@BillYo414 posted:And here I thought those guys doing crazy double and triple headers with O Scale locomotives on Youtube were just flexing
I saw a stationary Big Boy in Scranton, PA.....it's hard to comprehend three of ANY engine of comparable size pounding along.
Such a triple header could simply have been a power transfer move, and thus one or two of the EM-1s may not have been working all that hard.
That's a lot of power in one spot. I can't believe the rails stay together.
Such main line trackage generally had/have 4 spikes per tie-plate, thus lots and lots of strength. Also remember that the weight was distributed over many, MANY axles. When compared to todays modern diesel electric locomotives that are far more capable of transmitting much higher tractive forces to the track, the steam locomotives were way out classed. Then again, that is why todays track structure is far more robust, with current rail at 132 to 141 pounds per yard, while main line rail back in the steam days was only 90 to 100 pound per yard rail.
I'm grateful for the internet and air conditioning but it would have been unbelievable to see three EM-1's move freight like that.
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