[N&W] Re: Garratts vs. Mallets

[nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org]

A brief note on some Garrat achievements;  The South African Railways GL
class 4-8-2 + 2-8-4 on 3ft 6in. gauge had a tractive effort of 89,130 lb.
Only the one-off Russian giant (which reportedly was sent to Siberia)
exceeded this capability.  The East African Railways Class 59, of the same
wheel arrangement produced 83,350 lb of tractive effore. This on was so
successful wthat a Class 61 was being discussed with a boiler pressure of 250
lb/sq.in. and which would have provided 115,300 lb tractive effort,
marginally more than the N&W A.  It was not built simply because by this time
the diesel electric won the battle and was bought instead.
     In the  'might have been' category for USA there is reported by
A.E.Durrant in 'Garratt locomotives of the world'  to have been proposals for
a Super Garratt with 2-6-6-2 + 2-6-6-2 or  4-8-8-4 + 4-8-8-4; and even
2-12-12-2 + 2-12-12-2  with a starting tractive effort of over 400,000 lbs
was apparently included in an article in Trains magazine  - but I do not know
when, nor the author.  the mind boggles!!!  Food for thought for Richard Hood
??
     Ted Roberts, Stamford, England.