THE BRITISH OVERSEAS RAILWAYS HISTORICAL TRUST
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The Locomotive Railway Carriage and Wagon Review
Volume 60 (1954)
No. 737 (January 1954)
International Railway Congress. 1.
The XVI session of the the International Railway Congress was scheduled
to be held at Church House, London, from the 19 to 26 May. Since the
establishment of the International Railway Congress Association in 1885,
London has twice been its venue: in 1895 and 1925. Great changes have been
wrought in the British railway scene during the last quarter of a century
and the delegates attending from railways the world over will, no doubt,
find much to interest them here. Apart from such a superb showpiece as the
Rugby Testing Station, British Railways can offer modern examples of every
form of traction, in addition to every aid for efficient traffic operation.
The objects of the Association have always been to facilitate the progress
and development of railways by holding periodical congresses and by means
of publications; these objects have certainly been attained with distinction
and the free interchange of views and experience has contributed much to
the present standard of railways.
The eleven questions listed for discussion in the London session, as usual,
include topics covering all branches of railway working, but the two (Nos.
3 and 4) in the second Section, relating .to locomotives and rolling stock,
would particularly interest readers. Question No.3 is a technical and economic
investigation of the basic characteristics of electric traction systems now
in use, with a view to deciding whether, and to what extent, there are relevant
reasons for preferring one system to another. Factors of special interest
in this consideration will be power supply, overhead line and fixed track
installations, motive power units, and working and maintenance costs. The
Reporters handling this important topic were C. Guzzanti, Inspectorat
Général de la Motorisation Civile et des Transports
Concédés, Rome, and Mr. S. B. Warder, Chief Officer (Electrical
Engineering), British Transport Commission.
Question No.4 refers to the ever-present topic of means and methods of improving
the efficiency of steam locomotives. Matters receiving particular attention
in this connection would be, increase of steam pressure, types of grates,
superheating, feed water heating, feed water treatment, etc. The Reporters
in this instance were Manlio Diegoli, Inspecteur en Chef Supérieur
'au Service du Matérial et de la Traction des Chemins de fer de l'Etat
Italian, Florence, and C.T. Long, Assistant C.M.E. (Motive Power) South African
Railways.
Question 11, in the fifth Section, dealing with light and colonial railways
will also be of interest to those concerned with locomotives and rolling
stock. It relates to the protection of overhead lines, substations, locomotives
and motor coaches against accidents of an electrical nature (excess voltage,
overloads, short-circuits, and lightning). The three Reporters of this question
were Messrs. Vrielynck and De Boeck from the Belgian Société
Nationale des Chemins de fer Vicinaux, and T.S. Pick, Chief Electrical Engineer,
London Transport Executive.
Other Questions are of indirect interest to the locomotive and carriage and
wagon departments, e.g., that dealing with recruiting staff. The whole programme
has a wide scope and we have no doubt that the Session will prove, in every
way, to be as valuable as those previously held.
Institution of Locomotive Engineers. 1
An important paper on Developments
in Locomotive Testing was presented by S.O. Ell to the Institution in
London, on 18 November. The thermodynamics of the locomotive is inseparably
linked with the mechanics of the train. It was shown how this can be accomplished
in locomotive testing in a manner both analytical and demonstrative. In
describing its development it was shown (1) how the performance and efficiency
of a steam locomotive can be expressed by a three-fold relation and by a
two-fold relation in thermo electric units, and (2) why the mass, system
of locomotive and train and its normal mode of progression must be preserved
in demonstrative analytical testing. Since the normal mode of progression
is one of variable speed, an outstanding problem has been the control of
the thermodynamic factors at variable speeds. Finding a solution in apparatus
and methods which are simple and easily applied, a full description and analysis
was given of a test on the Controlled Road Testing System. How the results
of a number of tests are coordinated was described and the paper concluded
with a discussion of the implication of the results in respect to the efficiency
of the locomotive as a mobile power plant and as a motive power unit with
its associated operating problems..
H. Davies, M.I.LocoE., A.M.I.I.A., 1.
Appointed a Director of W.G. Bagnall, Ltd., of which firm he had been
General Manager since 1947. He commenced his apprenticeship in the locomotive
industry with Kerr Stuart & Co., Ltd., in 1918. In 1926 he joined Bagnalls
as an estimator and draughtsman. Two years' later he rejoined Kerr Stuart
and subsequently worked with Sir W. G. Armstrong Whitworth & Co., Ltd.,
the Air Ministry and in the London office of Babcock. & Wilcox, Ltd.,
before returning to Bagnalls as Chief Estimator and Persorial Assistant to
the Managing Director in 1940.
Mauritius Railway 0-6-0 diesel-hydraulic locomotives. 2-4. 2 diagrams. (including side elevation) and plan
Built by North British Locomotive Co, to requirements of P.R.I. Cantin,
General Manager of theMauritius Railway and Crown Agents. Paxman engine with
Voith transmission. When used in multiple the locomotives
are connected electrically by jumper cable and pneumatically by air hoses.
Any movement of the controls in the leading locomotive is instantly duplicated
in the trailing locomotive which is driverless.
Italian locomotives for India. 4
The Indian Government placed an order for 50 locomotives with the
Ansaldo-Ferroviaria works of Genoa.
Argentina rebuilding steam locomotives. 4
The Argentine Ministry of Transport has announced that 39 locomotives
of the General Roca Railway had been rebuilt in the Tolosa railway workshops
and in order to expand the rebuilding programme, the Ministry has signed
contracts with a French group which comprises four important French locomotive
building firms. This group has already sent a mission of engineers to Buenos
Aires to superintend the further rebuilding of steam locomotives.
The last L.N.W.R. Webb "Coal" Engine. 4. illustration
THE L.N.W.R. coal engines were the first class of' locomotive to be
designed by F.W. Webb and over 500 of them were built between 1873 and 1892.
Derived from the Ramsbottom 0-6-0 they were a good example of early
standardisation and in their day performed a vast amount of work. They were
probably the simplest and cheapest locomotives ever built in Britain, we
believe that the designer claimed they could be constructed for £400.
The cylinders were 17in. by 24in., wheels oniginally 4ft. 3tin. diameter,
later increased to 4ft. 5tin. by the use of thicker tyres. Pressed to 140
lb., the original boilers varied somewhat but were later standardised at
150 lb. W.P. with a heating surface of 1,075
ft2. and a grate area of 17.1
ft2. . The tractive effort was 16,530 lb. Unlike
most of Webb's designs, they had Stephenson motion. In working order engine
and tender weighed 57 tons. A distinctive feature was the small cast-iron
wheel centre with I-section spokes. The last of the class to survive in service,
No. 58343, originally L.N.W.R. No. 2405, has recently been withdrawn after
an active life of 72 years. No. 2441 illustrated
B.R. Co.Co electric locomotives. 4
The first of seven 2,500 H.P. six-axle electric locomotives under
construction for the Manchester-Sheffield-Wath electrification scheme recently
started trial running between Dukinfield and Crowden. These locomotives,
which each weigh over 100 tons, will be used for hauling both heavy freight
and passenger trains.
The mechanical parts of the locomotives are being built at the Gorton locomotive
works of British Railways (Eastern Region) and the electrical equipment is
being supplied and erected by Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. Ltd. The
bodies of the locomotives, which house the electro-pneumatic control equipment,
starting resistances and auxiliary machines, are mounted on two three-axle
bogies, each of which is equipped with three 415 H.P. motors. Drawgear and
buffers are carried on the bodies. The locomotives are fitted with electrically
heated boilers for passenger train heating, and with equipment for generative
braking.
C.P.R. developments. 4
The Canadian Pacific Railway's new "scenic dome" observation lounge
cars, part of a $38 m. order for 155 streamlined, stainless steel cars to
re-equip the railway's trans-continental passenger trains, will be delivered
this year, but already their influence is being felt in British Columbia.
Work has begun on the first of 44 tunnels in the CP. British Columbia district
to enlarge them for the accommodation of the new-type observation cars, which,
while conforming to the existing loading gauge, will have more movement on
the springs, particularly on curves, than older stock.
British Railways. 4
The following new engines have recently been placed in service.
Eastern Region: 2-6-0 Class 4MT, Nos. 76031-76033; 2-6-4T Class 4MTT, Nos.
80074, 80075.
London Midland Region: 4-6-0 Class 5MT, Nos. 73044-73046; 0-4-0ST' Class
0F, Nos. 47006, 47007
Western Region: 4-6-0 Class 4MT, Nos. 75020, 75021; 0-6-0 350 h.p.
diesel-electric shunters, Nos. 13031-13033.
New Russian Railway. 4
A new mainline railway was officially inaugurated towards the end
of October in the U.S.S.R. It is called the Mointy-Chu line and provides
the shortest link between the southern parts of Kazakhstan and the central
and northern districts of. this Republic, and with Siberia and the Urals.
Its total length is 272 miles. Its economic importance is considerable as
it will now be possible to send coal from the Karaganda basin, metals, machinery
and timber from the Urals, and grain from Siberia to reach southern Kazakhstan,
a rapidly developing part of the U.S.S.R. in Asia, as well as other Central
Asiatic parts of Russia, such as Uzbekistan and Kirghizia. Fruit, vegetables,
sugar, rice and dairy products will be transported on the return
journey.
Motor-coaches for 1 in 30 grade 5
The short Waldenburg Railway, connecting with the Swiss Federal Railways
at Liestal, was converted to electric traction, though not to the Swiss standard
16.6-cycle 15-kV. single- phase system, but to 1,500 volts d.c. The principal
feature of this 12-mile line is a practically continuous grade uphill from
Liestal to Waldenburg, which attains a maximum steepness of 1 in 30. The
three electric motor-coaches now working the line, with old passenger coaches
as trailers at the week-ends, were built by Schindler Waggons S.A. on modern
lightweight all-welded steel principles, with body framing and underframing
as a single structure. The bogies are of the same type as used extensively
by the Swiss Federal Railways for main-line passenger stock and for the 4,000
h.p. Bo-Bo electric locomotives, in which bolsters supported by laminated
springs are hung by links from welded bogie frames which do not incorporate
axlebox guides of the usual pattern. The SKF roller-bearing axlebox casting
is extended at the sides into cups carrying helical springs, and within these
springs are contained hydraulic shock absorbers. In this particular case,
because of the narrow gauge of 750 mm., a design problem was to find room
for the traction motors; but this was done, and each bogie carries two Brown
Boveri nose-suspended motors of 123 h.p. each. The body construction promotes
the desired light weight, and the empty weight of a complete motor-coach
is 25t tons; of this each bogie accounts for 5 tons complete with its two
motors, the body and underframing and shell weighs 6 tons, and the remainder
is accounted for by interior fittings, brake apparatus and electrical equipment.
These motor-coaches seat 42 passengers (If one class in a length over headstocks
of 47ft.; the width is 7ft. 3in. The wheels are 2ft. 6in. dia., bogie wheelbase
7ft. 6tin., and bogie pitch 28ft. 3in. Top speed is 34 m.p.h. Flange lubricators
are fitted to the outer wheels and braking is on the Charmilles air system,
plus a rheostatic brake.
Train controlled platform announcements. 5
The General Electric Co., Ltd., has been awarded a contract for the
installation of a new automatic announcement system at Stratford Station,
E.R., whereby train announcements are automatically initiated by the trains
themselves. The system incorporates features not hitherto used on British
Railways.
The various types of announcements are pre-selected by the signal box staff
and as the train approaches the station it operates the track circuit connected
with the signalhng system, which in turn switches on a special form of tape
reproducer connected to the station loudspeaker system. The loudspeakers
then start announcing: "The train approach- ing No. - platform will call
at ... " As the train draws up at the platform a further signal switches
the tape reproducer over to a second series of announcements: " The train
standing at number - platform, wiII call at ... " The new system, which is
being supplied to the requirements of the British Transport commission, E.R.,
is suitable for use with both steam and electric services.
India wagon building. 5
It is expected that by 1956 India will be able to meet all her domestic
needs for railway wagons. By that year, the railway wagon building industry,
established some 30 years ago, will be the most important in Asia. This was
stated at a New Delhi Press conference by the Chairman of the Railway Board,
Mr. Badhwar, who also revealed that plans were now being finalised to increase
Indian wagon output progressively so that it will reach 12,000 units p.a.
