• iocase@lemmy.zip
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      2 hours ago

      It’s a railroader saying. Steam makes 100% torque at a dead stop so if it can start moving it can haul it.

      So it means if our little train gets going nothing can stop it.

      For comparison a diesel-electric locomotive makes 300% torque at a dead stop so it can move things it cannot haul for long distances. The motors would catch on fire or you would burn out your electronics.

      Another railroader saying that sounds like a tautology is

      “Steam can’t start a load it can haul. Electric can start a load it can’t”

    • whimsy@lemmy.zip
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      19 hours ago

      Yeah, I was also really confused initially. Because it seems to indeed be a tautology, or maybe it’s a shitpost

      • iocase@lemmy.zip
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        2 hours ago

        It’s a common railroader saying I replied to the other commenter with more details if you’re curious