Henschel V-8 steam locomotive--doomed

This is a fascinating piece of railroad steam engine history and loaded with tons of physics. Why did the Henschel V-8 steam locomotive disappear? It looks like a good idea. Researching the material leads me to believe it was specifically designed for setting speed records, but the ultimate death blow was the advent of cheaper, more efficient train engines--the diesels. Can you imagine the maintenance on one of these?

The V19.1001 was a V8 locomotive, having four V2 engines, one for each driving axle. The wheel arrangement was 2-8-2 and in October 1944 the V19.1001 was seriously damaged during an air raid on Hamburg. It was moved to RAW Braunschweig and stayed there until the end of the war. In August 1945 the locomotive was brought back to Henschel, repaired, and after one test run between Kassel and Wabern, was shipped to the USA in October 1945. It was sent to Fort Monroe in Virginia for testing and inspection and in 1950 was moved to Fort Eustis to be scrapped in 1952.

How Steam Locomotives Really Work

by

P. W. B. Semmens and A. J. Goldfinch

ISBN: 0198607822

Perfecting the American Steam Locomotive

by

J. Lamb

ISBN : 0253342198