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Re: And now, for something RR related from our distant past
Author: BOB2
Date: 11-16-2024 - 11:00
Admiral Perry's second trip to Japan in 1854 brought to the still "feudal" Japanese society the miniature locomotive (may well have been a Baldwin?) and the telegraph, which were an instant hit. And which is maybe why the Japanese eventually gave the world back the bullet train and the transistor radio.
The "mikado" 2-8-2 steam locomotive configuration got its name from the order of US Baldwin 2-8-2's built in Philadelphia for export to Japan. And by the 1880's over one third of Baldwin's production was for export, much of it to the western hemisphere and Japan.
The Chinese had a US built factory that were turning out those UP style "modern" 1940's "knock off" 4-8-4 designs until the late 80's. And many of the Chinese involved in Sun Yat Sen's revolution and influencing the development of Chinese RR's were Chinese who had worked on US RR's and funded the Sun Yat Sen's Chinese revolution of 1911.
The influences of US railroading and RR practices can be seen in both nations RR's.
The "mikado" 2-8-2 steam locomotive configuration got its name from the order of US Baldwin 2-8-2's built in Philadelphia for export to Japan. And by the 1880's over one third of Baldwin's production was for export, much of it to the western hemisphere and Japan.
The Chinese had a US built factory that were turning out those UP style "modern" 1940's "knock off" 4-8-4 designs until the late 80's. And many of the Chinese involved in Sun Yat Sen's revolution and influencing the development of Chinese RR's were Chinese who had worked on US RR's and funded the Sun Yat Sen's Chinese revolution of 1911.
The influences of US railroading and RR practices can be seen in both nations RR's.
