70014IronDuke
Established Member
- Joined
- 13 Jun 2015
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- 3,693
Would suggest that the formula quoted is fanciful.
The figures produced suggest steam locos having a similar power output to a Class 91. Common sense indicates that this is wide of the mark.
Agree. I think these figures give the theoretical indicated HP (ie at the cylinder. and not at the drawbar). However, this assumes the boiler can produce steam to keep the train moving at 60 mph. If it can't, well. ..... the HP figures are simply fiction.
I don't think anyone would deny that a P2 'must be up there' with the best in terms of power output for a British express passenger steam locomotive (especially with a 250 psi boiler), but I would posit these figures are double reality in terms of drawbar HP.
Of course, to keep this on topic, I believe the SR PR department did use tractive effort figures to boast that the Lord Nelsons were the most powerful British locomotive when they were first delivered - much to the chagrin of the Swindon folks. So the P2 Foundation people are only following that example.