.'
New Swiss electric trains.. 6-7. 2 illustrations
Built by the Swiss Locomotive Works with Brown Boveri, Oerlikon or
Secheron motors and drives and worked push & pull with control trailers
and stock converted to carry the electric cont rol signals.This method of
working had been instigated between Berne and Lucerne and between Lucerne,
Zurich and Schaffhansen.
Oil reclamation plant for C.P.R. 7
A large lubricating oil reclamation plant, the first to operate on
a full scale in Canada, has been installed by the CPR at St. Luc, Montreal,
and is restoring lubricating oil for the Canadian Pacific Railway's fleet
of diesel locomotives. The equipment handles the oil in batches, and takes
about eight hours to process a batch of 375 gallons. At present this is the
total of a day's production, but the equipment is geared to turn out three
times as much restored oil in a double eight-hour shirt. The re-refining
equipment used in the c1ean:ng process consists of an open mixing tank, an
electrically heated retort, vacuum pump, condenser, dilution tank, contact
tank, a filter press and additional motors and pumps, as well as storage
tanks for the used and recovered oil.
Spanish railway electrification. 7
A six-year plan has been announced in Spain for improving and developing
the railway lines connecting the capital with different points in the Guadarrama
mountains, which are to be electrified, at an outlay of some pesetas 70 m.
The Mayor of Barcelona annoumced that the Spanish Government had azreed to
the electrification of the railway traversing Barcelona along the Calle Aragon
and leading to Tarragona. Once electrification is completed. it will be possible
to cover over the line, thus increasing the present width of this important
road for general traffic purposes.
Brazilian railways re-equipment. 7
Plans drawn up by the Brazilian-U.S. Mixed Commission pertaining to
the re-equipment of the State-controlled Sorocabana. and Mogyana Railways
have just been approved by the President of Brazil. For the Sorocabana Railway,
US $14.9 m. will be needed for imported material, and local expenditure will
total Cr.$452.5 m. Major items in this programme are the re-laying of 350
km. of track with new and heavier rails, the purchase of 1,900 new wagons
and of other rollmg stock and of new locomotives. The new traction is expected
to be diesel-electric. For the Mogyana Railway, the plan will require-US.$8.4
m. for imported material and Cr.$517.7 for local expenditure. It is planned
to relay 2,090 km. of track with new sleepers and 420 km. with new rails.
Over 1000 new wagons are to be provided.
Nils Ahlberg. Swedish Steam Locomotives. 7-
The author was traffic manager and civil engineer of the KT.H.
Continued from Volume 59, page 34. The boiler
of the Tb class was a flush one, with a barrel diameter almost as big as
that of the Ta wagon-top barrel. The distance between the tube-plates was
somewhat longer and the grate widened out over the bar frames. To retain
the smoke-box saddle unaltered the frames had to be lowered between the driving
and trailing wheels. The leading bogie was of the same wheelbase as the original,
but had plate frames and a plate spnng above each axlebox. Swing link suspension
was provided and steam brakes were fitted, but later removed. The first engines
had the standard spark arrester, but the latter three were fitted with a
stove pIpe chimney with spark arresting network in the smoke box. The former
had the sand box and the dome in separate casings, the latter had the same
long casing for both. Some of the later Tb engmes were provided with
superheaters, or, more correctly, steam-dryers, on the Clench-Golsdorf system;
these were later removed. The Tb locomotives differed from the Ta class in
the following respects: heating surface, 1,700
ft2.; grate area, 25.8
ft2.; boiler pressure, 200 lb.; weight in working
order, 58 tons 1 cwt. ; adhesion weight, 42 tons 10 cwt. The Tb engines were
to some extent better than the Ta, but the relation between the grate area
and the fire-box volume was no doubt inferior. The highest permissible speed
for both classes was 46.6 miles an hour. Some of the Tb class were provided
with peat-powder firing, as earlier desciibed in conjunction with the Kf
and Cc locomotives. Vacuum brake apparatus was superseded by Kuntze-Knorr
air brake equipment. After 1943 the Tb class was known as the T2.
Class Ta and Tb locomotives
Class No. | Builder | Built | In stock 1/1 1951 | Remainder Withdrawn | |
Class |
No. |
||||
Ta 582-591 | Richmond Lo:omotive and Machine Works | 1899 | |
|
1921-41 |
Ta 622-657 | Nydquist & Holm | 1901·02 | |
|
1931-42 |
Ta 705-714 | Nydquist & Holm | 1902·03 | |
|
1927-42 |
Ta 749-750 | Motala Mech . Works | 1903 | |
|
1933-34 |
Ta 751-760 | Nydquist & Holm | 1903 | T |
758 |
1931-34 |
Ta 782 - 783 | Nydquist & Holm | 1904 | |
|
1934-36 |
Ta 784-786 | Motala Mech . Works | 1904 | |
|
1931-42 |
Ta 824-833 | Nydquist & Holm | 1904-05 | T |
824-826 |
1927-42 |
Tb 846-855 | Motala Mech . Works | 1905 | |
|
1934-42 |
Tb 856-865 | Nydquist & Holm | 1905-06 | T2 |
858,860 |
1934-42 |
Tb 876-879 | Nydquist & Holm | 1905-07 | |
|
1936-42 |
Tb 880-883 | Motala Mech . Works | 1906 | |
|
1933-42 |
Tb 884-885 | Atlas Works. Stockholm | 1907 | |
|
1034,1942 |
Tb 886·888 | Nydquist & Holm | 1907 | T2 |
888 |
1938,1942 |
Tb 889-891 | Motala Mech . Works | 1907 | |
|
1931-38 |
Tb 892-899 | Wagon & Machine Works, Falan | 1907-08 | T2 |
893 |
1933·51 |
Tb 929·932 | Wagon & Machine Works, Falan | 1908 | |
|
1936·42 |
The seven Ta and the thirteen Tb engines, withdrawn in 1942, were
sold to the Finnish State Railways. The method of rebuilding the locomotives
from 4ft. 8?#189;in. gauge to the Finnish-Russian 5ft. gauge was interesting
and very simple. The wheel centres of these engines had a conical section,
with the hub .-centre considerably outside the centre line of the tyre. After
removing the tyres, the wheel centres were heated to bright red and then
drop forged to their new form. Only other small alterations were necessary.
Of the fifty-three Ta and forty-eight Tb locomotives at the beginning of
1953 only eight remained. The class will probably soon be extinct. These
engines were robust and straightforward ones. They performed good work, came
at a critical time and brought with them many new ideas of American locomotive
construction.
One of the Tb class, No. 864, was equipped with the Hardy vacuum-brake as
well as the Kuntze-Knorr air brake and provided with peat-powder firing.
It is preserved in the Railway Museum and exhibited in the Locomotive Hall
at Tomteboda . The American-built Class U 0-6-0 shunting locomotives had
the two cylinders cast in one piece with the smoke-box saddle. The inside
Stephenson link motion actuated balanced slide valves through rocking shafts.
The springs were all placed overhead. Those of the driving and trailing
wheel-pairs were connected with compensating levers, situated at the upper
side of the bar frames. The springs of the leading axle were suspended
individually the suspension thus being four-point. The rear hanger of the
trailing axle spring was fitted with a spiral spring as in the Ta class.
The boiler, with a narrow fire-box between the bar frames, had a telescopical
barrel. Many of the details were similar to those on the Ta class. The cylinders
were 15in. by 22in.; coupled wheels 4ft.; heating surface 832 sq. ft.; grate
area 12.9 sq. ft.: boiler pressure 143 lb. sq. in.; weight in working order
38 tons 10 cwt.; wheel base 5ft. lOin. + 6ft. 2in. = 12ft.
The ten U class engines, No. 592-601, were delivered by Richmond Locomotive
and Machine Works in 1899. They were used for station shunting at the Stockholm,
Central, North and South, stations, and at Tomteboda, Vartan and Liljeholmen.
One of them, No. 593, was withdrawn in 1921 and the others in 1923. Some
of them were sold to the East Coast Railway (OKB) and used on construction
work. Illustrations: Tb 4-6-0 No. 864 prepared for preservation; Class U
0-6-0T No. 596 as running in 1902.
Electric baggage cars for L.M.R. 9. illustration
Absence of steam trains on the Liverpool, Southport, Crossens and
Ormskirk electric lines of the L.M.R., and lack of adequate luggage compartments
on the electric stock, has justified the use of special vehicles for the
conveyance of baggage on these lines. The original converted vehicles had
been withdrawn from service due to age, and to take their place a motor car
and a driving trailer car of the compartment type stock built for these lines
in 1926 have now been converted for use as baggage cars. These vehicles have
a driving compartment at each end as they operate singly without attachment
to a train. They are 59ft. and 57ft. long respectively, and 8ft. lliins.
wide over body panels at the waist. Each vehicle has one motor bogie and
one trailer bogie, and is fitted with vacuum brakes as it is intended that
these vehicles shall be capable of hauling a vacuum-fitted freight vehicle
as required. The passenger seating and partitions dividing the compartments
have been removed to provide a baggage compartment of about 35ft. in the
former car and 33ft. in the latter car, with two sliding doors on each side
of the vehicles giving a clear opening of 4ft. at each doorway to facilitate
loading and unloading. Each vehicle has a separate compartment for the conveyance
of railway staff when required. Half of the electrical equipment has been
transferred from the motor car to the driving trailer car, so that each car
is now powered by one motor bogie fitted with two 265 h.p. traction motors
which are controlled by the original electromagnetic contactors. Advantage
has been taken of the reduced control equipment per car to re-organise the
layout in the equipment compartment to facilitate maintenance and to evenly
distribute the weight. Equipping of the driving trailer car required the
complete installation of control equipment in a new equipment
compartment.
Russian wagons for fish transport. 9.
According to a report from the U.S.S.R., the rolling stock works at
Bezhitsa in the Bryansk region have produced special all- metal wagons for
the transport of live fish.
Indian railway electrification. 9
The Indian Minister for Railways, Lal Bahadur Shastri, recently stated
that the Railway Ministry proposed to electrify the section from Howrah to
Moghalsarai to cover the entire mine belt for the better transport of coal
and mineral output. The scheme will cost Rs. 280m. The Minister added that
the electrification of the Calcutta suburban railways would be completed
as soon as possible. He revealed also that a chief engineer had been appointed
to prepare ·projects for the electrificaton of railways.
G.N.R. locomotive notes. 10-11. 2 illustrations
By the kindness of Norman Kerr,
of Cartmel, we have been enabled to go through the copious notes made
by the late H.G. King, at one
time of Doncaster Works. The following extracts have been made from the material
in the hope that they will be of interest.
The Jenny Linds Nos. 201 and 202 built by E.B. Wilson & Co., 1850/1,
had an unusual blast pipe arrangement which was also to be found on some
of the later Sturrock engines. The blast pipe proper was extremely short,
reaching on1y a few inches above the bottom row of tubes. This was surrounded
by a cast iron tube in the form of a "vena-contracta," so arranged as to
clear the smoke box of its ashes and so anticipated by many years a similar
arrangement introduced about 1900. At the end of 1863, following experiments
made with an auxiliary engine fitted in a tender, Sturrock asked for permission
"to alter the tenders of such engines as were suitable, as fast as possible,
into auxiliary steam tenders at a cost of £600 each, and to order twenty
more goods engines with much larger fireboxes than hitherto at an estimated
cost of £3,300 each for the engine and auxiliary tender." Sanction having
been given, he placed the order for 10 engines and tenders each with Kitsons
and Hawthorns (these were delivered in 1865, Nos. 401-419) and for 30 further
engines. "without tenders, suitable for alteration into auxiliary tenders
if found desirable." (Nos. 420-449.) From records available, it is now certain
that 20 auxiliary steam tenders only were built on capital account and that
30 more auxiliary tenders were built at the Doncaster works, most of them
being rebuilds of the disused Sharp engines.
In his report to the Directors of 16 January, 1866, Sturrock writes : - "The
48 steam tenders ran during the half-year ending 31st December, 1865, 526,559
miles. The 50 auxiliary tenders ordered by the Board are now all at work."
