Tonnage Rating of Locomotives

[nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org]

Jimmy,
 
Thanks for the explaination.  I guess then the reason that the tonnage  
rating for the Durham District was only given for the Classes T and G  is that was 
all the power that was needed to haul the District's  business.  From the 40's 
and 50's I have pictures of Z1s, Ms, E2s, and  Ks in Durham at Union Station 
and the Durham Shops.  The rest of the  Division was seeing the Js,As and Y6s. 
 Tobacco weighs a lot less than coal  and I guess is easier to haul.  We use 
to grow a lot of tobacco  down here and Durham made a whole lot of cigarettes.
 
I know that in the 20s that there were improvements made to the properties  
and to the track and other structures.   I guess that's where I got  the idea 
that the track and bridges couldn't support the new, bigger,  heavier, and more 
powerful locomotives.
 
Thanks again.
 
Chuck
 
In a message dated 8/1/2006 9:39:35 PM Eastern Standard Time,  
nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org writes:

"But what numbers  does the Tonnage rating refer?"
 
Chuck,
    Tonnage ratings refer  to the maximum tonnage each engine is allowed to 
pull over each  portion of track and still be able to maintain a minimum speed. 
    As grade increases the  locomotives tonnage rating goes down. As the 
grade lessens, the more tonnage  the loco can pull.
 
"I am guessing that 1) the Durham District's  track, bridges, and other 
structures couldn't support the larger, heavier and  more powerful locomotives"
 
    Tonnage ratings have nothing  to do with the track, bridges, and other 
structures. The weight or  more specifically, the axle loading, deals with what 
locomotives and cars can  go on what track.
Jimmy Lisle
 



 
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