I like the second piece of footage of her just moving and highballing it. Not double header help from NKP 765 and no diesel power. Just pure steam and hauling butt. I love it.
These were part of a series of "Break-In Runs/Long Distance Tests" on the CSX in Michigan year 1990, before PM 1225 would travel the system following year in 1991 with NKP 765 to the NRHS Huntington Convention.
I love to see 1225 running at that speed without help from nkp 765 or the diesel. I heard during the 1225's trip to Huntington WV in 1991, her high speed run was restricted is due to "Speedometer problems", well at least however 1225 did run very fast during the side by side run. I hope the speedometer was fixed after the convention is over. If it is, I would love to see her run on the mainline again to run at that speed, I know CSX and NS were "Anti-Steam" rails by that time. All 1225 do is running in such slow speed restricted rails, I longed for her to have a nice high speed run, she'll sprint like a real Polar Express can do in the movie.
1:36 I love seeing 1225 running at that speed! I'm sick and tired of seeing 1225 running so slow from her home-base Owosso to Alma and back! I longed for her high speed run, like a Real Polar Express engine can do.
Katerina Kittycat The New York Central did a study on steam vs. diesel using an A-B-A set of E7s vs. an S1b Niagara. The Niagara destroyed the diesels in every category, including operating costs and long-term costs, except for availability. It came down to that. Steam was available 5 days a week while diesel was available 7 days a week, and did not require specialized facilities.
Steam once again proves it's more powerful than diesel it would've Taken at least 2 diesels to pull that train. But the mighty Berkshire did it all alone