[ARC5] OT: DY-17? Hmph!

[Neil]

> ... in at least two countries that I know of,
> India being one, and the other some place in Africa, after doing a very, very 
> thorough cost/benefit analysis, it was determined that steam was still more
> efficient, overall, than diesel-electrics. As I remember it, the primary 
> determining cost was the cost of fuel, coupled with the requirement to make 
> major changes in the entire infrastructure.

Wages are a much more significant cost in steam operation:
Engine driver and fireman are required at least two hours in advance of
getting under way, to build up a head of steam, whereas diesel-electric
are ready to go a few seconds after pressing the button.
Secondly, both persons are required when under way, compared with
only one operator in the case of diesel-electrics.

Wages in India/Africa were and probably still are, very low compared to
the West, making steam more viable there.

73 de Neil ZL1ANM