[net.railroad] thanks for the info

ken@ihuxq.UUCP (ken perlow) (12/20/83)

Thanks to all who set me straight on how diesel locomotives
work.  Using the diesel to generate electricity to run the
wheels seemed to me to be an inefficient way to transfer power
(perhaps a 20-30% performance hit in the energy conversion
vs. using the mechanical energy directly) until I noticed that
the loss will be more than recouped from running the engine at
continuous, constant speed.  A clever scheme this diesel-electric,
& robust, too.  Well, thanks again.
-- 
                    *** ***
JE MAINTIENDRAI   ***** *****
                 ****** ******
ken perlow       *****   *****
(312)979-7261     ** ** ** **
..ihnp4!ihuxq!ken   *** ***