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Speed

Posted by BILLBKLYN on Sat Jan 31 04:27:56 2026

During the Steam Era of the NYC elevated, how fast were the operating speeds? I can't see the Forney locomotives going faster than 20 MPH on the structures.

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(1646443)

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Re: Speed of Forney-hauled trains on NY els

Posted by Olog-hai on Sat Jan 31 13:58:10 2026, in response to Speed, posted by BILLBKLYN on Sat Jan 31 04:27:56 2026.

You're close. According to SteamLocomotive.com, the Forneys were "rated" for 25 mph.

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(1646448)

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Re: Speed of Forney-hauled trains on NY els

Posted by Steve B-8AVEXP on Sat Jan 31 19:56:22 2026, in response to Re: Speed of Forney-hauled trains on NY els, posted by Olog-hai on Sat Jan 31 13:58:10 2026.

They didn't have field shunting.:)

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(1646450)

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Re: Speed of Forney-hauled trains on NY els

Posted by BILLBKLYN on Sat Jan 31 21:22:29 2026, in response to Re: Speed of Forney-hauled trains on NY els, posted by Olog-hai on Sat Jan 31 13:58:10 2026.

That must have been torture. Think the Strasburg railroad but elevated

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(1646457)

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Re: Speed of Forney-hauled trains on NY els

Posted by Olog-hai on Sun Feb 1 14:37:35 2026, in response to Re: Speed of Forney-hauled trains on NY els, posted by BILLBKLYN on Sat Jan 31 21:22:29 2026.

Was better than walking. The cable cars on the surface weren't faster and were lower capacity.

Local subway trains even today have an average speed of 15 mph, 20 mph at best.

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(1646468)

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Re: Speed of Forney-hauled trains on NY els

Posted by BILLBKLYN on Sun Feb 1 18:36:51 2026, in response to Re: Speed of Forney-hauled trains on NY els, posted by Olog-hai on Sun Feb 1 14:37:35 2026.

Bit for the most part, they can get into the 30s between stations barring no traffic or timers. And the express can get up to 50

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(1646471)

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Re: Speed of Forney-hauled trains on NY els

Posted by Steve B-8AVEXP on Sun Feb 1 20:33:03 2026, in response to Re: Speed of Forney-hauled trains on NY els, posted by BILLBKLYN on Sun Feb 1 18:36:51 2026.

I can't count how many times I've seen locals zoom along while expresses plod.

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(1646477)

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Re: Speed of Forney-hauled trains on NY els

Posted by Spider-Pig on Sun Feb 1 22:05:23 2026, in response to Re: Speed of Forney-hauled trains on NY els, posted by BILLBKLYN on Sat Jan 31 21:22:29 2026.

Yeah, but back in the day they thought that was fast.

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(1646480)

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Re: Speed of Forney-hauled trains on NY els

Posted by BILLBKLYN on Mon Feb 2 02:23:56 2026, in response to Re: Speed of Forney-hauled trains on NY els, posted by Steve B-8AVEXP on Sun Feb 1 20:33:03 2026.

Welcome to the 4th Avenue Line!

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(1646481)

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Re: Speed of Forney-hauled trains on NY els

Posted by Olog-hai on Mon Feb 2 03:24:42 2026, in response to Re: Speed of Forney-hauled trains on NY els, posted by BILLBKLYN on Sun Feb 1 18:36:51 2026.

You're trying to focus on top speed. The average speed of the steam trains and electric trains are very similar.

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(1646484)

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Re: Speed of Forney-hauled trains on NY els

Posted by Steve B-8AVEXP on Mon Feb 2 04:43:48 2026, in response to Re: Speed of Forney-hauled trains on NY els, posted by BILLBKLYN on Mon Feb 2 02:23:56 2026.

Not just the Honeymooners Line. Plenty of other spots as well.

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