At least 20 of the auxiliary tender engines were provided with an extra long
firebox. In evidence before the Royal Commission on Railways, 1865, Sturrock
explained" that a large gain results from conveying coal traffic in full
train loads with engines capable of drawing heavy loads; constructed on the
principle of placing a cylinder on the tender, so as to utilise its weight
for traction. The cost of traction is increased, but the receipts increase
in a greater ratio, thus:-
With an Ordinary engine:
The receipts are-210 tons at 3/8d. per mile = 6s. 6½d.
per double mile.
And expenses are-210 tons at 20d. per double mile or 25 per cent. of the
receipts.
With the new engine with auxiliary tender:
The receipts are-320 tons at 3/8d. per mile = 10s.
per o double mile.
Whilst expenses are-320 tons at 23d. per double mile run or 19 per cent.
of receipts.
The fireman on the steam tender engines received 6d. per day extra allowance.
Stirling's first act, after being installed as Locomotive Engineer was to
deal with the steam tenders, not as he says in his report to the Directors
"as casting a reflection upon my predecessor, but in the interests of economy
and with a view to reducing working costs."
"During the first seven months an advantage of 1.65d. per mile in conveying
900 tons of coal. The average cost of repairing engines with ordinary tenders
= 3.27d. per mile. The steam tender alone costs 8 per cent. more than the
ordinary tender and costs therefore 3.53d. per mile for repairs. Cost of
repairs for working 12 steam tenders and engines one mile = 63. 36d. Cost
of repairs for 16 ordinary engines and tenders=52.32d. It would appear that
there is really no substantial advantage gained by their use whilst there
is a great difference in the 'item of repairs, and not infrequently serious
inconvenience experienced from the want of them when under repairs, as it
frequently happens that the engines cannot get out for want of tender. The
most serious objection to the use of steam tenders, however, is the wear
and tear on the fireboxes and tubes of the boilers that are called upon to
make steam for them in addition to the engines themselves. As far as I can
see at present, it will be necessary to put new tube plates in all the long
fireboxes when the first set of tubes is worn out."
The Directors accepted this report and instructed Stirling to remove the
cylinders and motion from the tenders. By June 1867 nine tenders had been
stripped, by December 1867 twenty-four had been dealt with and by December
of the following year the steam tender had entirely vanished.
The ten four-coupled locomotives received from Sharp Stewart, Nos. 251-260,
in 1866, were in many respects a coupled version of the earlier Sharp singles
(233-236). These engines which received running Nos. 264-269, were originally
ordered as " singles." and Sturrock's report of 20 February, 1866, reads:-
"A considerable portion of time is lost by the express trains which takes
place in climbing the Banks between London and Potters Bar and between
Peterborough and the 100 mile post. I propose, therefore, to alter the six
engines at present on order but not yet constructed, into four wheeled coupled
engines. This will be at an estimated extra cost of £100-£l50 each."
In the light of subsequent experience with these engines, this letter is
of interest. The large coupled wheels, 7ft. diameter, gave considerable trouble
by their tendency to cast their coupling rodsno doubt caused by unequal
wear of the tyresso that Stirling altered them back again into singles
during 1873-1878.
These were the first engines to have midfeathers embodied in the
specificationalthough during the building of the previous class of
four coupled engines by Sharp Stewart (251-260) midfeathers had been incorporated
in the design." I have determined to introduce a cross partition on the top
of the firebox. This will cause an extra cost of £15-£20 per engine.
This will give a slight elasticity to the sides of the fireboxes and thus
ease the strain from expan- sion and contraction in the tube plate. No doubt
coal burning causes more rapid changes in temperature than when coke is used.
Illustrations: 0-6-0 with steam tender; 2-4-0 No. 268.
B.R. new rolling stock. 11
British Railways plans for new rolling stock in 1954 include the provision
of 2,750 passenger train vehicles, 53,000 freight wagons, and 325 locomotives.
This is two and a half times the number of passenger train vehicles built
in 1953, 36% more freight wagons and 50% more locomotives; the programme
reflects the improved steel supply and the determination of the British Transport
Commission to concentrate on replacing obsolete vehicles, particularly passenger
coaches, with all speed.
All other passenger vehicles and brake vans will be of the new standard all-steel
design; 1,820 will be passenger carrying vehicles and the remaining 930 will
be brake-vans, horse boxes, fish vans, and other vans for runnmg m passenger
trains. B.R. shops will build 2,180 vehicles and the remainder will be built
by contractors.
New wagons will include 3,100 for carrying loads of steel weighing up to
50 tons, and various wagons of special design for carrying loads of 21 to
65 tons. Of the total of 53,000 new wagons, 20,000 will be built in BR. shops
and the remainder by contractors.
Of the 325 locomotives to be built, 254 will be of the new standard designs
including 40 Class 9 heavy freight engines, the first of this type to be
built and the most powerful in the B.R standard range. There will also be
14 diesel-mechanical shunters, and 50 steam tank engines for shunting.
Austrian rolling stock. 11
We learn from C.I.C.E. Information Bulletin No. 15, that: the Soviet
Authorities have recently permitted the free circulation of 'captured carriages'
over the lines of the Austrian Federal Railways in the whole of the Federal
territory. There are 350 carriages, also 55 fourgons and 22 wagons de messagerie
belonging to the Austrian Federal Railways but considered by the Soviet
Authorities as spoils of war. Previously this stock could only be utilised
in the Soviet Zone.
Synthetic loco coal in Hungary. 11
Manufacture of synthetic locomotive coal by spraying hot fuel-oil
residue from petroleum refineries on to a mixture of inferior coal and peat
has begun in Hungary. It is claimed that the resulting mixture is as good
as high-quality coal, is easily shovelled and does not smoke up the boiler.
Production of the mixture at the Haman Kato locomotive fuelling depot is,
to begin with, at a rate of 150 tons a day. -
Italian diesel-electric motor coaches. 12. 2 illustrations
Officine Meccaniche (O.M.) supplied a diesel hydraulic motor coach
unit to the Italian State Railways. It had a four-stroke direct-injection
Saurer engine with 12 opposed-piston cylinders arranged in two banks; the
engine was slung under the frame together with the hydraulic gear-box.
The principal particulars of the engine were as. follow: cylinders 160 mm.
x 200 mrn., compression ratio 1 : 15.2, capacity 48.2 litres. Output-continuous,
480 h.p. at 1,400 r.p.m.; maximum, 560 h.p. The engine, produced by O.M.
under licence, had a six-throw crankshaft with eight roller bearings. There
are two separate cast-iron cylinder blocks of six cylinders each. The injection
pump was supplied by Saurer and the engine was supercharged by two Brown-Boveri
Buchi turbo-blowers. The hydraulic gear box is of the Lysholm-Smith type
and was also built by OM.; power is taken via cardan-shafts and universal
couplings to the axles. The body rests on two four-wheel bogies with 910
mm. wheels. Three fuel tanks hold 750 litres and give a range of approximately
1,000 k.m. Control is electric pneumatic and there are the usual auxiliaries
including a 24-volt generator and batteries. Automatic air brakes air fitted.
Empty the motor coach weighed 47 tonnes and trailers 35 tonnes. each. The
maximum speed is 130 km/h.:
Obituary. 12
F.H.B. Harris, formerly Chief Draughtsman of W.G. Bagnall Ltd., died
aged 82 years. Harris joined Bagnalls in 1932 and was for 15 years Assistant
Chief and Chief Draughtsman before retiring in 1947. He then worked for some
years on a part time basis at Bagnalls, and when he left Stafford to settle
in the South of England he occasionally acted as their representative in
dealing with local enquiries. Commencing his apprenticeship at California
Works, Stoke, in 1886, he joined Bagnalls after 37 years with Kerr Stuart
& Co. During his 45 years specialising in locomotive design he was
responsible for the production of thousands of locomotives exported all over
the world and trained many of the men today holding high positions in the
railway world and the locomotive building industry.
Water tanker trucks for B.R. 12
The first of a fleet of battery-operated electric water tanker trucks
designed and built by Steels Engineering Products, Ltd., of Sunderland, are
now going into service with B.R. Each truck had a four-wheeled chassis built
round a fabricated frame of electrically welded pressed steel sections. The
two 40-volt, four-pole series-wound traction motors were specially designed
to provide high torq ue / low speed characteristics. They were controiled
by a direct-acting controller with cam-operated over-centre snap action
contactors affording three speeds and brake in either direction. Power was
supplied by a 20-cell D.P. "Kathanode" traction battery with a capacity of
224 Ah. The tank itself, fabricated from rolled steel plate and galvanised
on the inside after manufacture, held 275 gallons. Housed in a separate
compartment at the rear of the chassis frame is the centrifugal pump which,
driven by a four-pole motor developing 11 h.p. at 1,950 r.p.m., delivered
27 gallons a minute against a total head of 60 feet through 20 feet of flexible
hose with a trigger-controlled nozzle. Measuring 12ft. 3tin. long by 3ft.
6tin. wide overall, the tanker truck has a turning radius on full lock of
9ft. 3in. Maximum speeds are 6 to 7 m.p.h. and 5 to 6 m.p.h. unloaded and
loaded. Carrying a full 275 gallons, the truck can negotiate a gradient of
1 in 10 without serious difficulty.
Flame-proof battery locomotives. 13. illustration
Narrow gauge mine locomotive bult by E.E. Baguley of Burton-on-Trent
and English Electric Co. Ltd to meet British Standard 929/1940 and certified
as Flame-Proof by the Ministry of Fuel and Power
English Electric Co. Ltd . 13
Publication DE/179 English Electric Diesel Engines: range of power
outputs up to 2000 bhp
Personal. 14
J. Foster Petree retired on 31 December from the editorship of
Engineering. to which he was appointed in 1939. jointly with Charles
Cooper. Cooper. who joined the staff of Engineering in 1897
relinquished executive editorial direction at the end of 1949. but is stili
a managing director. Petree also will continue as a member of the board of
directors. His successor as Editor is F.B. Roberts, M.B.E .. who has been
chief assistant editor since January. 1950.
Portuguese Railway Mission to British Railways. 14. illustration
Portuguese railway engineers recently visited Great Britain where
they examined systems of railway electrification. The Mission. sponsored
by the Portuguese Government. was led by Senhor Enginheiro de Brion, the
Technical Director of the Companhia dos Caminhos de Ferro Portuguesesthe
company operating the main railway system in Portugal. Senhor de Brion is
also Chairman of the Electrification Committee of the Portuguese Railways.
He was accompanied by Senhor Pinto Monteiro and Senhor Valerio Vicente, engineers
on the staff of the Portuguese Railway Company. and by Senhor Enginheiro
Lino Neto, a nominee of the Portuguese Government.
After technical discussions with British engineers and with the principal
manufacturers 'n Great Britain concerned with the supply of equipment for
railway electrification. at the invitation of British Railways. the Mission
visited the new 50 cycle A.C. electrified Lancaster-Morecambe-Heysharn line
and the electrified line between Manchester and Sheffield. also that from
Liverpool Street to Shenfield. Portuguese interest in railway electrification
closely on the completion of large hydro-electric schemes in Portugal in
which British manufacturers had a prominent part.
Reviews, 14
Battery chargers and charging. Robert A. Harvey. Iliffe &
Sons. Ltd.
The substantial developments in the design of storage batteries during
the last 25 years have been accompanied by changes in the methods of charging
and control. The publication under review deals. first. with the construction
and chemistry of each type of storage battery and then the principles used
in charging and charging technique are given. The railway engineer will be
specially interested in the chapters dealing with electric vehicles and
locomotives and the application of batteries on railways. The book is well
illustrated by more than 200 drawings and photographs. and will be of great
use and interest to all concerned with the installation and operation of
battery charging systems.
Mechanical vibration. G.W. van Santen. Philips Technical
Library.
The publications of the well- known firm of Philips. of Eindhoven,
fill gaps in existing technical libraries. mainly in fields where comparatively
lit tle printed information exists. An example is vibration. where the sciences
of mechanic and accoustics meet. The book first deals with the elementary
theory of vibration and some of the more important problems encoun- tered.
