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Reply to "Real Life Steam Double Heading"

@jhz563 posted:

With due respect,  this seems like a significant over simplification.  Steam locomotives also have the reciprocating mass of the drive rods and connecting rods that is simply not part of diesel electric traction.

Yes, it is a bit over-simplified because we’re communicating with regular folks here not railway/locomotive design engineers. A properly balanced steam locomotive did not “pound the rails” like so many seem to believe. There was some dynamic augment to contend with, but overall they did not “pound” the track.

Remember, in the steam era there was no such thing as welded rail, and most main lines were laid with 100 to 110 pound rail. Today, main lines are at least 132 pound rail, with 141 and 155 pound rail being very common. That is much heavier rail than what was used in the steam era.

I remember reading during the Ace 3000 research trials with the 614, the local track crews found the 614 put a higher pounding load on the rails than their equipment was even calibrated to measure.

I did a lot of work with those guys on the 614 ACE tests. This is the first I’ve ever heard this. Not sure that I believe it.

Wasn't one of the many selling points of diesels over steam that diesels were much less punishing on the right of way?

No.

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