The D-1a suburban type engines were powerful locomotives. A photograph in one of my Boston & Albany references states "the engine was designed to handle up to 20 suburban coaches." The B&A D-1a 4-6-6Ts had a tractive effort of 41,600 pounds. The most powerful Pacific 4-6-2 locomotive on the B&A (classes K-6a and K-6b) had a tractive effort of 42,900 pounds, and most had less. Another reference states that "they could produce a tractive force exceeding that of a (New York Central) K-14g Pacific (39,420 pounds) and closely matching that of a J-2 Hudson" - 44,800 pounds not including booster engine. By the time the D-1as were replaced by Budd RDCs (1951), people were driving their cars and rail traffic was not what it had been before World War II. I plan to run my model with only two or three cars, as shown in many pictures, but I do have concerns about the motor.
MELGAR
