So a thread on /tg/ (>>>/tg/70636655) suggested going to /n/ for people that know their shit (or at least are better at pretending they know their shit) about trains, railway engineering and related subjects.
I've got a couple questions for pure research and to confirm or supplement informations, since fa/tg/uys rarely have sufficient mass of people that know anything to get to some solid conclusions, usually ending up with single anon answering questions and everyone else just nodding in unison.
So could someone please confirm, denounce or correct information about the subject of:
- Shay steam engines, as presented here:
/tg/>>>70650840
/tg/>>>70651321
/tg/>>>70661012
- narrow gauge advantages, as discussed here:
/tg/>>>70672962
/tg/>>>70673961
And on unrelated note with things talked in that thread, is it possible to combine the mechanical advantage of both Shay's design and camelback engines, or they are too different in their means of operation (one having all-wheels drive, the other simply increasing weight on the moving wheels)?

I would appriciate not only informations, but maybe also some reading material about those subjects. Any help would do, really.