big boys open the door

[Anonymous]

the big boys of the UP did open the door to diesel, for their steam driven works was only 40% efficient will running at 60 miles per hour the big guys ate 20 tons of coal how much oil after they were convereted--?
let me know--

[Modelcar]

...Looks like we're going to see some more info and data [on Big Boys], in upcoming September TRAINS mag...Should be interesting.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by fxds

the big boys of the UP did open the door to diesel, for their steam driven works was only 40% efficient will running at 60 miles per hour the big guys ate 20 tons of coal how much oil after they were convereted--?
let me know--

According to the "Trains" magazine article (don't remember exactly when) UP actually wanted diesels but the War Production Board denied them diesels so they went with the Big Boys. I have also heard that story elsewhere but don't remember the other source.

[eastside]

According to Kratville in his article about the FEFs (Monarchs of the West, Steam Glory, ed. 2), there were two factors that prevented the adoption of diesels in the early '40s. One was that wartime restrictions made diesels unavailable, obviously. The other was that Otto Jabelmann wanted to go diesel, especially after the '39-'40 tour of the FT demo units, however, UP's president, William Jeffers, a die-hard steam fan, overruled and told him to stick with steamers. That one of the most famous designers of steam locomotives was flexible enough to recognise and embrace such a fundamental paradigm shift in motive power, only enhances his reputation, in my mind.