http://www.georgetowncolorado.com/courant_articles/Inexperience.htm Its kind of long but it has some really good info in it. Eric
A lot of politics there. I also wonder how well the writer researched, when I see mentioned how the diesel "blew out a motor box." Boxcab E50
What the heck is a 'Motor Box'? As for the comments at the bottom about staybolts overheating, and problems from coal-to-oil burning conversion--why doesn't the Loop powers-that-be drive 150 miles to a little town called Cheyenne, and talk to some guys that did the conversion, albeit to a SG loco, not NG, but still, there has to be some data that works for both gauges. UP Steam crew is a great bunch of guys, and they could stand to learn a lot about these issues, and how tocombat them. I am glad they see the light, and not rebuild small engines for a tough railroad such as GL. History has proved bigger is better on mountain grades. Why lash up 2 or 3 small engines when a single bigger engine will do the job? There certainly has to be larger engines somewhere int he area that could be bought, and will do the job they were created for. The problem is always money, I know..
One of the problems GT Loop is facing and why the old operator left is the Historical Society is focing the usage of equipment that use to operate on the line. It sounds great on paper but I don't think they recall how little those engines could pull and thus resulted in failure of equipment this years do to stress on the equipment. In the mean time the old equipment is being used at the CRRM for Steam Up trips around the yard there. Still I hope the GT Loop can get things going better in the next couple of years as they try to get more equipment ready for usage.
