NW-Mailing-List Digest, Vol 30, Issue 83

[NW Mailing List]

Robb,
You may not have read my paper on modern steam that went around back around
the beginning of the year but a modern steam locomotive MUed in consist
could do all of the different trains you listed.  It won't be a single
locomotive but multiple diesels are used as well.  It will take no more
steam engines than diesels.

John Rhodes

The details are in my paper.  I can get you a copy if you didn't read it.

On Thu, May 29, 2008 at 12:45 PM, NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
wrote:


>

> > My focus is on the bottom-line realities of hauling heavy trains at high

> speeds. There is a genuine economic function for them, currently precluded

> by the high costs of diesels. Not only do they improve customer service, but

> they make the physical plant and rolling stock more productive.

> >

> > Let's see if 1218 can do 60 mph or more with a 7500 ton train, as the

> Class A has been reported to do since an early test, and numerous times

> since then.

>

>

>

> Maximum track speed for freights is 50, and only on specific sections of

> track, and intermodals is 60, again only on specific sections of track...

> average track speed is much lower given terrain, turnouts etc...  It's all

> fine and dandy to see if the 1218 will haul 7500 at 60mph vs three SD70s on

> certain tangents between Williamson-Portsmouth, but a real test in terms of

> economic realites would be need to have  higher tonnage trains (current axle

> loadings have four-axle cars at 143 tons a piece...) and include all kinds

> of serivce... say a 9000 ton intermodal from Norfolk-Chicago, then a 6000

> ton manifest to Chicago-Roanoke, then a 7000 ton coal empty

> Roanoke-Williamson, then a 21450 ton export coal Williamson-Norfolk.  Sure,

> you can build a steam locomitve that can do one, maybe two... but you'll

> never build one that can do them all, the pitfall of not being able to apply

> full horsepower at any speed.

>

> Robb Fisher

> RFDI

>

>

>

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