Steam question regarding the Shenandoah Division

[NW Mailing List]

When I was in high school, I motorcaded a 2100 at an indicated 55 mph  
in my '52 Hillman Minx in the Valley.  The Y seemed more comfortable  
at that speed than did the Hillman.

pete groom
On Jul 6, 2008, at 6:52 AM, NW Mailing List wrote:

"Remember that axle loadings and not just total engine weight plays a  
part in weight restrictions too.  Don't know how that applies in this  
particular place, but I'm sure a J is much heavier per axle than a K."

     The Class A was timetable rated for "The Valley", while the J's  
were not. I have an idea that clearances on some bridges may have  
played a part in this. On the 611 excursion in '94, we had a slow  
order on the bridge over state Rt.43 at Buchanan due to a possible  
clearance issue.
     Maybe an overall smaller number of cars in the consist may have  
played a part. I haven't seen any pictures of passenger trains on the  
Shenandoah line that seemed like it would tax the capabilities of the  
K classes. Use of a J may have been overkill.
     Whatever the reason the J's weren't used going north (or south),  
I would like to know the actual reason

"Might not be as much a factor with the A though, since the Y's were  
so weighted with lead. Rollercoaster profile and inability to reach  
speeds at which an A runs most efficiently could have been factors."
Rollercoaster profile would be a non-factor. As for inability of Y's  
inability to reach speeds at which an A runs most efficiently, you'll  
have to argue with the fast runners of the "Valley" on that one!
Jimmy Lisle

PS:
Too bad hindsight is 20/20. If someone had taken the time to  
interview the men of steam back then, "Fast Runners of the Shenandoah  
Valley" would have been one helluva title for a book!
JRL
________________________________________
NW-Mailing-List at nwhs.org
To change your subscription go to
http://list.nwhs.org/mailman/options/nw-mailing-list
Browse the NW-Mailing-List archives at
http://list.nwhs.org/pipermail/nw-mailing-list/

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://six.pairlist.net/pipermail/nw-mailing-list/attachments/20080706/d8002c86/attachment.html>