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I've noticed posts in the past questioning the HHP-8's ability to pull heavy trains, and some people have only seen them pulling short trains, so I just thought I'd mention that the other day I happened to see a single HHP-8 pulling the Silver Meteor. Consist was the following:
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Hmm...that's twelve cars. Isn't that train about four cars shorter than in the past? Also, how fast was the train going? What with that 8,000 horsepower to draw on (2,000 more than the E-60, but with less adhesive weight and perhaps less tractive effort?), the loco should be able to handle more than that. To compare the E-60, though...the E-60 was supposed to be the 125-mph locomotive, but truck-hunting problems forced the top speed to drop...so will the HHP-8 be the winner in the long-train/higher-speed quest...?
vthokie Member # 1456
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I saw it at Metropark, NJ. Not sure what the speed limit is around that curve, but it looked like the train was doing at least 90.
RRRICH Member # 1418
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vthokie - I don't want to sound ignorant, but I guess I am not familiar with the HHP-8. What kind of loco is that? Does anyone have a picture of one?
[This message has been edited by RRRICH (edited 06-12-2002).]
rresor Member # 128
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Time for another lesson on tractive effort vs. horsepower.
Tractive effort starts trains. Horsepower determines how fast they can go.
I don't know offhand if the HHP-8 weighs less than any other four-axle unit. Four-motor units generally weigh about 140 tons. Figure the HHP8 has sophisticated wheelslip control, so maybe it might manage a 40% adhesion factor. THat would give it .4 x 280,000, or 112,000 lbs. of starting tractive effort.
The E60, with six axles, weighs 210 tons. Figure its adhesion factor at 25%, so it can manage 105,000 lbs. starting tractive.
Guess what: that little HHP8 can start anything an E60 can!
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