Re: Question.....

The late Floyd Carpenter told about going to Skagway to confer with the W.P.&Y. mechanical department on the design of the 70 class Mikes, based on his experience with the Baldwin vs ALCO mikes on the S.V. Apparently he learned well as the 70's incorporate the best features of both classes, as well as some additional features like superheaters.
The ALCO's were good engines, the 19 was the favorite of long time engineer U.S.Carpenter, but the Baldwins had a better factor of adhesion. The ALCO's had a higher horsepower rating, but the tonnage rating was the same and the Baldwins did not slip as much. In our current operations I have observed considerably less driver spinning since we cut the safeties back to 150 psi.