fastest: 04 320 cdi (not by experience but by reading)
tied for second: my 03 dodge cummins and my (ex) 350sdl.


tom w

Truck driver 8 yrs.....

Cummins M-14 straight 6, 10 litre about 380hp - low narrow power band 1300-1800rpm, 10 spd tranny.

Detroit (model unknown) straight 6, much taller power band 1800-2300 rpm. Best kept in higher range, lugs below 2000.

Various Catterpillars straight 6 and V-8 400+hp, moderate power band not quite as tall as the Detroit.

Never drove a Mack, but understand their Bulldog V-10(?) develops 600hp. You see em used as rock-haulers.

(edit: Top speed for these is mostly governed at/below 75mph. At one depot the mechanic would raise em to 85-90 for $30 bribe. And those ships you guys are talkin about - whats the top speed on them..... 8-12 knots, or 10-12 nuatical miles per hour?

30+

Always wondered about that.... 1 knot = ? mph

1 knot = 1.15mph

QE2 top speed
 

The QE2 web site
http://www.qe2.org.uk/engine.html
says that the "service speed" is 28.5 knots and the top speed 32 knots.

When my wife and I crossed the Atlantic on QE2 in the summer of 1986 (just before the diesel-electric conversion was done) we steamed at 28 knots the whole way. It was said (by the captain and crew) that the 4-1/2 days crossing required full speed the whole way.

The North Atlantic at 30 MPH is not a whole lot of fun -- not much to see, either. We spent most of the time indoors curled up with a good book (read Clancy's Red Storm Rising for the first time) and went to some interesting lectures. It was an interesting experience if not a diesel experience.

We flew home Concorde. Not diesel either. :D

[QUOTE=
And those ships you guys are talkin about - whats the top speed on them..... 8-12 knots, or 10-12 nuatical miles per hour?[/QUOTE]

Yah, 8-12 kts for freight boats, light tugs (no tow). Bucking into head seas can slow you down, even knock out wheel house windows or spill your coffee :eek: if you dont back off the throttles. Probably like driving truck, the conditions tell you when to slow down.

Fastest *and* most powerful diesel I've ever driven:

Touraeg V10 TDI.
Went 0-100 on an on ramp in one. WHOOOOOOOOOSH! The fwy traffic was surprised at the speed of my merge...

fastest and most powerful ive ever driven, john hefs 300cd:uhoh: (but shh dont tell him) also ridden in his 124 300d and i can vouch its pretty fast too :)

I drove an 87 300d about a year and a half ago and it was pretty quick. I haven't driven any other diesels besides my own, but I've been in a few powerstrokes and cummins and those have some crazy torque. Fun stuff, but I prefer the MB.

Our old 300SDL I suppose. Haven't driven many diesels.

Same here Matt (if you remember me) :D

One of the best ways to travel, shame they dumped it.:cool:

They think they are going to start a trans atlantic route again, seems like a step back to me. Why bother sailing for days when you can fly for a few hours?

4400HP diesel locomotive
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://www.getransportation.com/general/apps/specsheets/UP_AC4400/up-ac4400cw.jpg&imgrefurl=https://www.getransportation.com/general/apps/specsheets/UP_AC4400/UP_AC4400_front.htm&h=354&w=617&sz=34&hl=en&start=24&tbnid=9auTdUe2mXe7HM:&tbnh=78&tbnw=136&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dac%2B4400%26start%3D20%26ndsp%3D20%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft :en-us:IE-SearchBox%26sa%3DN

I would think for sure, your 603 would be both faster and more powerfull than that 6.2L N/A burban... or did your mom have it turboed? my truck is a lumbering tank with that motor...
John