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Re: (erielack) Lackawanna Articulateds

Rick,

Keep in mind that by the time the compound articulateds became a proven 
concept, the Lackawanna was already looking at two alternatives; the 
three cylinder freight Mountains and electrification. The Mountains came 
in 1925-1927 and requests for proposals for electrification of the 
mainline around Scranton were put out before and after that time.

In the trade magazines of the era, there was much debate about a 
compound being too slow and boiler capacity too restrictive for anything 
but pusher or mine run service. The feeling was that as a mainline 
engine they were too complicated, expensive and slow except in a few 
special cases like the N&W and Virginian. Simple articulateds really 
didn't come into their own until UP's Challenger design in the 1930's, 
after which the concept and the appliances to support it allowed it to 
really take off.

Don't underestimate the 2100 series Mikados either, they were rated at 
over 67,000 pounds tractive effort. By any estimation they were BIG, 
powerful Mikados!

Electrification may well have become a reality except for one overriding 
factor: The Depression. By then, the mainline locomotive fleet was 
relatively modern and with declining traffic there was an excess of 
mainline motive power. With reduced traffic, the success of the Poconos 
and an excess of power, there really wasn't much motivation or reason to 
pursue an articulated design.

As was pointed out, neighboring D&H was in a much different position, 
it's freight fleet consisted mainly of Consolidations. BIG 
Consolidations, but slow, powerful, drag coal train engines.

World War II and the D&H's strategic position being a vital link to 
Canada changed the way the D&H had to run, speed became important. Keep 
in mind too that the locomotives chosen to fill that role were proven, 
modern designs, arguably some of the best available at the time. 
Otherwise the D&H might well have continued on using its Consolidations 
as it's primary power until dieselization. In fact it did, but in a 
diminished role after the Northerns and Challengers arrived.

Regards,

Will Shultz

RJFlei_@_aol.com wrote:

>List,
>       I know the Lackawanna had a large fleet of Poconos, Mountains, and 
>Mikados. I was just wondering why, considering the heavy grades of this railroad, 
>that they never invested in articulated locomotives like the D&H's 
>Challengers for mountain territory? Anyone out there have an idea? Did they ever have 
>one on the drawing board? 
>
>Rick Fleischer
>Cortland, Oh.
>ELHS # 1426
>
>
>
>  
>

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