Orc-icide]

Why can't you just have rail that goes around. You don't need a turntable if you're just at the end of a line by yourself

[@user-bv1og2uw5c]

What you are describing is a balloon track. They exist in a few places. The problem is that they take up a LOT of space.

[@rafibausk7071]

​@@user-bv1og2uw5cyeah it all comes down to your situation. If you have a good chunk of space but not so much money a balloon track would probably work quite well. They were used a lot on narrow gauge weren't they? While turntables are better if you have less space and or need more options on where to go. You're not choosing shed bays with balloon tracks. Or getting a locomotive to make a ninety-degree turn on a dime.