GE 44-ton

Model Railroader Prototype information for the modeler
1

How many cars does a 44-ton pull? I was told my model pulls too many.

Wolfgang

2

Wolfgang,

Wow, where to begin??? I love that trestle angle, beautifull!! (Like the bolt detail & everything about the trestle!!!)

I also really like your sound timing, & your ‘Engineer’ skills, very well done & smooth.

Sorry, I don’t know the answer to your question, but the video is great!!!

I also liked the lil 25 ton switcher from a couple weeks ago, I love those lil dudes!! Working on a 23T boxcab that fits a ‘Critter’ drive in HOn3 myself.

I always enjoy your work, & your website!

3

A very difficult question to answer with just a number. Uphill or down, loaded or empty, straight or curving track? My answer would be 3-4 typically and 6-7 max.

4

There is a shot of St. Paul Union Depot 441,. (taken April 1946, Don Ross Collection), standing with a baggage car and coach visible… Does anyone know who bought this engine from Ozark Mountain Railcar in the last year? The price that was advertised was $15,000 with the extras and was reduced at least once from there.

5

Twelve to fifteen cars is not unusual for these locos to move, the New Haven used to move that many with them.mh.

6

In 1946 the Southern Pacific Railroad acquired a GE 44-tonner for its subsidiary Petaluma and Santa Rosa Railroad. Like others of its type, it had 380 horsepower and a tractive effort of 22,300 pounds.

Mark

7

Wolfgang.

What track cleaner is that, acting as a caboose, in das video???

I like that!

I got a Centerline car (this spring), & with it’s side sill design, I couldn’t resist fabricating a Gon body for it. I also made support mounts & added GC-Laser cable spools. Here is a link to a composite picture of it, showing before & after weathering. It’s just a one nighter build, a couple more in details & paint, nothing special or accurate. Just not a naked chassis anymore.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30709605&l=0ee9eff60e&id=1380631487

Maybe we should start a thread something like; ‘Track cleaner conversions.’

8

  • what type of cars?

  • loaded or empty?

  • what’s the load?

  • are there car or load restrictions?

  • is the track level / falling / rising - most restricting grade on the route… is it permitted to “double the grade”?

  • is the track (mainly the restricted bit) straight, lightly curved or nastily curved?

  • is there a serious or nasty curve at the foot or top of a restricting grade - or both?

  • is the track dry and clean?

  • is the loco well maintained / in good condition?

  • Is the engineer experienced and a good engineer (can probably take far more than a poor engineer)?

  • Is the loco hauling for all of the route? Will it or can it shove the cars over/through a bad spot? (There is a potential difference between hauling cars nicely - and gently - and giving them a biff from behind to get them up a short, sharp grade… I used to know an industrial spur that had a vile bend at the foot of a vicious up grade - this was a bend not a curve as is usual in RR the rails had actually been heated and bent to the sharp curve. I think that three loads of sand was the maximum permitted. Hauling them the loco would never have got to the top. Shoving them it could make it with good weather and plenty of sand. Wet, leaves or frost meant the railheads had to be swept… both going down and up. Just for fun there was a grade crossing right at the bottom on the curve… with a blind approach for cars one side)

The number varies through any given route… and, of course, ca

9

That Track Cleaning Transfer Caboose works like the Centerline Car.

Thank you all for the answers.

Wolfgang

10

The math, HP, tractive effort and continous tactive effort, suggests that 400 tons or 8-9 loaded 50 ton cars of the era in which the loco was built would be typical under most average conditions. Top speed with such a load was likely only about 15 MPH.

Anecdotal evidence from photos and railroad engineers suggests about the same.

So 12-15 cars would be possible if most were empties or light loads.

I believe the New Haven found it necessary to double head them for their waterfront street line in Boston. Sharp curves, bad track, and more than 8 car moves likely required this.

I grew up along the Batlimore & Annapolis shortline which used a GE 70 tonner. I never saw it pull more than about 10 cars - on a line that was virtually perfectly straight and flat.

Sheldon