The 1946 Steam-versus-diesel Trials
Six of these locomotives were chosen by their designer, Paul W. Kiefer, to participate in the famous 1946 Steam Versus Diesel road trials, where the 6,000 hp (4,500 kW) Niagaras were put up against some 4,000 hp (3,000 kW) diesels (E7's). The locomotives were run along the 928.1 miles (1,493.6 km) from New York (Harmon) to Chicago, via Albany, Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo, Cleveland, Toledo and Elkhart, and return. The results were actually very close, as the table below shows:
| Cost comparison Steam versus diesel, 1946 NYC road trials Running from New York (Harmon) to Chicago (928.1 miles or 1,493.6 km) and return Note: dollar figures quoted in 1946 US dollars. To get 2007 US dollar figures, multiply by 10.66 |
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| Steam S-1 'Niagara' (six locomotives) |
Diesel E7 4,000 bhp two unit (six locomotives) |
Diesel E7 6,000 bhp Three Unit (estimated by New York Central) |
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| Approximate relative first costs (as at December, 1946) |
100% | 147% | 214% | |||
| Total drawbar horsepower | 6,000 hp | 3,320 dbhp | 4,980 dbhp | |||
| Relative first cost, in dollars per horsepower |
100% | 265% | 258% | |||
| Total annual mileage per locomotive | 288,000 (310 trips per annum) |
324,000 (349 trips per annum) |
324,000 (349 trips per annum) |
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| COST PER LOCOMOTIVE | Actual | As percentage of total |
Actual | As percentage of total |
Estimated (by New York Central) |
As percentage of total |
| Repairs | $102,528 | 31.48% | $114,048 | 35.6% | $162,000 | 38.4% |
| Fuel | $118,080 | 36.26% | $90,720 | 28.3% | $136,080 | 32.3% |
| Water | $8,928 | 2.74% | $1,296 | 0.4% | $1,620 | 0.4% |
| Lubrication | $3,168 | 0.97% | $9,720 | 3.0% | $14,580 | 3.5% |
| Other Supplies | $1,440 | 0.44% | $648 | 0.2% | $648 | 0.2% |
| Enginehouse Expense | $28,800 | 8.84% | $32,400 | 10.1% | $32,400 | 7.7% |
| Crew Wages (Two men) | $55,987 | 17.19% | $64,120 | 20.0% | $66,290 | 15.7% |
| Vacation Allowance (3%) | $1,670 | 0.51% | $1,912 | 0.6% | $1,976 | 0.5% |
| Social Security & Unemployment Tax (8.75%) | $5,040 | 1.55% | $5,767 | 1.8% | $5,962 | 1.4% |
| Total Cost Per Mile (Operating) | $1.1307 | $0.9896 | $1.3011 | |||
| Total Annual Operating Cost | $325,642 | $320,630 | $421,556 | |||
| Fixed Charges (Interest, depreciation, insurance) |
$24,453 | $38,841 | $56,640 | |||
| Total Annual Cost Per Locomotive | $350,095 | $359,471 | $478,196 | |||
| Total Annual Cost Per Mile Per Locomotive | $1.22 | $1.11 | $1.48 | |||
| Total Annual Cost Per Locomotive Drawbar Horsepower | $58.35 | $108.27 | $96.02 | |||
The above is based on a table in Paul W. Kiefer (1947). A Practical Evaluation of Railroad Motive Power. Steam Locomotive Research Institute Inc., New York.. Kiefer only claimed 5050 drawbar horsepower from a 79-inch 4-8-4, and the last line (dollars/power) has been added.
The results were much closer than the diesel salesmen were comfortable with, but these steam locomotives were hampered by several factors: a series of coal miners' strikes; aggressive dieselization sales efforts; and a failure of the highly-expensive firebox-wrapper metallurgy to withstand the conditions of actual operation. (reference: pages 172 ~ 173 The Great Book of Trains, Brian Hollingsworth and Arthur Cook (Bedford Editions, Salamander Books, 1987) )
Diesel fuel now costs about USD 3 per US gallon: a 3,750% increase since 1946, and coal US$70 per short ton ($77/t) (at the time of writing): a 1,555% increase since 1946.
Read more about this topic: NYC Niagara
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“Without trials and tribulations, no one can become a Buddha.”
—Chinese proverb.