A Lesson in Torque, Steam vrs Diesel

wa8yxm wrote:
Internal combustion engines need to be running to develop maximum torque.

Steam engines generate max torque at dead stall.. This is why they were used for things like pulling trains,, A steam engine with a good engineer, and less you are looking out the window you won't know when the train starts moving.

Been there.. Listened to folks asking "Are we moving yet" (Looked out the window).

Diesel-lectric are good. but they are not that good.

They still teach us to look out the window when starting, especially on a grade. One good thing about the diesel electrics today is traction control.