Strummer posted:Berkshire President posted:1. In parts of Cleveland's East Side suburbs, the NKP tracks were sometimes only 50 feet away from the NYC tracks. You often had NKP Berkshires racing NYC 4-8-2s to see who could outpace each other. Same terrain, different RRs, different locomotive design choice....and no consensus as to which was "better".
2. Bottom line: I don't think there is a right and wrong answer. You have to look to each railroad to see what locomotive design made the most sense. Answers will vary greatly. Generalities are almost pointless.
1. THAT would have been something to see! I wonder if any film footage exists?
2. That's probably the best take on all this.
Mark in Oregon
The NKP Berks would also come up against some NYC Niagaras as well.
Some NKP old timers claimed they could keep up with both NYC Mohawks and Niagaras. I don't know how accurate that is/was....but it certainly makes for an interesting story. I'd like to think it's at least plausible.
"Power AT Speed"? Perhaps. 
