Electric operation began in 1915.]

[NW Mailing List]

Gene:  Think of it as a state-of-the-art situation, too.  At the early part
of the 20th Century, electricity and motor controllers had reached higher
horsepower capabilities than steam locomotives.  Also, the power plants were
capable of delivering sufficient current down the catenary that the electric
locomotives could develop more horsepower than steam locomotives.  The
introduction of the boxcabs meant that the N&W could pull similar or longer
trains and tonnage over the Elkhorn Summit at twice the speed of the
contemporary steamers.   That ability means more horsepower was delivered to
the train (pulling force/tractive effort and speed).  This capability was
not really reached by steam until the 1930's with the early superpower ideas
and large, high horsepower locomotives with superheat and high boiler
pressures.

 

However, one should always view the two types as 'systems' with all of the
stuff that goes with each type.  For the PRR/PC and Amtrak, the Northeast
Corridor still runs very well as an electrified system with good economics.

Gary Rolih

INFO at N&WHS

 

From: nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org
[mailto:nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org] On Behalf Of NW Mailing List
Sent: Saturday, September 17, 2011 9:33 PM
To: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org
Subject: Re: Electric operation began in 1915.]

 

Answer 1 - Electric traction was past its 'infancy'.  The PRR had
sucessfully used paired jackshaft drive electrics to power passenger trains
from Manhattan Transfer (NJ) into Penn Station, and to Sunnyside Yard (Long
Island) for several years   N&W's box cabs were similar in appearance to the
PRR DD-1 set.

Answer 2 - Subject more completely covered by recent NWHS publications;
short answer is that modern N&W steam locomotive performance made further
investment in electrification unwise.

 

Jerry Crosson

-----Original Message-----
From: NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
To: nw-mailing-list <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
Sent: Sat, Sep 17, 2011 8:27 am
Subject: Electric operation began in 1915.]

I have always been amazed even as a young lad, watching what was called
"Motors" by the road men, drag the long trains up the mountain East of
Bluefield. In 1915, electricity was still in such a early stage of infancy,
how could these machines have developed such a tremendous amount of power?
Also, why did N&W decide to discontinue the system?

Thanks;

Gene Arnold 

 

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