How Efficient Were the "Big Three"?

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We'd have the Jawn Henry! Probably work with the advances in technology and all since 1953. Still wouldn't be as economical as diesels though.
Roger HuberDeer Creek Locomotive Works 

    On Friday, October 6, 2023 at 09:13:11 PM CDT, NW Mailing List via NW-Mailing-List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote:  
 
  Alright, alright.  I get the overall picture.  So, what if we could design a locomotive that has the virtues of both a steam and diesel locomotive, but without their vices?  If we built a locomotive that burns cheap coal combined it with an electric drive, what exactly would we have? 😉
Bill KingArlington, Virginia



    On Friday, October 6, 2023, 02:09:14 PM EDT, NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote:  
 
 Most revenue service steam locomotives maxed out at about 6% thermal efficiency. Energy of fuel used versus drawbar horsepower.  A modern AC diesel is about 30%.  It gen diesel about 20%.
The most efficient revenue steam locomotives where the Andre Chapelon compound passenger 4-8-0s in France.  High single digit thermal efficiency.  There where prototype steam engines that hut thermal efficiency over 10% but steam was dying and it wasn't pursued.
Best Regards John Rhodes 

On Fri, Oct 6, 2023, 10:31 AM NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote:

Greetings,
In the rudimentary research I've done on N&W's big three (J, A, Y6/a/b), I've gotten the impression that they were among if not the most efficient steam locomotives built in the United States, in some cases outperforming the first-generation diesels. But exactly how efficient were they? From what I've heard the maximum fuel efficiency of a steam locomotive is about 15%. Did any of the big three have the abil
Eli Santinity to reach this efficiency level?________________________________________
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