 |
#Train_Gravesite_Kusadasi_Turkey The Turkish rail companies imported their engines from Germany, England, France plus the United States As they wanted to rely on a proven design because of the demanding geography of this country and with the changing weather per seasons The rail network would have had to navigate mountainous regions with a steep gradient, with sharp curves, plus the summers that would have been hot /dry and winters very cold / with much snow |
 |
Did you know there is only one place left on earth where steam locomotives are still widely in use It is in China So now rail enthusiasts are travelling there to witness the last gasps of the engine that created the modern world |
 |
Steam locomotives were first developed in the United Kingdom during the 19th century and in use until the 1980s when most railways fully converted to electric or diesel power Interesting Fact; An average Steam Locomotive would consume 20 tons of coal plus evaporate 100,000 lbs of water per hour So in the name of Climate Change i am glad these machines are retired 😉 |
 |
The Choo-Choo Sound Ever wonder why that sound comes out Its the used high-pressure steam being expelled up the smokestack after it has pushed the pistons Powertrain Unlike a car motor (internal combustion) a steam engine is an external piece of machinery, which means the fuel is burned outside the the main power plant system to heat the water in the boiler The Dog House Some locomotives had a small shack located on the car (carrying the fuel plus water) for the head-end brakeman, which kept him out of the main cab |
 |
Linke-Hofmann-Werke had its origins in 1832 It was a railway wagon factory in Breslau Germany, with this interesting historical fact The city returned to be a part of Poland in 1945 and back to its original name of Wroclaw, with the result of territorial changes after World War 11 Starting in early 1900s it employed over 50,000 workers plus manufactured 3,000+ locomotives which as you see some ended up in Turkey |
 |
During the Second World War Turkey remained neutral So as it expanded its rail network it kept importing locomotives from both Germany and England |
 |
The Camlik Railway Museum is the biggest in Turkey and contains one of the largest steam locomotive collections in Europe (established in 1997) The Yard Contains 33 Steam Locomotives, 9 Passenger Cars, 7 Freight Cars and other Railway Vehicles The museum is located on the oldest line in Turkey, uses the original tracks built in 1866 plus sits on the property of the Turkish State Railway |
 |
Most of the passengers cars were of the George Pullman design He was an innovative entrepreneur who had an extremely uncomfortable overnight train ride from Buffalo to Westfield New York It caused him to realize the opportunity of a vast market for comfortable railcar service so 25+ years later, he had factories in the United States and Europe |
 |
The Pullman Company manufactured the Pioneer Which was the ultimate in sleeping cars with hand finished woodwork, silver trimmed fixtures, etc at a cost of $20,000 per car Abraham Lincoln The Pioneer was used as a funeral train for the assassinated President and carried his body during the final leg of the journey from Chicago to Springfield This gained national attention which helped launch the brands success |
 |
The Pullman name lives on today in Europe as a symbol of elegance and luxury Early History The company became the single largest employer of African Americans in the country after the Civil War by hiring them to be porters Besides the steady wages plus tips, it allowed them to travel widely which contributed significantly to the growth of the black middle class It added to all that knowledge plus learning by experiencing different parts of America The Strike of 1894 When the owner decided to cut workers wages but not the rent in his company built towns during the depression, this led to a massive nationwide strike This eventually started the creation of the federal holiday; Labor Day Innovations Introduced the enclosed vestibule, which was an accordion-like covered walkway between cars to be used even at high speeds Improved lighting and heating systems plus "paper" wheels for a smoother and quieter ride Private Cars Custom built that featured amenities like open fireplaces, marble baths and gold-plated fixtures costing in todays dollars over 1 million |
 |
The steam locomotive revolutionized travel as it broke down barriers of distance From the first journey in Wales in 1804 up to todays heritage or tourist lines like the famous Hogwarts Express ( Harry Potter films) It has invoked many fond memories of how we humans have evolved with transportation which allowed us to discover the world that we live in |
 |
The manufacturing years of the steam locomotives located here range from 1891-1951 With the oldest one built was by the Robert Stephenson Company of England ( first corporation in the world that was created to specifically build railway engines) |
 |
TCDD is an abbreviation for The State Railways of the Republic of Turkey Also the numbers serve a purpose; A) #3 the number of driving axles B) second #3 is the total number of axles in the engines C) #55 the engine serial number |
 |
TCDD celebrated its 150th anniversary recently with its I-Zmir to Aydin line of 1856. During that time; countries of England and Germany arranged licenses with the Turkish Government for railway construction Even today the line is in use with an upgrade for modern commuter use |
 |
Locomotive wheels have a metal "tire" that is mounted by being heated until it expands, then fitted onto the wheel and allowed to cool Then it shrinks into place, creating a tight grip |
 |
A total of 8600 kms of rail was laid during the Ottoman Empire between 1856 - 1922 Early Tracks Were originally iron-reinforced wooden "wagonways" as horses pulled carts on them Then when trains took over and because of the weight of Steam Locomotives, the rails had to be improved Thus since the 1870s the track has been made of steel |
 |
There are no guides for this tour so do your research before heading here But Bonus You are allowed to climb aboard (using the engine ladders) to get inside the railcars, cabs and so on |
 |
The maximum speed for these locomotives was 190kms (120 mph) but it was never this fast as the railroad line was not designed for this |
 |
I know a few car collectors that would pay big money for this patina 😃 |
 |
Part of the coaling tower here that replaced (in the early years) the shoveling by hand method These stations were first built in Britain in 1847 At first from wood, then steel or reinforced concrete which also used the gravity fed system |
 |
Collection of all modes of transport made for the rails as we leave the museum with its salute to the Golden Age of Steam |
Fun Facts
A) Fastest; the steam locomotive LNER Class A4 Mallard
which reached 203km (126 mph) in 1938
B) Giants of the Rails; the Union Pacific "Big Boy" weighed a massive
545,000kgs (1.2 million pounds)
C) First to 160km (100mph); the Flying Scotsman in 1934
D) Pulling Power; into todays times, a modern freight train can haul the same amount
of goods as over 300 trucks
No comments:
Post a Comment