How do USA railroads compare?

I don't think Europe can run 100+ car freights, particularly with their screw-type couplers and buffers.

As I recall, they run shorter freights more often.

Rusty

European and Asian passenger trains generally run shorter distances and run more frequently. High-speed trains usually run on their own right-of-way once they leave cities -  TGV's that run between London and Paris and Bern and Paris, for example.

Nobody else hauls as much freight as fast and efficiently as American railroads do.

The crucial factors are track/right-of-way and axle loadings. An articulated Beyer-Garratt 4-8-2 + 2-8-4 may compare to a certain Webmaster's Nickel Plate Berkshire, but that Berkshire has twice the axle loadings. Also, that Beyer-Garratt is meter gauge (narrow gauge).

A while ago my beautiful and charming wife, Beverly, and I toured Great Britain by train. We visited the National Railroad Museum in York. A Chinese 4-8-4 towered over everything there but to us it looked kinda small for a 4-8-4. Same factors at work - track/right-of-way and axle loadings.

Should an eccentric billionaire/trillionaire overseas decide to import 611 or 844 or 765 for some local fantrips, railroads in that vicinity would have to say nay.

I was not aware that the Chinese EVER had any 4-8-4 type steam locomotives. Did you get any photos that you can post of that York Museum?

another point to remember, europe is not much larger than texas.  US railroads are making much longer runs.

KF Class. Ca. 1935

WOW! Thanks for that. Pretty nice looking 4-8-4, even if a bit smallish.

But she was larger than everything around her!

Wow is right!  Talk about a "Chinese copy"....that loco looks like it was styled by

Baldwin.  Has a spoked pilot and is that a red painted knuckle (Janney) coupler on the front?  There was a railroad in eastern Illinois, and one in north central Iowa running

Chinese mikados (?).....how many Chinese steam locos were imported, and are they

still running?

Yes, the Chinese copied EVERYTHING concerning the U.S. steam power of the WWII era. Even the Chinese "Nathan Injectors", "Worthington Feedwater Systems", whistles, bells, etc., etc., etc., are all copies of U.S. equipment. 

The Chinese Railways still were building NEW 2-8-2s and 2-10-2s well into the 1990s, litterly by the thousands! 

This one is...

From an SY involved in a fire, rebuilt by the Connecticut Valley boys as New Haven 3025, the next available number.

I think RJ Coreman has two 2-10-2's, there's a 2-8-2 in Iowa and I think another one rattling around out east somewhere.  Haven't heard about one in Illinois.

And, there's one on the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.

Rusty

Correct me if I'm wrong but I read somewhere we have the best freight railroads in the World, best network, best run, best physical plant, etc etc.  Aren't most over seas railroads whether passenger or freight Gov run?

Not much freight by train in Japan. Shipping has always held about 50% of all traffic. Even some trains go by sea on delivery within Japan.  Pretty much all containers and tankers in short trains that fit into passenger train slots. The last Wamu (blue box cars) were retired in early 2012. Most Japanese freight trains are operated by JRF, a Japan Rail (JR) company.

Typical trains:

Here is a website with photos and what looks like some good information on steam in China.

In Australia, we run some very big trains.

BHP Run on 21 June 2001, comprising 682 wagons and hauled by eight 6000 hp General Electric AC6000CW diesel-electric locomotives controlled by a single driver with a total length of 7.353 km on the 275 km iron ore railway to Port Hedland in Western Australia – total weight 99,734 tons[

Also, in terms of passenger trains, "The Ghan", which runs from Darwin to Adelaide has up to 49 streamlined cars, 1.2km long, that's 3/4 mile long.

Our freight trains are normally pulled by 3 locos, up to 100 or so wagons.

Very high speed trains, well, whenever there's mention of them, we know an election is due.

"Also, in terms of passenger trains, "The Ghan", which runs from Darwin to Adelaide has up to 49 streamlined cars, 1.2km long, that's 3/4 mile long."

dave, they all filled?

You're close. Iowa Interstate has two 2-10-0's. RJ Corman has one 2-10-0. Boone & Scenic Valley RR in Iowa has a 2-8-2. The Valley RR has a 2-8-2 as you mentioned above. That leaves the Susquehanna 2-8-2 running the Delaware River RR excursion for a total of 6 standard gauge Chinese steam locomotives running the US. 

Yes, pretty much, this and the "Indian Pacific, which runs from Sydney to Perth are very popular and are all sleepers, they have 3 classes, and really nice dining cars and lounge cars. You can visit the website here. http://www.greatsouthernrail.com.au/site/the_ghan.jsp

My wife and I travelled on both last year, they really are fantastic journeys.