[ARC5] diesel

[Richard Knoppow]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "gordon white" <gewhite at crosslink.net>
To: <kgordon2006 at frontier.com>
Cc: "Arc5" <arc5 at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2012 2:50 PM
Subject: Re: [ARC5] diesel


> Didn't the railroads in Virginia that serve the coal 
> fields also run on electricity, with full coal trains 
> going down to Norfolk generating enough electricity to 
> haul the empties back up? But right now they are all 
> diesel.
>
>  - Gordon White

   That is correct, at least in part. One of the largest 
coal-haulers was the Norfolk & Western. The N&W had both 
electrified and steam lines running in the Virginia coal 
fields. Electric locomotives have the advantage that they 
can produce about double their rated horsepower for short 
periods which is helpful where you are pulling trains over 
mountainous country. The N&W also had very advanced steam 
locomotives of their own design and construction.  These 
remained in service long after diesel took over elsewhere 
because they had high availability and the N&W knew how to 
service them and keep them economical.  the PRR of course 
also had extensive electric railroads and was a major coal 
hauler.  Actually, coal hauling was a major business for 
several famous railroads in Atlantic coast region. This 
tended to keep them from adopting diesel for longer than 
many other roads.


--
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles
WB6KBL
dickburk at ix.netcom.com