Butler Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Living in the Chicago area in 1965-66, I was one
> of many who enjoyed the Q's 4960 trips, right up
> to the last one in July 1966. I was always amazed
> at how 4960 could get out and just flat out run
> fast on the mainline. Very well balanced for 63"
> drivers.
>
> I am just delighted that, at almost 50 years after
> her CB&Q days, 4960 is still with us and still
> RUNNING!
>
> Wish the same could be said for SP&S 539, ex NP
> 1762. The NP's W-3 mikes were also a great loco
> and 539 is the only one left

4960 was pretty loose in her last years on the Burlington and you are right, they had no
problem running her at 60 and even higher. Not to nitpick, she had 64" drivers, but those
speeds were really decent for that size drivers. One feature that helped her (and still
does) was the short combustion chamber that she was built with. She was somewhat of a
transitional design for a Mikado.
And for asthetics, instead of having slab side rods, she has a full set of fluted rods,
which I feel, really add to her current lines.
Somebody, either on this forum or another, recently made a comment on that large tender.
Fully loaded, it weighs as much as the engine, 155 tons. If memory serves, it is good
for 18,000 of water and 3,800 gallons of oil. While that is not enough for a round trip to
the Canyon and back, they only have to short fill it there to get back to WMS. I remember
not leaving the pad at the shop in the morning until the water was just out of sight in the
top of the glass and up into the neck of the tender hatch. There are no tanks between WMS
and the Canyon to take water.