Graham Buxton Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> To Quote:
> "No reciprocating drive of any kind is ever going
> to be part of a future locomotive. "
>
> What nonsense! Every diesel prime mover has
> reciprocating pistons.

Touche! That's what so many folks seem to forget. A diesel-electric has so many more moving and/or critical parts than your basic 4-8-4, ergo it's only logical that the more complex the machine the higher the basic maintenance costs will be, all other things being equal!

It's somewhat ironic that the same folks who brought us diesel dominance (GM, GE) despite the realities of traction power vs reciprocating power, are also at the forefront of pushing things like hybrids and wind mills despite the realistic superiority of 2xV4 engines and nuclear/coal gasification power.