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Re: If you could rebuild extinct steam what would you pick?
Author: Carl A.
Date: 07-29-2019 - 02:19
The 3985 and 1218 (dreaming, so both of them back under steam) represent the ultimate in high-speed articulateds. (By high speeds, I mean high power output at 40 to 50 mph, combined with more tractive effort than any 4-8-4; and IIRC, 3985 had larger drivers than Big Boys.) But my #1 pick would be a N&W Class Y6b under steam again. (Compound Mallet, 2-8-8-2.) As to the surviving Y6a, #2156, that would be just as good if it got upgrades during its career to match Y6b's. Even if 2156 didn't get all of those upgrades, it would be my choice over any other big engine that's ever been restored.
Reasoning: We've seen high-speed single-expansion articulateds under steam. But the N&W was unique in producing the best engines for heavy trains over serious grades. On routes like those, the N&W's late Mallet compounds were in a class by themselves. When operating at 20-30 mph, they had very high horsepower -- probably higher than any other engines could produce at those speeds. They could also move as fast as about 50 mph, at lower hp, when that was convenient. Being compounds, they needed less fuel and water. The N&W knew how to get the details right -- balancing, valves, roller bearings, combustion chambers, etc -- so they could make their Mallet compounds give more hp at speeds like 20-30 mph than anyone else's. That made them ideal for service on grades like the N&W had.
I say this as a long-time SP fan. The 4294 would be a delight to see and hear. I remember seeing a cab-forward pulling a train when I was a little kid. But to actually move traffic, the N&W had better engines.
Reasoning: We've seen high-speed single-expansion articulateds under steam. But the N&W was unique in producing the best engines for heavy trains over serious grades. On routes like those, the N&W's late Mallet compounds were in a class by themselves. When operating at 20-30 mph, they had very high horsepower -- probably higher than any other engines could produce at those speeds. They could also move as fast as about 50 mph, at lower hp, when that was convenient. Being compounds, they needed less fuel and water. The N&W knew how to get the details right -- balancing, valves, roller bearings, combustion chambers, etc -- so they could make their Mallet compounds give more hp at speeds like 20-30 mph than anyone else's. That made them ideal for service on grades like the N&W had.
I say this as a long-time SP fan. The 4294 would be a delight to see and hear. I remember seeing a cab-forward pulling a train when I was a little kid. But to actually move traffic, the N&W had better engines.
