could a modern 4400 hp single diesel haul the load that the nickel plate berk did this summer around horseshoe curve. The train would be the very same consist?
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Sure it would. The slower a diesel electric locomotive goes, the higher the tractive effort.
Absolutely! Remember, one Diesel does the work of ten steamers at one
tenth the cost!
From GE's website
http://www.gereports.com/ges-n...omotive-takes-a-bow/
Written by Graciela Trillanes, who says that s/he is a product manager for GETS:
"I am GE's product manager for the new Evolution Model ES44C4 diesel-electric locomotive.
In response to: "How many freight cars and load capacity can the new locomotive haul?"
Several factors impact the tonnage that one locomotive can pull such as the degree of incline, weather, speed, weight of the locomotive, etc. For example, one Model ES44C4 locomotive that weight 416,000 lbs and has a Continuous Tractive Effort of 105,000 lbs with 27% track adhesion operating on a 1% grade can pull 31 cars with 143 tons per car for a total of 4,433 tons."
I do not believe that the NKP 2-8-4 is rated to pull 4433 tons.
Without a booster, the NKP machine is likely good for some 1400-1500 tons, and
that would be at a far lower speed than optimal for passenger service. The Big
Jay was originally rated at 1600 tons when new in '42. This was the priority
freight rating, and was revised quickly to 1800 tons. The drag tonnage west-
ward varied wildly over the years, but supposedly could reach as much as 3300
tons at a virtual crawl. The EH15a, with 65:12 gears was good for 2700 tons as
a three unit set.
