Agreed, but in the 'what could have been' world that's not unrealistic.

GE 70-tonners could, and were, ballasted with more steel on the running boards up to 95-tons. One survivor (now out of service) up at ExpoRail in Montreal is a 95-tonner, and the steel slabs on the running boards are evident. But other than that, pretty stock.

From about 1947 on, both the 44-tonners and the 70-tonners were the logical source for shortlines, GE pretty well had the lock on less than standard gauge market.

They did actually exist, here's the meter-gauge one that's in Brazil, six-axle trucks.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Associa%C ... itcher.jpg

But that Porter is still one of a kind. Diesel version of a Willamette.

The 'what if's are always fun. The local steam shortline that Bob Richardson covered just before WWII, the Sheffield & Tionesta, was really the Hootervile Cannonball. Only remaining customer before the engine terminal at Nebraska, PA was flooded by the Tionesta reservoir was a big acetone wood chemical plant that was supplied by my fathers lumber company. When the railroad was put up for abandonment, I discovered he tried to buy it, and was overruled by the War Production Board to get the scrap. But I often wonder if my Dad had succeeded what would have happened, I imagine a GE 44-tonner and a couple of cars, more or less another Coudersport & Port Allegany.

Louis A. Marre's The Diesel's First 50 years: A Guide to Diesels Built Before 1972 says that the "construction of the locomotive started in 1945 as an order for India. It was sent to USG in 1947." Pakistan was part of the British Indian Empire until 1947 when it and India became separate indipendent countries. I have been told that the records that moved with the locomotive indicate only the Porter 1947 date without reference to the earlier start of construction.

All six axels are powered; and the truck frame estension is to support one of the traction motors. When I saw the locomotive in storage at the Huckleberry, the wheels were spoked and utilized tires -- like a steam locomotive and a few diesels.

I believe the engine truck wheels on the contemporary Little Joe 2-D-D-2 electrics were made the same way.

Seems East Broad Top Foundation hit upon the perfect heritage locomotive for 'heavy haul' rock trains up to Saltillo. As with most mineral extraction carriers, loads up was something I'd guess EBT didn't have to deal with or did they? Could someone share what the ruling compound grade (grade plus curve resistance) is southbound to Saltillo, for that matter what the ruling grade will be to the peak of the Alleghenies at Sideling and Rays Hill?

HK Porter may have beat EMD's HTC truck design by quite a few years with a motor suspension arrangement that tends to cancel wheel unloading as motors 'torque' up.

I'm not going to do the math on curve compound resistance, but the ruling grade Orby south to Saltillo is about 3/4 of a mile up to Jordan Summit at 1.37%. Beyond Saltillo, from about MP19.6 to the crest in Sideling Hill Tunnel at about MP22.7, the grade is a fairly constant 2.65% (eases off to 2% about 400' short of the tunnel). Between the two tunnels the ruling grade is the last mile or so from Coles to the Rocky Ridge tunnel apex at 2.12%. And don't forget it's uphill from Rocky Ridge all the way to Alvan, the ruling grade there being 2.26% from MP28.4 to MP29.

Thanks for the grade statistics. What would you guess the tonnage rating for EBT # 16 would be to Robertsdale?? Thanks, Ross Rowland

I hope the issue with the gears slipping on the axles has been resolved in the recent rebuildings. Both units went out with this issue at the Loop back in the day, and we had to fire up a Shay to rescue the diesels.

No idea about upgrade, but 16 was rated for 22 loads downgrade from Robertsdale, 14/15 were rated at 18 cars downgrade and 12 was good for 15.

16 is shown in pictures with about 24 cars up the hill. TE for 16 is listed as 30,600. EBT steel hoppers were around 10.5 - 12 tons empty, so....

One anecdote from the Rainey/Kyper book - 16 once brought 60 MTYs from MT.Union to Orbisonia, literally cleaning out the transfer yard at Mt.Union with a single train.

Videos of first start and first run:
https://www.facebook.com/ebtrr/videos/1169269650875545/
https://www.facebook.com/ebtrr/videos/1150226733099303/

The Railroad has said that the Paint Scheme will remain in Black with a darker orange similar to what is Used on 16's Tender

BUT Alternatively, I feel that Cream and Orange would Look awesome running North or South on the Railroad

An Example is included below

Thanks