Naturally. a very wide field is covered and many problems can only be touched
upon. After dealing with the types of vibration existing, whether free Of"
forced, camped or undamped , the analogy between mechanical and electrical
oscillation is explained. and, furthermore. the relation to sound and other
wave phenomena. Concerning mechanical vibration in shafts, the author deals
first with bending and then with torsional movement: the principles of balancing
and damping are explained and then the design of equipment for the measuring
of vibration is outlined . The book will form a useful addition to the technical
literature on this difficult subject.
The Transport Act 1953. H.S. Vian-Smith. Iliffe & Sons.
Ltd.
The author by virtue of his intimate connection with the passage of
the Act is well qualified to write an easily assimilated explanation of it
for transport users and operators. So far as possible legal phraseology has
been avoided and the work makes clear to the layman the full intent and meaning
of each section of the Act. A map and a copy of the Act. together with sundry
amendments. etc., combine to make this an up-to-date. complete, and
readily-understandable reference book.
S.E. & C.R. locomotive list 1842-1952 M.N.
Wakeman. Oakwood Press
Apart from a chapter in Dendy Marshalt's History of the Southern
Railway. no connected history of the S.E.R. locomotives has been written.
This deficiency is being met as we understand that no less 'than four different
books on the subject are in the press. This is the first to appear. It consists
of a list of numbers and dates of the engines of the S.E. & C.R. and
its constituent companies. The numbers are in tabular form with footnotes
when the author has any information of a particular engine. There are
thirty-eight small half-tones and some line drawings of the earlier
engines.
Mechanical World Year Book, 1954 edition. Manchester: Emmott &
Co. Ltd
In addition to the wealth of up-to-date information. which is invariably
to be found in this useful book. two new sections have been added. One of
these IS a Review of Progress in the Steam Cycle and Performance of Steam
Turbine Plants. and the other deals cornprehensivelv with the always-important
subject of metal finishing. This book is remarkable value at its moderate
price. BC11.Ch. Seats 011 L.T. The "sit-stand" bench seat, which provides
extra seating accommodation while easing ingress and egress. is being tried
experimentally on the- Northern Line of London Transport.
No. 738 (February 1954)
B.R. 2-10-0 heavy freight locomotives. Loco. Rly Carr. Wagon Rev.,
1954, 60, 15.
Editorial comment.
2-10-0 heavy freight locomotives for B.R.. Loco. Rly Carr. Wagon Rev., 1954, 60, 16-18. 2 illus., diagr. (s. el.)
Number 740 (April 1954)
[Diesel railcars built in Holland for Portugal]. 63
Supplied by Fiat see also page 114
Number 741 (May 1954)
Intrernational Railway Congress. 67
First meeting of the International Railway Congress to be held in
Great Britain since 1925 was being held in London from 19-26 May, when over
450 delegates from more than 30 different countries assembled in Church House,
Westminster, to discuss current problems and the latest techniques. It was
arranged for H.R.H. the Duke of Gloucester, Honorary President of the Congress,
to perform the formal opening ceremony and to be supported by the Rt. Hon.
Alan Lennox-Boyd, M.P. (Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation); M. de
Vos (President of the International Railway Congress Association, and General
Manager of the Belgian National Railways); Sir Brian Robertson (Chairman
of the British Transport Commission); Sir John Benstead (Deputy Chairman)
and other Members of the Commission; Sir John Elliot (Chairman, London Transport
Executive); and civic representatives .
In addition to seven business sessions and sectional discussions at Church
House, arrangements were made for delegates to visit important railway centres,
and to inspect recent examples of technical development on British Railways
and London Transport. Such visits included Willesden carriage cleaning and
servicing depot; electrical control rooms and sub-stations on the Southern
Region electrification; Swindon locomotive, carriage and wagon works; London
Transport workshops and depots at Lillie Bridge and Acton; Southampton Docks;
Liverpool- Street-Shenfield electrification; the Central Line tube extension;
Rugby locomotive testing station where one of the new standard 2-10-0
locomotives, described on page 16, was undergoing test; and railway coastal
protection works between Dover and Folkestone, also a special exhibition
of B.R. and London Transport locomotives, rolling-stock, civil and signal
engineering equipment at Willesden, included the prototype of the new British
Railways Class 8 three-cylinder large 4-6-2 with Caprotti Valve gear. This
exhibition will be open to the public from 26-29 May. Subjects discussed
at the International Railway Congress which are of particular interest to
our readers will be shortly summarised in our pages. As is well known the
Questions considered are reported at length in the Monthly Bulletin of the
International Railway Congress Association. These Bulletins contain much
valuable information which is not to be found else-where.
Five British officials were among the reporters who have collated international
data for consideration by the Congress: Dr. F.F.C. Curtis (Architect, British
Railways, B.T.C.), Mr. S.B. Warder (Chief Officer, Electrical Engineering,
British Railways, B.T.C.), Mr. S.G. Hearn (Operating Superintendent, London
Midland Region), Mr. J. H. Fraser (Chief Officer, Signal &
Telecommunications, British Railways, B.T.C.) and Mr. T. S. Pick (Chief
Electrical Engineer, London Transport Executive).
So that delegates from overseas Governments and railway administrations may
inspect the latest products of British manufacturers, seven leading trade
organ- isations in co-operation with the Federation of British Industries
offered facilities for Congress delegates to' visit anyone of 74 different
factories and industrial plants in various parts of the country. Included
among the works open for inspection were the majority of the builders of
locomotives of all types. Detailed arrangements for the Congress were made,
on behalf of the British Organising Commission, by an Arrangements Committee
of Officers from B.T.C. Headquarters, the Railway Regions, B.T.C. associated
undertakings and London Transport, under the chairmanship of Mr. J.L. Harrington
(Chief Officer, Marine & Administration, B.T.C.). Mr. E. E. Whitworth
is English General Secretary of the Congress.
British Railways. 67
The following new engines had been placed in service. Eastern Region
Co-Co Electric Class EM2 No. 27001; London Midland Region, 2-10-0 Class 9F
Nos. 92008, 92009; North Eastern Region, 2-6-0 Class 3MT Nos. 77002, 77004;
Scottish Region, 2·6-0 Class 3MT Nos. 77005-77007; Southern Region 350
h.p. diesel shunter Nos. 13044, 13045; Western Region, 0-6-0PT Class 94XX
Nos. 8440, 8442, 8443, 9491.
Aid to Recruitment on the Railways, Wolverton Training School. 67
A learn-as-you-earn training school was opened 2 April at Wolverton
Carriage & Wagon Works by J.W. Watkins, Chief Regional Manager of British
Railways (London Midland Region). The school, which will accept boys leaving
school, is fully equipped with a large workshop with the necessary machines
and lecture and film projection rooms. Trainers will receive practical
instruction under workshop conditions for a full year in joinery, coach
bodybuilding, welding, painting and electrical work. At the end of the 12
months course in the training school, apprentice trainees will be transferred
to the works, where training will follow a carefully planned schedule which
guarantees every apprentice being given the same opportunity in accordance
with the principles of the progressive system of workshop training which
operate throughout the Works.
B.R. new lightweight diesel trains. 68-9. 2 illustrations, diagram
(elevation and plan)
Part of £2 million programme: the Derby built units w ere powered
by bus-type underfloor horizontal engines of at least 125 h.p. The units
illustrated had Leyland engines, Lysholm Smith torque converters and Walker
diouble reduction final drive. They could run in multiple with up to eight
cars. The initial areas to be served were the West Riding of Yorkshire, West
Cumberland, Lincolnshire, East Anglia and on Newcastle to Middlesbrough
services.
Development in Portuguese E. Africa. 69
Construction of the new railway line into Rhodesia from Portuguese
E. Africa continued to make good progress. The temporary high level bridge
over the Limpopo River had been completed .and construction trains were now
able to run into the railway base of Mebelane about 50 kilometres beyond
the Limpopo
Mr. W. P. Snedden. 69
Death on 23 April of W. P. Snedden, Chief Technical Engineer of the
Rolling Mill Division of British Timken Ltd.
B.R. Eastern Region improvements. 69.
Large programme of new works in the Eastern Region had been authorised
by the B.T.C. Included in the schemes is the provision of plant for pre-steaming
locomotives at Colwick. The hot water washing-out plant at Colwick Motive
Power Depot had become due for overhaul and reconditioning and the opportunity
had been taken in carrying out this work to provide pre-steaming facilities
for locomotives. There were two boilers provided for washing-out purposea
and two additionai boilers were to be installed to meet the additional commitment
of pre-heating. All four boilers will be interconnected and each provided
with mechanical stokers. Pre-steaming lines were to be installed in the shed
complete with flexible connections and pressurised fire starters. The boilers
will be sited so that coal can be unloaded direct from wagon to hopper to
minimise hand labour. The benefits which are anticipated from installation
of the pre-steaming plant are more uniform heating of boilers and fireboxes,
diminution of smoke when steam is being raised and a saving of fuel in
locomotives during the lighting-up process. There will also be improved
availability by a saving of three engine preparation hours for each locomotive
pre-steamed.
A further matter included in the programme is the fire protection of cable
routes on the Liverpool Street-Shenfield electrified lines. Since the
introduction of electric working between Liverpool Street and Shenfield in
1949 there have been a number of line-side cable fires, some of which have
caused severe or fairly severe damage and in some cases serious dislocation
of traffic has resulted. Certain protective measures were carried out following
a cable fire in April, 1952, including the protection of the cables on vulnerable
sections by special sheeting. It has been found from experience, however,
that this sheeting deteriorates fairly rapidly, causing a parting between
the protective coating and the steel, and the presence of bitumen in the
protective coating has added to the fire risk. As a result of the steps now
being taken it is hoped that full protection will be given to all cables,
both electric and signal, and further trouble avoided.
Western Region locomotive renamed. "Castle" class
locomotive. 69
No. 5017 has been renamed The Gloucestershire Regiment.
Mr. S.T. Clayton, M.I.Loco.E. appointment.
69
Motive Power Superintendent, London Midland Region. He entered the
service of the former Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway as an apprentice at
Horwich Works in 1909. Among tmore recent appointments held by Mr. Clayton
had been the positions of District Locomotive Superintendent, Rugby from
1940 until 1943, when he was appointed District Locomotive Superintendent,
Polmadie. In 1945, he was appointed General Assistant (Motive Power) to the
Operating Manager, Northern Division, L.M.S. Glasgow, and in 1949, became
District Motive Power Superintendent, Glasgow (North), Scottish Region. Later
that year he was appointed Assistant Motive Power Superintendent. L.M.R.,
which position he now vacates.
New Zealand Government Railways: The Royal Train. 70. 4
illustrations.
HM The Queen boardin train at Wanganui station; train leaving Palmerston
North for New Plymouth behind two diesel locomotives; at Cross Creek behind
two AB class locomotives and on Rimutaka Incline with three locomotives belching
smoke and steam. No Royal journeys should be without this one!
B.R. Class 3 Standard 2-6-0 locomotive. 71-2.
illustration, diagram (side elevation)
Amazing new design for services on North Eastern and Scottish Regions
The measurement of train resistance. 72-5. 2 illustrations,
2 diagrams
Precis of H.I. Andrews
paper No. 531
The Hunslet Engine Co. Ltd. 75
Repeat order from Peruvian Corporation for one 2-8-0 for 3ft gauge
Trujillo Railway.
Mechanical Handling Exhibition. 75
To be held at Olympia 9-19 June: British Thomson Houston and Westinghouse
Brake & Signal Co. exhibits
Diesel trains for Northern Ireland. 76. illustration
Passenger services over the former Belfast & County Down Railway
between Belfast and Bangor are now worked entirely by diesel trains. The
last steam operated passenger train ran on 27th November, 1953. In May 1'952
the first diesel train was put into service. Since then there has been a
regular output of three-coach sets every two months from the Ulster Transport
Engineering Works. The B. & C. D. Railway, under the Transport Act (Northern
Ireland) of 1948, became a constituent, with the Northern Counties Committee,
of the Ulster Transport Authority.
