It may have been very difficult to get steam qualified VGN crew to operate on the VGN. Once the directional running started then the N&W steam crewmen became current on the VGN ?
What about water ? Did VGN route still have water towers ? If so could that route treat water to N&W specifications ? If not even using N&W steam with 2 canteen tenders might have been a problem ? Could see them being used for helpers on heavy grades >
But wasn’t the establishment of directional running an example of improving operational economy from the merger? IIRC, the VGN had a 0.2 to 0.3% ruling grade to outbound traffic, hence why the loads were put of the VGN trak, while the empties returned on the N&W track.
Electric operation never went any farther than Roanoke to begin with, so, the directional running theory doesn’t hold up as much as say…DIESELS!
Didn’t they run directionally west of Roanoke too? 0.6% VGN eastward instead of 1.0% N&W eastward. Dunno how soon after the merger they built the Kellysville connection.
Is there enough information out there for someone of an artistic bent to be able to do a drawing or painting of what a Y7 would have looked like?
Thank you, BigJim! That would have been a photogenic unit indeed! I wonder what someone like John Winfield or Larry Fisher could have done with that. Wishful thinking, I guess. Thanks again for sharing that drawing!
It should be mentioned that the Y7 drawing was published in Lewis’ “Norfolk & Western Giant of Steam”.
The basic diamentional drawing was in that book. It is drawn in the same manner as many similar N&W drawings of each locomotive class published long ago and at one time could be purchased from the N&WHS. The higher detailed drawing is not in that book and I have no idea where it did come from.
I’m pretty sure the detailed line drawing is in my copy of Lewis’ N&W Giant of Steam. There is a chapter about experimental locomotives and the Y7 is mentioned along with the reproduction of both of the drawings posted here.
Please read my post again. Then go look at your book.
Do you have the 2005 ‘revised edition’?
It is the same line drawing in either edition. It does say that Mr. Jeffries drew it. But, not the more detailed drawing.
I believe I have the 2005 revised edition (the book is at home and I am not right now). I will look tonight. I know for a fact that I have a book with both the N&W Y7 proposal drawing and the detailed side view drawing arranged exactly as posted above. I’m 99% certain it is my copy of N&W Giant of Steam.
Well, I checked my copy of N&W Giant of Steam (revised edition, 2005), and I was wrong. In the ‘Proposals and Experimental’ chapter, there is a section dealing with the Y7 design, and there is the N&W line drawing of the type with basic dimensions, but there is not an image of the more detailed side view drawing as posted above. I stand corrected. The thing that troubles me is that I could have sworn I have a book in my library on locomotives that shows both the N&W line drawing and the detailed ‘conception’ drawing of the Y7 one above the other on a page dedicated to a discussion on the proposed type. I can’t think of where I have seen them. I also checked my copy of King’s N&W A–Mercedes of Steam and it also does not show the detailed Y7 drawing, although it does mention the Y7.
I’ll keep looking to see if I can find where I have seen those drawings printed.
I think I’m losing my mind :-).
Same here, and I checked several other books too. If you stumble over it, send me a message, I’d like to know where it came from myself. Happy hunting.
PS,
In case you are curious, in the original “Giant…” book, the line drawing was spread out over two pages.
The diagram and detailed elevation was developed for a “what-if” entry at the N&WHS convention in Williamson, WV. That’s where the above pair of drawings came from. I drew the elevation based on Bud Jeffries’ diagram, and to the same scale. This was probably at least 10 years ago. In the meantime, Jeffries found new information regarding some of the details, particularly the trailer truck. Later ideas did not include the Delta design. N&W decided to go with the same type as tne lead truck. I’ve developed another elevation incorporating revised information and I hope it will see future use. It’s under wraps at the moment
Thanks Dave for clearing that up. Hope that I didn’t step on your toes by using it.
I wonder if one could construct an O scale brass Y7 and put it on the market?
It wouldn’t be surprising if “what if” steam locomotives for modelers would sell well.
After all, each modeler gets to set the terms for his or her own railroad universe.
That is probably a musing best discussed on one of the other forums, however.
Back to “1-to-1” scale now.
Why not? They’ve made everything else in O gauge. Might as well start making locomotives that never made it off the drawing board! LOL