@wjstix posted:New York Central bought their first E-units at the same time the first Niagaras arrived, right after WW2. As I recall, in comparing the two in service, they found that the Niagaras did an equally good job pulling passenger trains as the E-units did IF a lot of time and effort was spent keeping the 4-8-4s in absolutely top condition. If you let maintenance slide even a little, the steam engines fell behind. However, the diesels didn't require anywhere near the same amount of maintenance to perform. That is what ended up tipping the scales to the diesels.
You are a little off, the Central was running E units as early as March of 45, so although closer to the end of the war, it’s certainly wasn’t after the war ....but E units and Niagara’s did arrive about the same time,.....
Pat