Mr. W. Cyril Williams. 76 illustration
(portrait)
W. Cyril WiIliams, F.R.G.S., A.M.Inst.C.E. M.I.Mech.E., M.I.Loco.E.,
M.lnst.T., and Past President of The Institution of Locomotive Engineers,
retired on 30th April from the Executive position of Sales Director with
the firm of Beyer Peacock & Co. Ltd., although his services are retained
as a Director of the company. He commenced his railway work in 1906 with
an apprenticeship to the Natal Government Railways where his training, apart
from the general workshop course. included running shed, signal department,
footplate and drawing office experience. He attended the Durban Technical
Institute and obtained the Abe Bailey Scholarship in 1909, the James Brown
Exhibition in 1910 and the Institute Scholarship in 1913. For a short period
in 1912 he was a lecturer at the Institute. In 1913 Mr. Williams was appointed
a junior engineer to the Chief Superintendent Motive Power at Johannesburg.
During the first World War he was commissioned in the South African Engineer
Corps and served throughout the campaign in German South West Africa with
the rank of Captain in the Railway Regiment. During this time he was locomotive
foreman at Usakos and later held the rank of Assistant Superintendent
(Mechanical). Following the campaign in Sonth West Africa, he was posted
to France in the Royal Engineers, being promoted in the field to Army Locomotive
Superintendent. Mr. Williams is one of the most widely travelled railway
men and is renowned for his encyclopaedic knowledge of railways in all parts
of the world. He went to the United States and Canada in 1919 on behalf of
the South African Railways where he was responsible for the inspection of
locomotives. wagons and other railway equipment. After one year he returned
to London where he acted for a short time as Advisory Engineer to the South
African Railways. eventually returning to South Africa on the staff of the-
Assistant General Manager in Durban. Up to 1923 Mr. Williams was largely
engaged on special engineering test duties, in particular with locomoti ve
performance, and he was associated with the early tests of the Garratt
articulated locomotive. In 1923 he joined the firm of Beyer Peacock &
Co. Ltd., and opened their London Office as London Manager. As an enthusiastic
advocate of the Beyer-Garratt he has taken a large part in its successful
development and use by many railways throughout the world. He was subsequently
designated Sales Director of the company and in I945 was elected to the Board.
During WW2 his wide experience and knowledge of overseas railways was freely
drawn upon by the War Office and the Ministry of Supply, and he actively
par- ticipated in the work of his Company on important armaments and locomotive
production. During the past thirty-one years he has travelled on railways
in all parts of the world, and has been a great and popular Ambassador for
Britain, and British locomotives. He has made many contributions to the technical
press and .in papers read before the Institution of Locomotive Engineers;
his Presidential address was reported in our 1950 volume, page 15· He
has many friends throughout the world who will join in expressing the wish
that, after a full and most successful career, he will enjoy many happy years
of retirement.
350 h.p. diesel shunting locomotive Renfe. 77. diagram (side
elevation & plan)
Twenty diesel electric shunting locomotives using Sulzer engines built
under licence by La Maquinista Terreste y Maritima of Barcelona and Babcock
y Wilcox of Bilbao and Crompton & Parkinson generators.
S. Ellingworth. The locomotives of Imperial Chemical
Industries Ltd. 78-9. 2 illustrations
One factory handled 11,000 wagons per week. 118 steam and 20 internal
combustion engines were operated. Liveries were varied: black, grey, maroon,
blue and green. Most were saddle tanks with outside cylinders and inside
valve gear. There were eight six-coupled, but the remainder were four-coupled.
Two 0-6-0STs were at the Dyestuffs Divion's plant at Blackley, Manchester:
they were built by Hawthorn, Leslie & Co. in 1919 and 1920 and had to
be able to cope with 1 in 33 gradients. The Lime Division 0-6-0 was built
by Avonside in 1921. It, and three four coupled locomotives were fitted with
the vacuum brake to handle 40-ton hopper wagons at Tunstead Quarry used to
convey limestone to Winnington. Four 0-6-0 side tanks (No. 42 Isis illustrated)
were at Billingham to handle trains weighing up to 1000 tons. They were built
by Stephenson, Hawthorn & Co.: two in 1928 and two in 1947. The others
were named Tyne, Tees and Cam.
Railway Exhibition at Willesden. 79
To demonstrate to delegates attending the International Railway Congress
and to the general public the latest developments of railway locomotives,
rolling stock and engineering equipment, British Railways and London Transport
are to stage a special exhibition at Willesden Motive Power Depot, London,
N. W. This will be open to the general public between 15.00 and 19.00 on
Wednesday, May 26 and. 10.00 to 19.00 daily on Thursday, Friday and Saturday,
May 27-29. This exhibition will be one of the largest ever arranged in this
country. Some 14 locomotives will be on view, including the new class 8 4-6-2,
a class 9 2-I0-0, the "Fell" diesel-mechanical locomotive, the Brown-Boveri
gas turbine and the Co-Co electric locomotive described on p. 52. The coaching
stock exhibits total 12, among them being some London Transport motor cars,
and a Lancaster- Morecambe electric line motor coach. No less than 20 types
of wagons will be seen and there will, in addition be many commercial, civil
engineering and signal and telegraph exhibits.
B.R. cafeteria car. 79. illustration
One of the latest type of 49 cafeteria cars which are being used on
special party train traffic throughout British Railways including the "Starlight
Specials". This car has a twin bar for the service of hot and cold drinks
and light refreshments and provides seating accommodation for eleven passengers
at each end.
16th Railway Congress: review of electric traction
systems. 80-1
The subject of Question 3, considered during the 16th International
Railway Congress, "To investigate the technical and economic aspects of the
basic charac- teristics of electric traction systems'· now in use with
a view to deciding whether and to what extent there are relevant reasons
for prefering one system to another. In particular are there any reasons
in regard to(a) power supply (b) overhead line and fixed track
installations (c) motive power units (d) working and maintenance costs?"
The International Railway Congress asked S.B. Warder, Chief Officer (Electrical
Engineering) of the British Transport Commission, to report on this subject
and his report covers not only Great Britain and her allied territories,
but also North and South America, the Commonwealth of Australia, Burma. Ceylon,
Denmark, Egypt, Finland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, the Republic of Ireland,
New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, South Africa and Sweden. Mr. Warder dealt
first of all with the changes that have taken place in the 20 years since
a similar question was asked at the Congress at Cairo in ·1933. The
most important event, it was explained, was the advent of a new electric
traction system, namely the 50 cycle alternating current system which was
first tried in Hungary and Germany and which is now in use on a French line
and also in the Belgian Congo and Great Britain. In the same period other
forms of railway motive power have established themselves and new forms of
transport have very materially affected the operational requirements for
successful railway work. Owing to the changed conditions it is obvious that
a number of railway lines built in the early days of railways will have to
be closed while others of high traffic density will justify the considerable
cost of electrification. Most important are the suburban lines which need
punctual, fast, frequent and comfortable trains. It is therefore necessary
to consider carefully the type of motive power and rolling stock used, and
the type of power supply and fixed installations. For lines of high traffic
density the system with the best motive power characteristics might well
be preferred even though the one having a lower initial cost is most likely
to regain or even attract revenue earning traffic.
The following four traction systems form the basis of the study:direct
current of 1,500 v. and 3,000 v.; single phase A.C. 11,000 to 25,000 v. at
low frequency (16.2/3) or at standard industrial frequency (50/60 cycles).
Great Britain uses extensively 600 to 800 v. third (or third and fourth)
rail systems. In a report on electrification of railway systems the British
Transport Commission in 1951 gave opinions why this system should not be
extended and accordingly the reporter did not deal with that system in detail.
Consideration was mainly given to the systems mentioned earlier. Motive power
equipments of proved qualities are available for the first three of these
systems. Generally it can be said that D.C. equipment is cheaper in first
cost and maintenance than A.e. equipment of similar performance and that
the low-volt D.C. equipment presents fewer problems and is likely to be more
reliable in service. The 50 cycle A.C. system has been little used as yet
but progress so far made has been sufficiently substantial to enable successful
major schemes to be developed. Although great improve- ments have been made
in the design of A.C. commutator motors the DC. motor has still better traction
charateristics than its A.C. counterpart with a rela- tively poor starting
performance. Converter equipment is an attraction for the reason that it
combines the advantages of the D.C. traction motor with the high voltage
contact line; the use of the modern rectifier is to be considered especially
in this connection. The report goes carefully into the question whether
locomotive electrification is an advantage over the use of motor-coach stock.
High density of passenger services demands a succession of light trains and
if locomotive power is not to be wasted it seems reasonable to use locomotives
of moderate output arranged for multiple unit control. Such locomotives would
be much more attractive financially if they could be arranged to carry a
payload which again comes back to the suggestion that a multiple unit train
may be more suitable for providing rapid, frequent and comfortable transport
of a kind which could enable the railways to take a profitable lead once
more in this sphere. Such motor coaches or locomotives could maintain speeds
of up to 90 miles per hour for average distance. For the majority of passenger
services motor coach stock presents great advantages and the characteristics
which have made multiple unit electrification schemes very successful in
Great Britain and in urban services in many other count.ries were examined.
Special stress was laid on the simplified terminal working, as the lines
are cleared of any locomotive movement and the train is ready to leave as
soon as it arrives. The horse power per ton of train weight is more or less
constant. Whatever the length of train the acceleration and speed char-
acteristics are the same. The correct motive power for a given service is
thus automatically provided and the schedule can be maintained with any train
length up to the maximum allowable. The division of power also permits the
use of lighter motors, gear assemblies, bogie construction, etc.
The concentration of the motive power into one unit results in the production
of a massive machine which, even if only for psychological reasons usually
demands the presence of two men in control. By com- parison, the unobtrusive
powerequipmentofa multiple unit train leaves the driver almost unconscious
of the power he controls. The usual deadman equipment enables one-man control
of the train to be used with perfect safety over long distances.
The report then continued to review power supply for A.C. and D.C.
electrifications in greater detail especially problems of transmission lines
and sub- stations, and investigated the cost of electrifying first of all
a short line of 90 route miles, carrying heavy traffic and worked by 72 motive
power units. In this instance the Reporter computed the total cost in the
case of both 1,500v. D.C. and s. ph. 50 cycle A.C. as £8.6m and while
motive power units of the A.C. system would cost Hm more, that amount would
be saved on sub-stations, fixed installations, and overhead lines of the
A.C. system. In the second example which comprised 360 route miles of line
carrying only light traffic and worked by 24 motive power units, a 50 cycle
single phase A.e. system was proposed said to involve only 55 per cent. of
the capital cost of the 1,500 v. D.C. electrification. While clearances and
signal modifications are estimated to cost about twice as much as the D.e.
svstem the overhead line cost is halved and that of sub-stations and feeders
reduced from £2.4m to £200,000. Motive power units were shown as
costing 15 per cent. more for the 50 cycle system than for the D.C. system.
For very heavy traffic there appears to be little to choose between the two
systems financially, but there is a considerable advantage in using a high
voltage system on long lightly-loaded lines.
Questions were put to the various administrations asking why they had chosen
their present systems of electrification. The British Transport Commission
replied that general electrification would be on the 1,500 v. D.C. overhead
line system, the conductor rail system being retained on certain parts of
the Southern Region. Possibly 3,000 v. D.e. or single phase A.C. at lower
standard frequency would be used for secondary lines with light traffic providing
that this would not hinder the operation of lines equipped with 1,500 v.
D.C. If inter-running were not a factor attention would be given to 3,000
v. D.C. or the A.C. 50 cycle stystem but. any economy remaining after pro-
viding bigger clearances would not make the change of system worth while.
Prof. Dr. Ing. e. Guzzanti was the reporter on Question 3 for Austria, Belgium
and Colony, Bulgaria, Czechoslavakia, France and French Union, Germany, Greece,
Hungary, Italy, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and Colonies, Rumania,
Spain, Switzerland, Syria, Turkey and Yugoslavia. Prof. Guzzanti recalled
that at the 1933 Congress, when dealing with the problem of railway
electrification, a comparison was first made between electric and steam traction.
The question now considered in- vestigated the advantage of the various
electrification systems. After a detailed and interesting historical review
this Reporter decided that today only 1,500 and 3,000 v. D.C. and 16.2/3
cycles and 50 cycles single phase A.C. are of interest, coming therefore
to the same conclusion as Mr. Warder for the British section.
