Re: 50 years ago- Mexican narrow gauge quits steam

whodom Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I wonder how much longer they’d have operated
> steam if they hadn’t hosted the Olympics?

Good question and one that we can only surmise over.
There was still a lot of stored steam that also could have been
put back into use again and a lot of that was modern enough.
The 4-8-4s turned out to be a fine dual-service engine for Mexico.
70" drivers and a t.e. of around 55,000 lbs. IIRC. The Grand
Canyon Ry. considered the purchase of some in 1989 when they
first started up and it is still felt by some there that they would have
been a good fit for their profile.

I have some tapes somewhere recorded by the late Virgil Staff of
an overloaded QR-1 powered rock rain leaving Valle in a pouring rain that really
hits the nail on the head when it comes to appreciating what steam
power was capable of.