This came about during a steam vs. diesel discussion. A steam fan quoting some statements contained in one of the D. Carleton series of steam photo books.
Briefly, in the early 1950s New York Central had a small fleet of 4-8-4 passenger locomotives and would normally keep a couple under steam at Collinwood engine terminal in Cleveland in case one of the diesel-powered limiteds fell way behind schedule.
Apparently the book stated the Niagara could make up time faster than an E unit since the 4-8-4 could accelerate say a 16-car train to 100 mph in six or seven minutes. Two or three E units geared for 98 mph with the same size train would take twenty minutes to get to 100 mph.
The latter figure sounds kind of long to me. (In fact the commentary by the book author sounds like it might've been pulled out of thin air.)
But what was the rate of acceleration for E units? I know Milwaukee Road had Es that regularly hit the 100-mph rate. Would it take them twenty minutes if they were going all out?
Briefly, in the early 1950s New York Central had a small fleet of 4-8-4 passenger locomotives and would normally keep a couple under steam at Collinwood engine terminal in Cleveland in case one of the diesel-powered limiteds fell way behind schedule.
Apparently the book stated the Niagara could make up time faster than an E unit since the 4-8-4 could accelerate say a 16-car train to 100 mph in six or seven minutes. Two or three E units geared for 98 mph with the same size train would take twenty minutes to get to 100 mph.
The latter figure sounds kind of long to me. (In fact the commentary by the book author sounds like it might've been pulled out of thin air.)
But what was the rate of acceleration for E units? I know Milwaukee Road had Es that regularly hit the 100-mph rate. Would it take them twenty minutes if they were going all out?