Dealing first with the question of power supply the Reporter expressed the
opinion that special high voltage distribution lines or special power stations
are not essential for railway electrification, except. for low- frequency
A.e., in fact for D.e. systems the joint use by railways and other users
of power stations and supply lines is of considerable advantage. The next
point dealt with sub-stations of the rotary converter, transformer, and rectifier
types. After discussing the problems of "Un balancing" of a three-phase network
through a single-phase railway load, the voltage limits were considered.
The Reporter holds the view that total operating cost should be the main
consideration whether a locomotive is efficient or not, for this reason he
favoured converter locomotives which, although costly, can he fully employed
on heavy haulage, thus reducing the, number of engines required. The 50 cycle
motor coach is not considered to be sufficiently far advanced to be compared
with D.C. or 16.2/3 A.C. motor coaches.
The estimated cost of electrifying the Milan-Venice line with 3,000 v. D.
C. or 50 cycle single phase A.C. showed that fixed installations would cost
approximately 32 per cent. of the total cost with 3,000 v. D.C. By the use
of a 50 cycle system 57 per cent. of the cost of fixed installations could
be saved, while the cost of locomotives would go up by 14 per cent. The final
result 'would be a saving of only 9 per cent., if however, the system could
be worked with half the motive power the difference would be a saving of
27 per cent. It is, therefore, obvious that the success of the system depends
on the type of traffic.
The replies of various administrations to the question on the life of their
equipment are interesting. For high-voltage transmission lines, the Swiss
Federal Railways quote 40 years and others 50 years, except the Netherlands
Railways, which quote 25 years. The Netherlands and French National Railways
both estimate 25 years for the electrical equipment in substations, and 33
and 75 years respectively for the substation buildings. Other replies give
figures varying from 33 to 50 years for Sll bstations as a whole, without
dis- tinguishing between buildings and apparatus. Life of the overhead system
is estimated at 40 to 60 years. Periods of 33-45 years are given for motive
power equipment. The Reporter concluded by stating that all four systems
examined are technically capable of providing an efficient railway service
with the following reservations:.-(a) a D.C. system (especially 3,000 v.)
requires complicated substations; (b) a low frequency single phase A.C. system
requires special feeder lines or frequency converter substations; (c) a 50
cycle single phase A.C. system might. have an unbalancing effect on the grid
system and the complicated locomotives required are a further disadvantage,
as well as the lack of proved types of motorcoach equipment; (d) all systems
still disturb the telecommunication net-work.
The Reporter is of the opinion that these problems are capable of solution
and expects that the present Thionville-Valenciennes electrification will
make an important contribution to this point. In addition to the subjects
mentioned the problems of co-existing different electrification systems were
reported upon.
New "Bristolian". 81
Scheduled to leave Paddington at 08.45 an Bristol at 16.30 and complete
the journey in 1¾ hours an an average speed of 67 mile/h.
L.M.R. appointment. 81
Eric Baker appointed Divisional Motive Power Superintendent, London
Midland Region, Crewe.
Light alloy air reservoirs. 81
To save weight and increase durability, investigations have been
proceeding into the development and manufacture of light alloy reservoirs.
As a result of co-operation between the Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co.
Ltd., Westinghouse Brake & Signal Co. Ltd., and James Booth and Co. Ltd.,
an aluminium alloy air reservoir is to be installed in the braking system
of the Metropolitan- Vickers gas-turbine locomotive for service trials.
Metropolitan-Vickers are also going to install one of these reservoirs on
a diesel-electric shunting locomotive.
K & L Steelfounders & Engineering. 82
While it is commonplace when describing locomotives to make mention
of the manufacturers of many of the components it is seldom that the suppliers
of the all-important steel castings receive credit. In view of the great
importance of such castings in modern locomotives of every form of propulsive
power we have pleasure in placing on record some of the many contracts with
which K & L Steelfounders & Engineers Ltd. have been connected. The
resources of this firm, which is among the world's leading suppliers of steel
castings for railway purposes, are probably sufficiently well-known as to
render elaboration unnecessary and it will suffice here to mention the
exceptional facilities which exist for research, and control and examination
of the product, together with the fact that this company is the supplier
of the SCOA-P wheel centre. This centre. which is being increasmgly applied,
was illustrated and described in our issue of July 1951, since when we have
referred to many locomotives in which it has been embodied.
The 2-8-2 locomotives for Spain (page 38) have driving axleboxes cast by
K & L, who supplied these both for the 25 engines built here and for
the 100 which are to be constructed in Spain. For ten locomotives of the
2-8-2 wheel arrangement for Iraq (page 40), all general castings were supplied
in addition to the wheel centres. They arc also supplying The North British
Locomotive Co. Ltd. with 26 set of SCOA-P coupled wheel centres for the "30"
class locomotives for East African Railways and Harbours and very shortly
will be starting manufacture of the castings, including SCOA-P wheel centres,
for the "31" class locomotives to be built by The Vulcan Foundry Ltd. for
the same Authority. In the course of standardisation it is interesting to
note that the coupled wheels for both "30" and "31" class, although being
built by two different builders. will be indentical. Further work includes
ten sets of castings, general and wheels, for the WL class locomotives now
on order from The Vulcan Foundry Ltd., and 26 part sets for the VF class
locomotives for Western Australian Railwavs being built by Robt. Stephenson
& Hawthorns. A large quantity of steel castings is also produced at
Letchworth for diesel and electric locomotives. The motor coach illustrated
on page 47 of this Volume includes a number of K & L castings. amongst
them the traction motor yokes. No less than 400 traction castings were supplied
to Crompton-Parkinson for the Toronto Subway Cars (page 43). K & L have
also supplied electrical traction castings amounting to many hundreds of
tons to English Electric for the 3,000 volt electric locomotives being built
for R.E.N.F.E.; all these locomotives have SCOA-P wheel centres, similar
traction castings and SCOA-P wheel centres are also on order for the G.I.P
.R.
Amongst current work may be mentioned castings for 360 traction motor sets
for 60 diesel-electric locomotives to be supplied by The English Electric
Co. Ltd. to the Victorian Railways. The same builders also have on order
traction motor castings for the 5F class diesel-electrics for South Africa.
These consist of the motor vokes and about 8 or 9 other patterns to the extent
of 256' sets. Also in hand are several hundred traction motor sets for standard
diesel-electric locomotives which The English Electric Co. Ltd., are building
for Queensland, New Zealand, Gold Coast, etc. Traction castings in quantity
and variety are also on order for the recently negotiated Brazilian contract
by Metropolitan-Vickers. The latter firm are also building diesel-electric
locomotives for the C.I.E. and again K & L are making the motor and generator
yokes and most of the other castings.
Metropolitan-Vickers, Crornpton Parkinson and G.E.C. all have contracts from
British Railways for electrical equipment for their standard 0-6-0
diesel-electrics and K & L arc making most of the traction castings for
these. Corresponding mechanical castings are on order direct from British
Railways.
In addition to the orders rnen tioned, at the moment over 1,000 tons of castings
are in hand for British Railways, many of which relate to carriages and wagons
and B.R. standard locomotives.
Canadian Pacific Railway. 82.
The following equipment was received from builders during the period
19 March to 20 April. 456 50-ton box cars from Canadian Car & Foundrv
Co., Ltd., the first of an order for 750. One R.D.C. coach ordered from the
Budd Company. Eight 16,000-gallon tank cars from Canadian Car & Fou ndrv
Co. Ltd., completing an order for 40. Two 1,750 h.p. diesel "B" units from
General Motors Diesel Ltd., making six received of eight ordered. Three 1,750
h.p. diesel "A" units from General Motors Diesel Ltd., making five received
of an order for 11. Seven 1,600 h.p. diesel road switchers from Montreal
Locomotive Works, making nine received out of 21 ordered. One 1,600 h.p.
diesel "A" unit and one 1,600 diesel "B" unit from Canadian Locomotive Co.,
the first of an order for two each.
Diesel-electric locomotive for Southern Region. 82
The third and most powerful of the Southern Region's main line
diesel-electric locomotives No. 10203 was brought into service this month.
Built at the Ashford and Brighton Works this 2,000 h.p. locomotive weighs
132 tons in working order, with a maximum speed of 90 m.p.h. Similar in
appearance to the two previous diesel-electric locomotives No. 10201 and
10202 it has a driving cab at each end with the central part of the body
housing the diesel generator, auxiliary machinerv, control 'apparatus and
fuel tanks. This new locomotive will be used on express services between
London and Weymouth or Exeter.
Victorian Railways J class locomotives. 83-4. illustration, diagram
(side elevation)
2-8-0 built Vulcan Foundry: thirty coal fired with Hulson Grates,
and further thirty oil-fired.
Giesl oblong ejector. 84.
"It is understood" that device to be fitted to 30 locomotives of Austrian
Federal Railways including 20 4-8-0s in long distance service on the Southern
line.
Reviews. 84
Cours d'exploitation des chemins des fer. Ulysse Lamaille. Paris:
Dunod. 312pp.
Studies in railway working. Second edition. Covers train and locomotive
resistance, and motive power withn emphasis on French and Belgian
practice.
Mr. W.N. Pellow, M.I.Mech.E., M.I.Loco. E. 84
Retirement after more than fifty years service: Assistsnt Locomotive,
Carriage & Wagon Engineer at Wolverhampton, Assistant to the Locomotive
Running Superintendent and Outdoor Assistant to the C.M.E. (Collett); Divisional
Carriage & Wagon Superintendent at Bristol, then Old Oak Common. Latterly
Chief of Motive Power on Western Region.
Mr N.R. Peach, A.M.I.Loco.E. 84
District Motive Power Superintendent, Crewe from 1 May 1954: formerly
in Assistant position; following retirement of James Foster.
"Popular Carriage". 84
Scholes, Curator to British Transport Commission had assembled an
exhibition of model road and railway carriages in the shareholders' room
at Euston Station including an actual omnibus operated by the Kent &
East Sussex Railway.
Woolwich Arsenal. 84
Hunslet Engine Co. Ltd supplied a B-B type diesel mechanical locomotive
to work on 18 inch gauge system: repeat order of a type supplied in
1934.
Obituary. 84.
E.M. Bywell, aged 80: editor of former North Eastern Railway Magazine
and first curator of York Railway Museum from 1922.
Number 742 (June 1954)
B.R. class 8 4-6-2 locomotive No. 71000. 88-90. 3 illustrations, diagram (side elevation)
Number 743 (July 1954)
Time changes all. 103
Attitudes to railway travel especially in USA and call for road
improvements in UK. Partly driven by booklet produced by American Car &
Foundry Co: How to travel by train published to encourage rail
travel
Rhodesian Railways. 103
Had taken delivery of 4-8-4 locomotives with condensing tenders from
Henschel & Co. similar to locomotives supplied to South African Railways
by North British Locomotive Co. and Henschel
300 h.p. diesel-hydraulic shunting locomotive. 104-5. illustration,
2 diagrams
Supplied to Shelton Iron, Steel and Coal Co. of Stoke by North British
Locomotive Co: 0-4-0 with Voith North British hydraulic transmission capable
of haulage on 1 in 44 gradient.
F.J.G. Haut. New Swiss mountain rail coach. 105. 2 illustrations
St Gallen to Mühlech Railway which had been converted from cable
haulage using counterr-balance system to Riggenback rack system. Coach built
by SLM of Winterthur in co-operation with Brown Boveri: railway had gradient
of 1 in 4.5, 1.2 m gauge and cars accommodated 68 passengers.
Westinghouse Brake & Signal Co. Ltd. 105
In conjuction with Bellamy & Lambie formed Westinghouse Brake
& Signal Company SA (Pty) in Johannesburg with A.R. Walwyn from
Bellamy & Lambie (Managing Director) and M.W. Shorter (MD of
Westinghouse in England) and N.V. Davies and J. Pryce as directors
S. Ellingworth. The locomotives of Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd. 106-8. 2 illustrations, diagram
The Alkali Division did not number its locomotives and only used names.
The Metals Division at the Kynoch Works in Witton had two unusual locomotives.
No. 3 was a very squat outside cylinder 0-4-0T which had been a crane locomotive.
It had 14 x 22in cylinders, 3ft 5in wheels and 160 psi boiler pressure. No.
