You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly. You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
alternatehistory.com
The Red Devil was an old South African Class 25NC steam locomotive rebuilt in 1980-81 by a team led by British engineer David Wardale, which despite being a relatively cheap rebuild of a locomotive that was over 25 years old, it still produced astounding results:
[SIZE=-1]The Red Devil was no more than a cost-limited rebuild of a 1950s "old steam" design, carried out with limited resources. Yet the improvement in its performance might in another context have been described as "electrifying". The book tabulates and graphically represents every aspect of the improvements that were achieved, however one doesn't need to understand all the figures to appreciate the raw facts: [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]On test:[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]Reduction in specific coal consumption ranging from about 30% at the lowest speed and drawbar pull, to about 60% at higher speeds and pulls, corresponding to increases in drawbar thermal efficiency of 43% and 150% respectively;[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]Reductions in specific water consumption ranging from about 20% at the lower speeds and drawbar pulls, to about 45% at higher speeds and pulls[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]Highest mean equivalent drawbar powers increased from 1,118 kW at 42.9km/h for 22.10 km for a standard Class 25, to 1,565 kW at 46.1km/h for 42.45 km for Class 26 N0 3450.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]In normal service:[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]Coal saving per gross tonne-km: average 15% (max 24%)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]Water saving per gross tonne-km: average 21.5% (max 25%)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]Lubrication oil saving per km: 26%[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]In addition the Red Devil demonstrated speed capability to the extent that 100mph performance could almost certainly have been achieved had the railway authorities allowed it, which of course they didn't. The Red Devil had by then become an embarrassment to their policy for "modernization" and the fast-track abandonment of steam.[/SIZE]
Now, what if the Red Devil had been accepted by the apartheid state, and shown off as an example that steam was not only a long ways from dead, but it could actually be used into the future? It's fair to say that South Africa's steam might still be roaring along even today, but what about other ideas? China and India, which were still building new steamers in 1981?
Or perhaps even the USA? This was the time when the ACE 3000 concept was taking shape, and a bunch of steam engines were restored and returned to service during this time for excursions. I perhaps thinking Union Pacific 3985, which returned to service in 1981, could perhaps have been the American "Red Devil"......