Re: SR&RL Question

Jeff,
You are correct about the SR&RL locos being the largest common carrier two-foot locos to operate in the US. Jones & Laughlin Steel in Pittsburgh actually operated the most powerful US - built two-foot gauge locos in the US. The TE for these was 16,700#. The locos (0-4-0Ts) weighed 93,000 lbs. A quick guesstimation based on the calculation found in my Baldwin catalog tells me that this would require 70-75# rail.
There are today both a two foot gauge NGG16 (2-6-2+2-6-2, Beyer-Garratt)and NG15 (2-8-2) in the US. The TE of these locos is roughly 21,000# and 18,000# respectively, but both had a fairly light tread and could run on about 40-50# rail.
Back to the SR&RL:
According to Robert Jones book "Two Feet Between the Rails" (Vol. 2):
Loco - TE
#24 - 10,115
#23 - 12,600
#19 - 10,710
#18 - 9,520
#17 - 9,000
#16 - 9,520
#15 - 11,250
#10 - 9,900
To the best of my knowledge, all locos except #23 regularly ran on 35# rail. #23 regularly ran on 56# rail.
Best Regards,
Glenn