I went looking through the archives here at the "Fortress Flintlock" and all I could find out about the 60,000 pound axle loading was in "Alfred the Bruce's" book "The Steam Locomotive In America." Apparantly the 60,000 pound axle load (and not above that figure) was specified by the Union Pacific, but Bruce doesn't say why.
Another book I've got on American steam development doesn't say why either.
Maybe it was due to the track it was going to run on. Those 4-12-2's were smooth-running locomotives though, however due to that long rigid wheelbase they were restricted to mainline runs and trackage with very gentle curves.
I'll keep looking.
I did. Can't find nuthin' else. Sorry.
I believe Juniatha had a particular interest in the Nines and would be an ideal source for this kind of information on them.
Anyone know why the driver axle loadings on the 4-12-2's were substantially lower (below 60,000 lbs/axle) than on the 4-6-6-4 Challengers?
I wouldn't think with the long rigid wheelbase (yes, with lateral motion devices, but still) would be amendable to anything else but main lines with gentle curves? Was the UP using lighter rail on their network into the 1920's when the 9000-series locomotives were introduced?
If GM "killed the electric car", what am I doing standing next to an EV-1, a half a block from the WSOR tracks?
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