Re: Shay's on Cumbres

PRSL writes: "The tractive effort of The K-27 #463 is 27,000#. Is it true that the #463 was rated at one less car than the K-36 on Cumbres? Therefor, I stand at my claim that the Shay #12 will climb Cumbres with the train of the size used for #463, but will take 72 minutes instead of 60 minutes. "
Well, I suspect the answer is, the Shay is less appealing for the C&TS than another K-36, or even the 463. The data I have is from the following sources: D&RGW Alamosa Divsion Timetable 122 (effective 9-6-1942), and C&TS Timetable 3 (effective 6-14-2003).
The D&RGW rated locomotives for the Chama to Cumbres climb as follows:
K-27: 183 tons
K-28: 187 tons
K-36: 232 tons
K-37: 252 tons
The C&TS rates locomotives as follows:
Adjusted tonnage ratings - Chama to Cumbres:
K-27: 183 tons
K-36: 230 tons
K-37: 252 tons.
My recollection is that the K-37 class was rated at one car more on the 4% grades than the K-36 class.
Charlie Mutschler
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