Re: NNG: Geared Locomotive Speeds

Steve Thompson Wrote:
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> Back in the late 1960s and early 70s at Camp 6 in
> Tacoma, Norm Elsner, who had run the KL&L Shay #7
> at Klickitat since 1937, would run the engine up
> to about 12 mph on the long straight (1/4 mile)
> stretch sometimes. We usually ran her at more
> like 6-8, but he liked to play now and then. He
> felt it wouldn't hurt her a bit.
>
> Steve

The rub regarding the PC Shay was that to achieve it's rather high t.e. of 38,200 lbs with modest cylinder bore dimensions of 13", she was saddled with having only 17 teeth on the pinion, giving her a gear ratio of around 2.4 to 1 instead of the 2.05 to 1 of the 80-3 and 90-3 classes.

The PC was well suited for switching and shorter hauls. I had several yrs.in the early 70's with Pickering's 11 at Rio Vista Junction, some with Dan Ranger, and we both remarked how quickly she
got wound up and then there was no more.