The Evolution of the Diesel Locomotive in the United States

[smash]

While I was looking for what the Kaufman Act was about I found this.
http://yardlimit.railfan.net/guide/locopaper.html
It make for an interesting read. It mainly deals in time from the late 1880's the the beginning of WWII.
I am just wondering if there might be any pictures of the early motorcars and boxcabs on the internet?
Kenny

 

[simulatortrain]

Trains magazine made a special issue a couple years ago called "Diesel Victory" that has a lot of pictures of early locos in it. As soon as I saw some of the things in it I had to buy it.

 

[farecoal]

Bleh. Diesels can go die in a hole. Most boring invention ever.

 

[misquetofarmer]

interesting story...

well rounded history for the most part. Maybe I missed something but train wrecks played a decisive roll in the demise of passenger service. I like diesel for several reasons. its not that I don't find a steamer interesting I am fascinated with the versatility of a diesel. a machine that can tow 30 times its own weight and can be augmented with other engines is a big deal. the cost associated with maintenance of Steam engines compared to diesels is like night and day. The most amazing thing I find about diesels is the drive mechanisms. they are really all electric loco's with a generator on board to provide the juice it needs to run the motors. I can envision a day when diesel isn't the choice for power generation although its very hard to dispute the strengths and ballsy power of a well groomed diesel. With a diesel provided your don't have a compression problem there are only two other things that can go wrong....bad fuel or poor air intake. otherwise the damn thing will run under water with proper ventilation. (its not recommended but it can be done)...

 

[kamran]

Bleh. Diesels can go die in a hole. Most boring invention ever.

diesel are most powerful creation on earth

 

[SPNGTyler]

Now adays, with the bigger SDs, I can some what agree to that.

However, there is a point I must bring up.

How come it only took 1 GS class 4-8-4 on the SP pulling the daylight while it took 3 to 4 diesels (Alcos or Es(Did the Fs pull the daylight?)). Even still today. 4449 can pull a train that takes 2 SD70s or 60s.

Also, in the 60s and 70s, it would take about 9 engines or so to match the power of 1 AC-12 (cab forward).

Deisels have only recently gotten a little more umph, and even with that, there are still cases where the steam engines are still stronger.

 

[Truemac]

As much as I love steam, people fail to realize that power, while it plays an important factor, is not the only thing that governs what is successful. Most early diesels were nowhere near as powerful as the mainline steam engines, but they redeemed that by being cheap and easy to maintain. Several could be primed and on the front of a train at a moment's notice, compared to taking several hours for a steam loco to be ready to turn a wheel. Also, they didn't take as many people to operate, so railroads could cut crew costs that way as well. Diesels also had a higher safety rating in an accident than most steam engines as well.

Steam may have had character, but diesels raked in more money. That's why they were successful.

 

[SPNGTyler]

As much as I love steam, people fail to realize that power, while it plays an important factor, is not the only thing that governs what is successful. Most early diesels were nowhere near as powerful as the mainline steam engines, but they redeemed that by being cheap and easy to maintain. Several could be primed and on the front of a train at a moment's notice, compared to taking several hours for a steam loco to be ready to turn a wheel. Also, they didn't take as many people to operate, so railroads could cut crew costs that way as well. Diesels also had a higher safety rating in an accident than most steam engines as well.

Steam may have had character, but diesels raked in more money. That's why they were successful.

And yes, that is why they won out in the end. Its funny how alot of people fail to realize that alot of what railroads do and have nowadays were started/ created due to money issues.

Ex: Welded rail. CB&Q did this first as a way to save money on track bolts and rail joiners. It proved to not only less to maintain and buy, but could be a smoother ride with a lot less mainteness.

 

[JCitron]

And yes, that is why they won out in the end. Its funny how alot of people fail to realize that alot of what railroads do and have nowadays were started/ created due to money issues.

Ex: Welded rail. CB&Q did this first as a way to save money on track bolts and rail joiners. It proved to not only less to maintain and buy, but could be a smoother ride with a lot less mainteness.

And add in less maintenance on the journals and wheels as well on the freight cars and varnish. With jointed rail, the constant banging on the axels will eventually cause fatigue in the metal with CWR, there's almost none of that.

John