4 was a Ramsbottom inside-cylinder 0-4-0ST: it had been LNWR running numbers
1439 then 1988 and was No. 3042 when sold in 1919. It had a cylindrical firebox
(diagram), 14 x 20in cylinders and 4ft 1in coupled wheels. It was presented
to the British Transport Commission in June. The Dyestuffs Division in
Huddersfield used a fireless locomotive built by Hawthorn Leslie & Co
in 1930. It had 17 x 16in cylinders activated by Walschaerts valve gear.
Diesel traction was used at Winnington Works and at the Nobel Division at
Ardeer where explosives were manufactured. There was a 2ft 6in gauge system
employing Ruston-Horsby 27 hp locomotives with clutches and gearboxes. The
standard gauge lines used North British Locomotive Co. locomotives with Voith
hydraulic transmission. The new Wilton plant would use diesel
locomtives.
Dining cars for the Argentine. 108-9 2 illustrations, diagram
(side & front elevations, sections & plan)
Built by Werkspoor J.J. Beijnes Carriage & Wagon Works at Beverwijk
in Holland
1,000 H.P. diesel-electric locomotives for Brazil. 110-11. 2
illustrations
A1A-A1A built by English Electric for metre gauge railways from Recife
to Afogadas de Ingazeira and to Maceio.
Rehabilitation Workshop, B.R., W.R. 111
Following the lead of the medical profession. British Railways (Western
Regiou ) were developing a Rehabilitation Workshop at Swindon. The
object is to sustain in employment by the provision of productive work during
their convalescence. injured workmen whose return to work would normally
be longer delayed. Machinery has been specially adapted to provide a form
of graduated work to a selected group of muscles or to give increasing ranges
of movement in one or more joints. Apart from accident cases, it is hoped
tc also provide for those who require "toning up" after operation or long
Illness.
While working in the Rehabilitation Workshop, men are paid at the basic rate
applying to their normal work and admission is entirely voluntary. Work was
begun ten minute later and finished ten minutes earlier than the normal factory
hours to avoid the usual rush in the approaches to the works.
British Railways. 111
The. following new engines had been placed in service:
Eastern Region 2-6-0 Cl. 4, Nos. 76035-76037;. 2-10-0 Cl. 9. No. 920I2.
London Midland Region 4-6-2 Cl. 8, No. 71000; 2-6-0 Cl. 2. Nos. 78021-78024;
2-6-4T Cl. 4, Nos. 80083, 80084; 350 h.p. diesel shunter No. 13050.
Southern Region 4-6-0 Cl. 5, Nos. 73051, 73052.
Western Region 4-6-0 Cl. 4, Nos. 75026-75029; 0-6-0PT Cl. 94XX, No. 9492
(Built by the Yorkshire Engine Co )
Centenary of Paddington. 111
To mark the centenary of the terminus at Paddington, a tablet was
unveiled on 29 May, on No. 1 Platform, by A.S. Quartermaine, C.B.E., M.C.,
a former Chief Engineer of the Great Western Railway and of the Western Region
and a Past President of the Institution of Civil Engineers. Inscribed on
the tablet are the dates 1854 and 1954, below which, and slightly inset,
is a bronze plaque in low relief depicting the head and shoulders of Isarnbard
Kingdom Brunel, in a tall beaver hat, and with the inevitable cigar. Beneath
this bronze an appropriate inscription is cut in the stone. At the foot of
the panel, in bronze, is the Coat of Arms of the former Great Western Railway
Companythe joined shields of the Cities of London and Bristol.
Steel Ride. 111
We recently saw the film Steel Ride dealing with the production
of railwav material. which had been made for the Steel Peech & Tozer
branch of the United Steel Companies Ltd. The subject was dealt with factually,
objectively and in an interesting manner and packed a large amount into the
running time of 32 rnmutes and ranges from the sequences of the melting shop
anrl ingot casting to the machining, fitting and use of the finished product.
.
Appointment. 111
British Railways announced the appointment of H.E.A. White as Motive
Power Superintendent, Western Region.
2-10-0 locomotives for Greece. 112. illustration.
Illustration: 195 ton 2-10-0 locomotive for Greece on test at
Sampierdarena. What were among the largest steam locomotives in Europe were
being built in Italy for the Greek State Railways, and the first three or
four of them had entered service on the Athens-Salonika line. Their principal
dimensions were: two cylinders 26in. by 27½ in., 63 in. wheels, 255
psi. boiler pressure, evaporative heating surface 3,359 ft2.,
superheating surface 1,346 ft2., grate area 60.3 ft2,
adhesive weight 100 tons, total engine weight 132 tons, tender weight 63
tons, overall length of engine and tender 81 ft., tractive effort at 75 per
cent. boiler pressure 56,500 lb. The boiler barrel had a maximum diameter
of 82 in., and the round-topped firebox contains four arch tubes and is prolonged
forward into a combustion chamber. Exhaust is through a double Kylchap
arrangement. No mechanical stoker is provided but provision had been made
in the design of engine and tender for one to be fitted at a later stage
should this be found necessary. The boiler was fed by a pump delivering through
a feed-water heater, and by an injector. Piston valves are actuated by
Walschaerts motion. The cast steel driving and coupled wheel centres were
of the SCOA-P type, supplied by Societa Italiana Ernesto Breda who are sole
selling and manufacturing licensees in Italy under a licence granted by K
& L Steelfounders and Engineers Limited, Letchworth, England under power
of Attorney granted by the original inventors and patentees, the Steel Company
of Australia (Pty). The Vulcan Foundry Limited, Newton-le-Willows, were designers
and technical advisers to all European licencees. Leading and leading coupled
wheels were combined in a Krauss truck and the driving wheels are flangeless,
in order to get the engine round the curves of 985 feet radius out on the
line. Bar frames were used, and in general these and the various cross stretchers
and drag boxes are welded up. Altogether 20 of these locomotives, with
double-bogie 5,500 gallon 12-tons of coal tenders, wee being built, ten by
Ansaldo at Genoa and ten at Milan by Breda. Despite a height of almost 15ft.
it was found possible to try one of these engines over the 1 in 40. grades
ot the Brenner line of the Italian State Railways, a route which was electrified
on the three-phase system.
The Prime Minister of Northern Ireland. 112. illustration.
Viscount Brookeborough, visited the main works at Rugby of The British
Thomson-Houston Company on 18 May. The photograph reproduced, taken on this
occasion, included:. H. L. Satchell (Director, Manager Rugby Works, BTH)
, Lord Glentoran (Minister of Commerce, Northern Ireland), J.S. Borrington
(Supt Turbine Factory, BTH Rugby), Viscount Brookeborough (Unelected Prime
Minister of Northern Ireland), E. H. Ball (Managing Director, BTH), W.W.
Vinsen (Director of Manufacture, BTH), . W.N. McWilliam (Asst. Sec. to the
Cabinet, Northern Ireland), D.R.S. Turner (Asst. General Superintendent.
Rugby Works, and Manager of Larne Factory), H. Dreghorn (General Superintendent,
BTH Rugby Works). The visit was of particular interest in view of the BTH
decision to erect a new factory, for the expansion of their turbine business,
at Larne, Northern Ireland.
Birmingham. New Street. 112
British Railways held an exhibition of locomotives and coaching stock
at New Street Station to commemorate the centenary of the opening: of the
station.
Italian locomotives with Franco-Crosti boilers. 113-14. 2
illustrations
P.M. Kalla-Bishop described the five streamlined (No. 683.981 illustrated)
685 class 2-6-2 originally built in 1927 but modified in 1940 and allocated
to the Venice SEA depot and also illustrates a non-streamlined 2-8-0 No.
743.015 and notes that British Railways were about to embark on fitting
Franco-Crosti boilers
Cor-Ten Steel. 114
For the first time in the United Kingdom Cor-Ten steel has
been rolled on the hot strip mill. The Steel Company of Wales announced that
they had rolled some of this high-tensile corrosion resisting steel in coils
and sheets at the Abbey' Works, Port Talbot. Cor-Ten is the registered
trade name given to this steel by the United States Steel Corporation and
it is produced in this country under licence. This material possesses good
working and welding properties, and weight-far-weight has much greater strength
than mild steel. While Cor-Tenis not a stainless steel it has a good
resistance to atmospheric corrosion, and is also more resistant to abrasion,
fatigue and impact that ordinary steel. These characteristics render it
particularly suitable for use in the manufacture of railway wagons, etc.
and it has a wide application, for this and other purposes, in America, where
it has been shown that the resulting maintenance economies more than offset
the higher initial cost. The first large order for it has been placed through
R.T.S.C. Home Sales Ltd., by British Railways; to be used for the manufacture
of wagons.
Swedish State Railways. 114
Order from ASEA works for two fast electric locomotives of a new type:
3.000 h.p. units to develop a top speed of 93 m.p.h. The high output of the
new units was combined with a relatively low axle load and they could haul
up to eight bogie coaches on lines which are not severely graded, e.g.
Stockholm-Gothenburg and Stockholm- Malmoe. Maximum service speed was about
80 m.p.h. Mechanical parts of these locomotives were being supplied
by Nydqvist & Holm of Trollhaettan.
Japanese diescls. 114
Japanese National Railways order for 13 diesel-electric locomotives
of 63 tons weight and 56 m.p.h. top speed for main-line mixed-traffic working,
and powered each by a Sulzer engine of 1,000 h.p. at 850 r.p.m. Starting
tractive effort is 35,000 lb., wheel arrangement Bo-Bo, bogie wheelbase 7ft.
6in., bogie pitch 18ft and overall length 38ft. 9in.
Portuguese Notes. 114 . illustration
On page 63 of this Volume were
illustrated and described the motor trains built by Fiat for Portugal. They
were used on the Lisbon-Oporto services and complete the run of 210 miles,
including seven stops, in about 4¼ hours. Delivery of stock built in
Holland commenced in March, with the receipt of two diesel railcars of the
new series 35 and 20 trailers. When this order has been completed it will
bring the number of railcars received since 1948 up to 70, and the corresponding
figure for trailers to 31. Also on order are 35 Budd type stainless steel
coaches. The first three of seven ordered from France were delivered in March,
these are for use on International services. We are indebted to J. H. Richards
for these particulars, and also for the reproduced photograph.
Bagnalls of Stafford. 115
Investment in its offices, including a larger drawing office and in
its plant. A 450 ton Fielding & Platt flanging press had been installed
to increase its boiler output. The wheel shop had acquired improved boring
machines. Unionmelt submerged automatic welding had been installed. 0-6-0STs
were being built for the National Coal Board. Boilers were being supplied
to the Mauritius Government Railway and to the Jodhpur Railway. Four-wheeled
and Bo-Bo diesel electric locomotives were being built for the Steel Company
of Wales. Diesel mechanical locomotives were being supplied to the New Zealand
Government Railways and to the Tasman Pulp & Paper Company.
New Hungarian railcars. 115.
Three-car diesel electric trains with Ganz-Jendrassie diesel engines
and air conditioning and a dining car forming the central vehicle accommodated
128 passengers. They were known as Hargita and used on services between Budapest
and Nyiregyháza. A unit had been sold to Czechoslovakia for use on
Prague to Berlin services.
Diesel for Bolivia. 115
Sulzer of Switzerland supplied the Machacamarca-Uncia Railway with
a C-C metre gauge diesel electric locomotive.
Coal-burning steam-turbine-electric locomotive.
116-17. illustration, diagram (side elevation).
Described as a 6-6-6-6, but C+C-C+C might be more suitable, was in
effect a power station on wheels as it had a Babcock & Wilcox water tube
boiler with a self-cleaning travelling chain grate which operated at 600
psi and 900°F. It was supplied to the Norfolk & Western Railway
where C.E. Pond was General
Superintendent of Motive Power, by Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton.
Cornish Riviera Express. 117
Celebrated its 50th birthday on 1 July. It was the outstanding performance
of a Royal Train showing the possibilities of non-stop long distance runs
which led up to the introduction of this famous express. In 1903, the Prince
and Princess of Wales, afterwards King George V and Queen Mary travelled
to Falmouth for the opening of the first Transatlantic Wireless Station,
their special train running non-stop from Paddington to Plymouth via Bristol,
a distance of 246 miles in under 4 hours. In June the following year, the
Riviera made a trial run and was officially introduced in the timetable
on 1 July 1904, being scheduled to leave Paddington at 10.10 a.m. In
1906 it was re-routed to run by the shorter route via Westhury and re-timed
to depart at 10.30 .
