Re: NNG: Geared Locomotive Speeds

As others have pointed out, Heislers are generally the speed demons of the geared locomotive world. Most all Heislers are geared about 2:1. Some are a tooth more than 2:1. That combined with the larger drivers give them the ability to move at a faster clip. They definitely run better under load. The U-joints are rather massive and without a load, clunk and bang and sound like they are about to come apart, but under load they tighten up and smooth out. In good shape and the proper load behind it, a big Heisler could make 20 mph.

The speed of Shays is depended on the particular model and it's gear ratio. A 70 tonner has 2.25:1, as pointed out a Pacific Coast has 2.41:1. 80 and 90 tonners closer to 2:1. Most of bigger models all ran on 36" drivers. A 90 tonner could make 12 mph on a good day. A 70 tonner starts running out of breath at 8 mph. WM 6 has 48" drivers but low 2.45:1 gearing so it's really no faster than a 90 tonner.

I never could get the MK 3 Climax beyond the "bounce stage" to see if it would smooth out. At that point the exhaust was a roar and I just wasn't in that kind of hurry. For a long time I thought I was zinging along at a good 10mph. So I timed a couple of miles.

Closer to 8.

For what it is worth (which is nothing, when you consider the source), I was told old Red McMillan beat the snot out of everything at Cass. Now, the Cass experts say Shays are good for no more than 8mph. They never heard Pickering 8 and 33 tear it up across the Peeled Onion, saw Shelton work Feather River 2 up the hill to Fassler on the Sierra. So old Red might have been just "doin' his thing", and telling the others to drop dead.