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[quote user="timz"] Say we're deciding what tonnage to give to our new 2-8-4s on a railroad where the ruling grade isn't too tough-- 0.5 %, let's say. We try a 3500-ton train and the engine makes the grade at 12 mph; we try a 2500-ton train and it does 25 mph over the summit. If we assign 2500 tons instead of 3500 our ton-miles per train-hour on the grade will be 49% greater. Far as we can tell from his article, Le Massena takes it for granted that more ton-miles per train-hour means lower total cost to run the railroad. Better service for the shippers and lower costs-- what's not to like? Seems simple enough, doesn't it? But not simple enough for lots of railroads, who unaccountably persisted in assigning 3500 tons to their 2-8-4s. Le Massena's conclusion: railroads were run by blockheads. I can't blame you for assuming I must be setting up a straw man-- surely he couldn't be that serenely obtuse? And maybe he can't be-- but the article gives no hint of any analysis beyond the seeming parody given here. More quotes to follow. [/quote] I do not have the article, maybe he meant running it hours for hours just on a grade, the higher HP-engine is no bonus, there. lars
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