Virginian Railway Tonnage Ratings

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Appreciate the responses.

After looking into this a bit more, I have come to the conclusion that the
different speeds posted for different tonnage ratings are not speed limits
(for example, if a US-A is hauling 12,000 tons eastbound on the Tidewater
division it is locked at 10MPH, the speed associated with that tonnage
rating) but indicates the minimum speed you can be expected to go for a
given tonnage. Basically, over the ruling grade (for the Tidewater this is
20 miles between milepost 173 and 153 of 0.2 percent) the engine should be
able to go the speed listed for a given tonnage, and on other parts of the
line you are governed by the time table speed limits. This is based off a
letter from August 31 1954 between the general manager (D. C. King) and the
superintendent of motive power (Strickland) discussing dieselizing the
Tidewater division, which includes a chart of tonnage and a column
specifying "minimum speed over ruling grade"

Unless anyone has compelling evidence against this I'll consider my
question answered.

Thanks,

Zachary Negaard.

P.S. Eastbound is the superior direction, the coal has got to roll!
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