Virginian PA locomotive speed

Fri Feb 7 20:43:12 EST 2020

 The speed reports for the PRR T1 (and S1 6-4-4-6 as well) remain anecdotal.
Franklin is said to have timed the T1's at 140mph with 8-car trains for short intervals.  Numerically this may be possible, given the T1's 80" drivers, small 19 3/4", later 18 3/4" dia. cylinders, short 26" stroke, poppet valves and very high superheat.  With very short trains, they would have a chance to accelerate to high speeds in relatively short periods of time..  The notebooks that recorded this information may exist, but they have not been published. Additionally, most simulation methods become very inaccurate above about 100  mph, largely because they are empirical, and not much real data is/was available above that speed.  As a result, there is no proof that these speeds were ever realized.  They are hearsay,  but tantalizingly possible.
On the purely emotional side, wouldn't it have been something to see a T1 roaring through town at 100 mph and still accelerating to make up time?

Dave Stephenson

 ,.  

    On Friday, February 7, 2020, 7:05:30 PM EST, NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote:  

 What’re your thoughts on the anecdotal reports of PRR T-1’s hitting the 140 mph mark west of Crestline, OH?
It’s been a while but I think the first time I read that might’ve been in Alvin Stauffer’s book on Pennsy Power.
Patrick WhalenRadnor, PA
On Fri, Feb 7, 2020 at 5:07 PM NW Mailing List via NW-Mailing-List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote:

Thanks for the info. Wow. I didn’t think they could go that fast. 

-Phil Miller

From: NW-Mailing-List [mailto:nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org] On Behalf Of NW Mailing List
Sent: Friday, February 07, 2020 2:51 PM
To: NW Mailing List
Subject: Re: Virginian PA locomotive speed

With the 69” drivers and the cylinder dimensoins, the PA’s could be expected to cruise at 85 MPH range.  The N&W 100-series engines could be expected to run in the same range.

The Js can’t be considered in comparison with ANY other steam locomotive.  They were so well designed including their counterbalancing that they could operate comfortably at driver RPMs in excess of 500 and could reach speeds in excess of that.  

Remember that if a locomotive  operating a a speed equalling their driving wheel diameter, those wheels will be turning up 336 RPM.  There were many locomotives that could operate in the 400 RPM range.  There were others not comfortable at 336 (the Atlantic Coast Line’s 1800-series Northerns, for example).

- Ed King

From: NW Mailing List via NW-Mailing-List 

Sent: Friday, February 07, 2020 12:13 PM

To: 'NW Mailing List' 

Cc: NW Mailing List 

Subject: Virginian PA locomotive speed

Hello,

I wondered if anyone can tell me how fast the Virginian PA passenger locomotives could or did run?  I’m wondering about their designed top speed and normal schedule running speed. I’m sure it’s slower than the N&W J’s but would they have been comparable to older N&W passenger engines? 

Phil Miller

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