Hello Forum,
I know the NYC used AA E8 units on the Century Limited, but was it prototypical to also see ABA E8's? If the motive power was ABA, is that determined by the number of cars in the consist/section?
Thanks,
Bernard
I don't doubt that there were runs of the 20th Century Limited that required A-B-A power. The NYC discovered early on that AA diesels were equal to a Hudson, but they needed A-B-A to equal the 6000 HP of a Niagara.
Bear in mind that during the transition era the Century frequently ran in sections, some consisting of older, heavier cars.
Chuck (Former NYC fan modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
I recall seeing the 20th Century at Waterloo, IN in the late '50's with A-B-A consist. NYC had no E-8B unit only E-7B. While two units could handle a 14-16 car train, they would be "Forever" getting back up to track speed after a stop or slow down. The third unit would make it easier to maintain schedule.
What the NYC criteria was for sections and power requirements I would not know.
The E7 A-B set with its four 1500 HP prime movers did equal 6000 HP of a niagra in pure horsepower, however the drawbar horsepower of a niagara is greater. That Originally the E7s were bought and used as pairs on the 20th century limited. Very seldom was a Niagra used on the Century. The usual back up power for it was a Mohawk if there were no diesels available. It was not unusual to have two or three E units on the point up until the last run of the NYC century in the 60s. Sometime it would be three Ea s, or sometime with E bs, with either a E7- or E8 in the lead.
Paul
Dayton and Mad River RR
A single unit E-7 consists of two 12 cyl 567 engines rated at 1000 hp each (after subtracting the few extra horses required to run the "Auxiliary stuff" such as cooling fan belt drive, air compressor and alternator). So Paul, your E7 A-B duo would equal 4000hp. UP is the only road I know of that put it''s passenger units on steroids.
Dick
Dick,
You are absolutly correct, and I know better, I guess my only excuse is that I was thinking of the prime mover in a GP. In any case the drawbar horsepower of a steam locomotive that achieves its maximum horsepower at speed can't be directly related to the HP of the prime mover in a diesel. So you would have to compare Apples to Apples, and the handsom NYC steam engines were no match for the E units, even as snazzy as they were in the lightning stripes, and they were very good looking in those lightning stripes. I even have #4000 and #4100 in the original Lightning stripe paint. So I remain corrected. Thanks