Re: Big Boy top speed
Author: Nudge
Date: 04-20-2019 - 16:12
George hit the nail on the head. "What is It Balanced For." That's the key. Sure you may have a guy tell you, "Any Speed". But if its out of balance it will start to tear itself apart. When an engine does that, you would be lucky to live to tell about it.
There was a hogger on the commutes out of San Jose that thought he would take off, to gain the 3 minutes he lost. Well, Art Langlois told me (he was the fireman) that all of a sudden the engine started shaking, lifting up and down on his side and he pulled the air. The tire off one the drivers cracked and off it went rolling through the fruit trees.
There is a reason, and its there for a reason. I am sure there will be a bunch of orders showing the max speed on some curves. Can you imagine starting a big boy on a hard curve with too much throttle? They would string line that train from hell to breakfast.
Nudge