Re: Diesels and the C&TS - I remember that day

Yes, well, those little GE's were notorious for being underpowered. At least one tourist railroad in the Northeast tried to use one on passenger trains and found that traction motors were frying at an alarming rate due to enginemen trying to power brake. The standard gauge version was also tried by the PRR and the B&O to replace 0-4-0 steamers, and they just didn't have it. The "steel mill special" ballasted to 65 tons, double-geared, and equipped with Cummins engines does a bit better. The East Broad Top has one on hand for rescue missions, and it's been invoked on a few occasions. It gets the train home, but not very quickly! I'm sure 19 will do what is asked of it, but don't expect miracles. It will be OK to drag ballast and handle a work train distributing ties or something like that, but don't expect it to wrestle with a Jordan spreader or plow snow 4 or 5 feet deep. If C&TS wants to do more than that, start looking for something bigger.