How Efficient Were the "Big Three"?

[NW Mailing List]

 Alright, alright.  I get the overall picture.  So, what if we could design a locomotive that has the virtues of both a steam and diesel locomotive, but without their vices?  If we built a locomotive that burns cheap coal combined it with an electric drive, what exactly would we have? 😉
Bill KingArlington, Virginia



    On Friday, October 6, 2023, 02:09:14 PM EDT, NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote:  
 
 Most revenue service steam locomotives maxed out at about 6% thermal efficiency. Energy of fuel used versus drawbar horsepower.  A modern AC diesel is about 30%.  It gen diesel about 20%.
The most efficient revenue steam locomotives where the Andre Chapelon compound passenger 4-8-0s in France.  High single digit thermal efficiency.  There where prototype steam engines that hut thermal efficiency over 10% but steam was dying and it wasn't pursued.
Best Regards John Rhodes 

On Fri, Oct 6, 2023, 10:31 AM NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote:

Greetings,
In the rudimentary research I've done on N&W's big three (J, A, Y6/a/b), I've gotten the impression that they were among if not the most efficient steam locomotives built in the United States, in some cases outperforming the first-generation diesels. But exactly how efficient were they? From what I've heard the maximum fuel efficiency of a steam locomotive is about 15%. Did any of the big three have the abil
Eli Santinity to reach this efficiency level?________________________________________
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