Locomotives
One of the supposed advantages of the broader Irish Gauge, compared to standard gauge, is that the greater space between the wheels allows for bigger cylinders. In practice, Ireland does not have any heavily-loaded or steeply-graded lines that would require especially powerful locomotives. The most powerful steam locomotives on systems of this gauge were:
- Ireland - GSR Class 800 – Tractive effort: 155 kN (34,850 lbf)
- Victoria - Victorian Railways H class - 245 kN (55,080 lbf); 23.6t axleload - 1 in 48 grade.
By comparison a non-articulated standard gauge locomotive in the same country was:
- NSW D57 class locomotive of 286 kN (64,300 lbf) - 1 in 33 (3.333 %) grades
- This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
Read more about this topic: Irish Gauge
Famous quotes containing the word locomotives:
“The flower-fed buffaloes of the spring
In the days of long ago,
Ranged where the locomotives sing
And the prairie flowers lie low:—”
—Vachel Lindsay (1879–1931)