A reminder why I disliked Diesel's

[Firelock76]

That's interesting.  The only Daily Planet building I remember is the one from the 50's TV show, and that's actually the Los Angeles city hall.

But in the rest of the country, who'd know?

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

I have no interest in steam, mostly because I barely remember it (NKP 2-8-4's only).  Everything else, including NKP passenger trains and switchers, was diesel-electric powered (except South Shore Line).  However, miningman must have never heard three NW2's working their guts out on the IHB with a train load of coils, bars, plates, etc. It's something to behold.

[RME]

CSSHEGEWISCH

However, miningman must have never heard three NW2's working their guts out on the IHB with a train load of coils, bars, plates, etc. It's something to behold.

As was just about anything going uphill over San Gorgonio Pass in the Coachella Valley -- the glorious experience changing as engine technology did.  I particularly liked being able to sit at Hadleys (wish I liked those date shakes!) in the mid-Nineties with periodic distributed power down in the corner and shakin'.

I was also privileged to observe a couple of SW units at 'eleven-tenths' in Shreveport, on KCS, pulling a long dead string of cars up a fairly steep approach grade.  One had creep control, and it was interesting to hear the wheels ringing with the frequency corresponding to the many 'make-and-breaks' in traction, almost like a groan, while the other remained silent but somewhat derated.  This was sustained in Run 8 and forward motion was just barely visible, something I have only seen on AC units a couple of times since: you almost needed a visual parallax reference or a stain on a wheelrim to notice the progress.  Historic steam would have given up the ghost and probably doubled or tripled the load long before.

[Miningman]

Nice try again guys...well, I guess CSSHEGEWISCH never heard of IHB 0-8-0's! ...and RME if steam had to double the hill, well that would be a spectacular sight with steam cocks blowing, wheels slipping and gripping, exhaust sounds alone would be unmatched. Plus we get to see  twice the show with an instant replay.  Not even close dudes! Of course you could always try again, maybe savour the sights, sounds and smell of a city bus and rethink things. 

[Anonymous]

The most beautiful 0-8-0 ever desiged were the three rostered by the IHB with high mounted Elesco feedwaterheater, offset bell, and booster mounted on the front tender truck.  No, I never got to witness them, but they have appeared in model, both HO and O scale, in brass and plastic.  I often wondered why John Allen never acquired one for his Gorre & Daphetid? 

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

I'm quite familiar with the U-4a's.  It's just that they, and most other steam, were long turned into razor blades before I was aware of their existence.  Consequently, steam means little to nothing to me.