> Norfork & Western did not agree with your premise. They only dropped steam when > they could not get critical parts any longer. It took 8 diesel locomotives to to > haul the load of one of their steam engines. It is another case of once the > infrastructure is gone it is insanely expensive to replace it. Which we are > going to probably eventually find out is the case with film.
The N&W built their own steam locomotives in the Roanoke, VA shops, including the best looking and most efficient steam locos ever built, the J-series. AFAIK, they still build their own coal hoppers, again, in the Roanoke shops. Also, I believe the 8:1 ratio is a bit optimistic. The most diesel electrics I ever saw hooked to a long string of coal hoppers was 5, which could be handled by one 2-8-8-2 steamer. I imagine the steamers were much more labor intensive to maintain. Especially considering the number of water towers that had to be maintained > Environmentally? That is a question that never has been explored to my > knowledge. It was not a factor to be considered back then. But really I see no > greater problem there with steam than with diesel, maybe less.
