Re: Driver size and speed

Johnson Barr Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Kelly Anderson Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Baldwin designed around "diameter speed", where
> > the speed in MPH equals the diameter of the
> drivers
> > in inches, or 336 RPM, which makes for a good
> base
> > line, but that's all . . .  OTOH,
> there were plenty of 80"-
> > driver'd engines capable of 100 MPH plus
>
> – such as ATSF's, S.P.'s & U.P.'s 4-8-4s
> and Milwaukee Road's Hiawatha 4-6-4s, among many
> others.
>
> > On the narrow gauge, Bill Moedinger reportedly
> > paced K-36's at 50 MPH on the flat.
>
>
> Per second-hand information from a reputable
> source, fireman Eldon Morgan of the D&RGW
> presumably witnessed Festus J. ('Jim')
> Shaughnessy-Frothjaw apparently steering with his
> knees while holding his large camera out of the
> window of his car with both hands to capture
> wind-deflector-equipped #487 running so fast from
> Alamosa toward Antonito that the lettering on her
> tender was swept into a reverse of the normal
> forward slant:
> [attachment 43842 1950s-Shaughnessy.jpg]
> Per said reputable source, that's Eldon in the
> gangway leaning on his shovel as Festus risks a
> lifetime of incarceration to capture the scene
> . . .  


That's Eldon with the scoop in hand. Hogger was Roy Turney.

According to the old heads, K-28's could run 45mph. K-36's and K-37's were good for 35mph - and no more. Above 35 they began to hunt badly from piston thrust. Eldon told me that if anyone claimed to see a big engine running over 35, they were lying.