The "Secret" Engine Hidden Under The Cab — Why It Disappeared?

For decades, steam locomotives carried a secret weapon that most passengers never knew existed.

It wasn't the massive main cylinders, and it wasn't the boiler. It was a tiny, powerful steam engine tucked away under the cab, hidden in the dirt and grease of the rear wheels.

Known as the "Booster," this device was the difference between a train stalling on a hill and making it over the top. It acted like a "Low Range" 4x4 gear, turning idling wheels into driving wheels for just a few minutes of extreme power.

But despite its brilliance, the Booster was hated by mechanics and doomed to extinction.

This is the story of the "Ghost Engine" that saved American railroads—until the diesel locomotive made it obsolete.

In this video: 🚂 The Problem: Why steam engines are surprisingly weak at 0 MPH. 🚂 The Tech: Inside the "Franklin Booster"—the clever gearbox hidden on the rear axle. 🚂 The Power: How a tiny engine added 300 horsepower exactly when it was needed. 🚂 The End: Why mechanics hated them, and why you won't find them on trains today.

👇 The Verdict: Was the Booster a stroke of genius or a maintenance nightmare? Let us know in the comments.

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