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 <o:p></o:p> It is interesting that Mr. Hankey flatly asserts that the speed record would have been physically impossible, with his only verification being that it is the “opinion” of Bill Withuhn.   <o:p></o:p> Mr. Hankey has vaguely implied that the firebox size on the AT&SF engine was not large enough to achieve the claimed speed record.  And apparently, the assessment of the firebox inadequacy is based on the fact that this was a relatively small firebox compared to more modern locomotives.  But just because more modern locomotives had bigger fireboxes, it does not necessarily follow that they were capable of higher speeds.  Locomotive development was not an evolution toward higher and higher speeds, as this firebox size issue tries to assert.  Instead, the development evolution was toward the ability to pull ever-greater train weights at typical road speed limits.   <o:p></o:p> So the size of the AT&SF engine’s firebox relative to later fireboxes is irrelevant to the speed record claim.  Compared to later engines, the AT&SF engine did have a smaller firebox, but it was also a lighter locomotive, and train weight was relatively lighter.  We are talking about a train weight of 170 tons.  That is only a little more the just one of today’s loaded cover hoppers.  <o:p></o:p> As has been suggested, the proper analysis of this speed record claim is the relationship between horsepower and total train weight, including the weight of the locomotive.  The main challenge is to determine the horsepower.      <o:p></o:p> Generally, I do not see much analysis of horsepower for steam locomotives.  Diesels produce their maximum horsepower when the throttle is wide open under maximum loading.  Steamers develop more horsepower the faster they go, up to the point where they can’t burn fuel any faster. I do recall some intense discussions here on the forum about horsepower versus tractive effort.  The beauty of it was that you could always tell when the correct mathematical conclusions were reached because everybody was in perfect agreement.
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