The booster is a grand idea, but I think Earl's point is that, with the additional tractive effort of a K-37, now the whole thing is limited by boiler horsepower. Adding another outlet for the limited boiler horsepower only helps on slippery rail, it doesn't get you up the mountain faster because you've only got so much horsepower being produced by the boiler.
Increasing the pressure, however, does increase horsepower. Of course, that comes with a bigger grate area, which leads to a 4 wheel trailing truck, which leads to a NG Berkshire.....
SRK
Chris Walker Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> SR_Krause Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > So we need a K-38 class with K-37 running
> > gear/cylinders and a 300 psi boiler.... :-)
> >
> > (Feeling a bit too puckish this morning...)
> >
> > SRK
> >
> > Earl Wrote:
> >
> > > Yes, that is the deal. A 490 can take an
> extra
> > > car, but take all day to do it. If you want
> to
> > > stay on schedule, you don't do that. That is
> > > place where tractive effort is surpassed by
> > > horsepower. Tractive effort starts the train
> > and
> > > keeps it moving. Horsepower picks it up to
> > speed.
>
> Just put a Booster on the front Tender truck.