They sure move'em! These things are quicker than they look.:ru-biggrin: [ame="http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=luB3qFQoW1E&fmt=18"]YouTube - Locomotive Race[/ame] (deep linked at 1m:00s) YouTube - Locomotive Race
The language sounds Nordic, and the locos look like ones on previous topics from Norway, Sweden, or Finland. Yes/No????
Steam locomotives could have very good acceleration but these days don't often get the chance to show off how good. Where ever this is I think the paranoid health and safety authorities in the US, UK or Australia would go into panic if anyone suggested doing this there.
Steam locomotives have 100% of torque available, sitting still. Their only limitation is tire to rail traction. You can be sure the rails had been sanded before they launched. Additionally, most people do not realize how hard that sort of acceleration is on a boiler.