Skip Wrote:
=======================================================
> Chris Walker Wrote:
> ==================================================
> =====
> > Skip,
>
> > And besides, you'd die in our tunnels in a
> > steamer.
>
> On the Northern Pacific at Stampede tunnel, they
> the telegraphers handed respirators up to the
> crews at each end of the tgunnel..... they dropped
> them off for cleaning at the other end.
>
> What did they do there during steam days?
From what I was told over the years, wet rags over the face, get down on the cab floor.
Short answer:
Simple, as long as there was steam, there were
no long tunnels, can't do it.
Long answer:
Tawa #2 2.68 miles 1500V electrified. Replaced 1:41 grades. Incidentally those grades required the purchase of 1 massive 2-8-4T locomotive, known as Jumbo, she was acquired for banking duty out of Wellington up the Ngaio bank to Johnsonville.
Otira 5.3 miles 1:33 grade 1500V electrified. Built new to connect the West Coast to the populous east.
Rimutaka 5.46 miles 1:180 grade (line at 1:70) Dieselized. Replaced 1:15 grades over the summit with trains of five brake vans and four locomotives having a crew of 14.
[
www.library.mstn.govt.nz]
Kaimai 5.5 miles 1:300 grade Dieselized, replaced a roundabout light-bridged line.
Tikiwhata 1.5 miles was the longest operated with steam here.
Turakina 1.3 miles this was a very tight bore that was through unstable ground that had to be relined with extra brick narrowing the bore considerably. This one you could rest your elbow on the armrest and drag your fingertips along the tunnel wall.
Only steamtrip I ever rode the cab was through a 2000ft bore and that was so suffocating you could not pay me enough to do it again.