The Railway Age article linked in the first post explains that the WP&Y needs 8 working traction motors to get their desired 16 passenger car trains up the hill at the speed they want. That is because there is only one choice of suitable traction motor that can fit, and that GE 764 motor has (relatively low) 375hp capability. So ...... one possibility to achieve 8 powered axles is to put them all on one locomotive.
The alternative is to put less powered axles on each locomotive, and then use two or more locomotives for those 16 car trains.
This is all because they need to get more passengers up the hill to accommodate the cruise ships (Carnival Cruise is part of the new WP&Y ownership structure).
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/05/2018 03:08PM by Rader Sidetrack.