Steve Holmes
11-17-2015, 01:49 AM
31627
This is not a subject I am knowledgeable on. And its somewhat off-subject for this site. But I find I'm usually stopped in my tracks whenever I see a photo of a streamliner steam loco.
Streamliner trains began appearing in the 1930s, and were essentially the fore-runner to todays high-speed bullet trains. Some were electric, some powered by combustion engines, some were even propeller powered. But my fascination is with steam power.
The concept was to make trains faster and more economic, through making them cut through the air more cleanly. Streamlining during this period was gaining great momentum, and included everything from cars to caravans.
Although the streamlined bodywork added weight, which then often off-set speed and economy, many of the steam streamliners were still very fast, with some achieving top speeds of over 100mph. However, it would seem they gained popularity simply because of the way they looked. Some of the trains were built from scratch as streamliners. Others were merely converted, and fitted with streamlined bodywork. But prior to World War II, streamliner steam locomotives became massively popular, and helped inject new interest in steam travel.
Here are some images I have collected.
This is not a subject I am knowledgeable on. And its somewhat off-subject for this site. But I find I'm usually stopped in my tracks whenever I see a photo of a streamliner steam loco.
Streamliner trains began appearing in the 1930s, and were essentially the fore-runner to todays high-speed bullet trains. Some were electric, some powered by combustion engines, some were even propeller powered. But my fascination is with steam power.
The concept was to make trains faster and more economic, through making them cut through the air more cleanly. Streamlining during this period was gaining great momentum, and included everything from cars to caravans.
Although the streamlined bodywork added weight, which then often off-set speed and economy, many of the steam streamliners were still very fast, with some achieving top speeds of over 100mph. However, it would seem they gained popularity simply because of the way they looked. Some of the trains were built from scratch as streamliners. Others were merely converted, and fitted with streamlined bodywork. But prior to World War II, streamliner steam locomotives became massively popular, and helped inject new interest in steam travel.
Here are some images I have collected.