G.E.C. Rectifiers for Netherlands Railways. 117
The General Electric Co. Ltd. entrusted by the Netherlands Railways
with an important contract for pumpless steel-tank rectifiers. The order
covers a total of thirteen twin-cylinder units each rated at 1,224 kW at
1,530 volts and includes electronic arc-suppression equipment. This contract
is the latest in a series received by the G.E.C. in the post- war period
for rectifier equipment for the rehabilitation and expansion of the electrified
section .of the Netherlands Railways, and brings the total quantity of fixed
and mobile rectifiers supplied and on order for this administration to 76
cylinders with a combined rating of over 45,000 kW.
Review. 117
The Third Woodhead Tunnel. George Dow.
British Railways (London Midland Region)
To commemorate the formal opening of the new Woodhead Tunnel by Alan
Lennox-Boyd, 3 June, 1954. 28-page booklet divided into four chapters dealing
with the earlier tunnels. preliminaries, construction and completion of the
third tunnel. The text is well illustrated with photographic reproduction
and line diagrams including a map of the old and new tunnels and connecting
lines. The author is to he congratulated upon the production of this very
interesting account of the greatest tunnelling achievement in this country
during the present century.
Electric Power Convention Traction. 118.
Among the papers presented to the British Electrical Power Convention,
held in June, was one by Sir George H. Nelson, Chairman and Managing Director
The English Electric Co. Ltd., on "Electrical Engineering in World Trade".
The paper coveredas will be gathered from the titlea vast subject
and the following extract is taken from the section relating to Traction.
Transport represents a much bigger proportion of cost and distribution than
the average person realises, and it plays an important part in the extent
of our success in world markets. It is, therefore, important that our railways
should be efficient. In considering the prospects of export trade in traction
equipment, it is of interest to study diesel transport in the U.S.A., where
during the year 1951, for example, the production of diesel locomotives reached
a peak of 3,558, with a value estimated to be $650 million. Nearly all this
production comprised standardised types for the U.S.A. home market This huge
production, concentrated mostly in two plants, enabled formidably low production
costs to be achieved. If we are to secure a proper share of the world's demand
for such locomotives, we must standardise our production on a basis competitive
with theirs.
Out of some 19,000 locomotives running in the United Kingdom today, we have
only 81 electric and 6 main-line diesel-electric locomotives in service.
Apart from the possible influence on our export trade, more electric and
diesel traction at home would bring benefits to British Railways and its
users, and therefore to the nation.
On the basis of the figures in the Cock Report on Railway Electrification.
it can be estimated that roughly half the lines in this country could be
electrified economically. There are many other lines which could be worked
more economically with diesel traction than with steam. Such a policy. of
course. requires a bold outlook on capital expenditure. amounting to many
millions of pounds. It is encouraging to see that British Railways are making
a start. This programme, however, is quite modest in view of the magnitude
of British Railways, and the tremendous field for exploitation.
Sir George expressed the opinion that the case of diesel traction in this
country is sometimes misrepresented. It has been stated that the cost of
diesel locomotives is four times that of steam locomotives. This is an
exaggeration. Another point is that little tribute is paid to the much higher
capacity for work of the diesel locomotive and the lower costs of its fuel
and maintenance. There is misunderstanding when comparing fuel costs. There
may be little difference in the cost of fuel consumption as between a steam-
hauled train and a diesel-hauled train on comparable test runs, but this
is not a true picture, and does not take into account the steam locomotive
fuel used non-productively in such operations as preparation, standby and
blowing down. The magnitude of these losses is not generally appreciated.
At the present time, our railways consume a total of some 14 million tons
of our best coal every year. If British Railways statistics are analysed,
and fuel costs' calculated on the basis of the inter-change locomotive trials
in 1948, it would appear, out of these 14 million tons of coal, a mere 5.85
million tons are required for the running of all the freight, express and
mixed traffic on British Railways. To this figure must be added coal used
for shunting purposes, which can be but a small proportion of the difference
between 5.85 million tons. and the total of 14 million tons consumed annually
on British Railways. In other words, a large proportion of the 14 million
tons is used non-productively. The national coal consumption is currently
about 208 million tons a year, and is increasing. The Ridley Committee Report
and British Electricity Reports suggest that Britain will be short of
approximately 20 million tons of coal a year by about 1965. In addition to
improving the efficiency of our Railway transport, it is clear that we must
do everything possible to conserve our most valuable asset. With general
electrification the consumption would be reduced to some 5½ million
tons, and this would be low grade coal as used in central power stations.
Concluding his remarks on traction, Sir George said that as electrification
and or "dieselisation" would increase efficiency on the railways by savings
in working expenses, and provide the public with faster, cleaner and generally
better services, it should be adopted as soon as possible, both for its own
sake, and to ease traffic on our roads. By so doing it would also provide
a base load for overseas trading in electric and diesel-electric
locomotives.
B.R. new cafeteria-restaurant cars . 118
Rising costs and the altering habits of the traveller have necessitated
radical changes in the railway catering service. As illustrated in our May
issue (page 79). cafeteria cars have been introduced on many services. and
a further development is the provision of combined cafeteria-restaurant cars,
two, of which were being built at Eastleigh and the first of which put into
service on 12 July on the 13.35 train from Nottingham to St. Pancras and
the 19.10 train from St. Pancras to Derby. As other cars become available.
they will run between St. Pancras and Bradford. Sheffield. Manchester. Glasgow
and Edinburgh.
The new cars will serve either set meals or light refreshments from one vehicle
continuously throughout the journey and should prove extremely popular. At
one end of each car is an 18-seat restaurant of attractive design in which
meals will be served at the usual restaurant car prices. At the other end
there is a compact cafeteria. comprising self-service counter and nine seats.
and offering a full range of light refreshments and. if required, hot dishes
so as to form a complete luncheon or dinner at popular prices. The kitchen
divides the restaurant from the cafeteria and is equipped with hot-plates.
grill. hot cupboards and refrigerator. Both restaurant and cafeteria are
fully licensed.
As the new type of vehicle enables up to 64 meals to be served at one time.
the Cafeteria-Restaurant Cars will usually be placed next in the train to
an open-vestibule type coach. thus enabling meals to be served in this adjoining
vehicie if required. From the cafeteria end of the car passengers will be
able to take their trays into their own compartment if they wish.
The cars are 61ft. 6in. long and 9ft. 0in. wide at the waist. and weigh 35
tons. The general equipment, kitchens, sinks, cabinets. furnishings and fittings
have been designed in the British Railways works at Eastleigh. The oven,
grills and other kitchen equipment are supplied by Benham & Sons and
the cafe set by W. M. Still & Sons. Ltd .. both of London. The fuel used
in the kitchen is an equal mixture of propane and butane gas.
Cylinder fixing with shear strips. 119. 2 illustrations,
diagram.
No. 46203 shown in photograph. Notes that fixing technique also applied
to cylinders of BR Class 8 No. 71000.
G.E.C. platform lighting. 120
New Twickenham Station of the Southern Region, for which new lanterns
for fluorescent tubes were manufactured to the design of the Civil Engineer
by the General Electric Co. Ltd. All the lanterns are mounted at right angles
to the tracks so that the station name is continuously visible from trains
running into the station. A 12ft. internally illuminated name sign
on one platform was also supplied by the G.E.C.
Festiniog Railway. 120
A society has been formed to attempt to re-instate passenger services
on this narrow gauge railway in North Wales. The line is about 13 miles long
between Blaenau-Festiniog and Portmadoc. Fairlie type locomotives were an
interesting feature of the railway, which was opened for traffic over a century
ago.
Bolivian railcars. 120
The cars, supplied by The British Thompson-Houston Co. Ltd., and described
on page 59 of this volume, were in operation between Potosi and Sucre, 109
miles, over a summit 12,900 ft. high, and where the grades are as steep at
I in 34 and there are constant curves down to 250ft. radius. The curvature,
and the necessity to guard against frequent rock falls, limit the top speed
to 28 m.p.h. The cars are worked in convoy with some old petrol cars, and
make the journey from one end to the other in about 7 hours inclusive of
a 45-mmute stop at Vila Vila.
East African Railway progress. 120
Excellent progress is reported to have been made with the construction
of the new Lourenco Marques-Southern Rhodesia railway. Crossing points complete
with station buildings and staff housing had been built as far as Mabelane,
an important base on the new railway 80 km. beyond the Limpopo crossing.
Track laying, which is going forward at 1to 1,5 km. per day is now 70 km.
beyond Mabelane and was expected to be completed to the Rhodesian border
before the end of 1954. Construction of earth works on the Rhodesia side
has now been commenced northwards from the Mocambique-Southern Rhodesia border.
The extension of the Lourenco Marques- Vila Luisa line to Manhica, some 72
km. north of Lourenco Marques, has been started. This line will eventually
form part of: the main line to Rhodesia and will also assist development
in the Incomati Valley.
ISO Committee on Pallets. 120
Delegates from many ccuntries attended the meeting, recently held
at the British Standards Institution in London, of the Pallets Committee
of the International Organisation for Standardisation. Dimensions and loading
of standard pallets were agreed:.
Model Railway Club. 120
The very large and well-attended Exhibition staged annually by this
Club has now reached a stage where it appears to us finality has been attained
so far as quality is concerned. The models of locomotives, rolling stock,
track and lineside accessories have reached such a pitch of perfection, certainly
in the smaller scales, that it seems little, if any, further improvement
is possible. It must not be inferred from this that there will be no change.
Yearly a large number of models appear of other prototypes. Some of the results
on show this year of subjects hitherto neglected were extremely well
madeas indeed were almost all of the exhibits. The whole show reflects
great credit upon the many who contributed both to the making of the models
and the organisationwhich must be a tremendous undertaking.
Reviews, 120
Applying the pressure. The British Productivity Council. 120
This is the thirteenth review m a series ot surveys of British industries,
which originally sent Productivity Teams to the U.S.A. under the auspices
of the Anglo-American Council of Productivity. The Pressed Metal Industry
Team visited America in 1949, and, in 1951, an American team visited Britain.
The Amencan team's report was also published by the Council. The pressed
metal industry is among the most important of British engmeenng industries,
as it deals with a wide range of articles, such as parts for railway wagons,
motor vehicles, aircraft, refrigerators, down to tin cans, etc. The report
deals extensively with techniques, material handling, plant layout etc.,
and reviews the work done bv some of the leading firms of the pressed metal
industry. -
British Railways. Test Bulletin No. 6. The British
Transport Commission. 120
This addition to the series of reports. already published on the
comprehensive performance and efficiency tests carried out on British Railways,
relates to. the Class 5 two-cylinder 4-6-0 mixed-traffic locomotive. As.
is customary with these reports the one now issued contains much of interest
in addition to a wealth of test results. Among the interesting features of
this report are the indicator diagrams obtained by the use of a modified
"Farnboro" indicator. It will be recalled that this indicator and its application
to steam locomotives formed the subject of a paper presented by
R.E. Morgan to the Institution of Locomotive
Engineers (Journal No. 233). It produces diagrams on a basis of angle
of rotation of the driving axle, instead of the stroke basis, and also builds
up the diagram over a large number of revolutions, in place of one or two.
A further point of interest is the modifications made to improve steaming.
These included the substitution of grid type firebars for the Hulson bars.
originally fitted, the increase in air space so obtained to- gether with
more direct air passage, resulted in an increase of 1,000 lb. /hr. in steam
production when Blidworth coal was fired and reduction in smoke production.
Additional increase in maximum evaporations were obtained by reduction in
the' diameter of blast pipe caps. The graphs include some which show the
higher vacua obtained by this reduction and the quadruple relationships between
steam, air, gas, draught and hlast pipe pressure.
Leitfaden fur den Dampflokomotivdienst. Von Leopold
Niederstrasser, Verkehrswissenschaftliche Lehrmittelgesellschaft
M.B.H. Frankfurt. 120
In German. This is the 8th edition of this well-known book which is
a guide, both theoretical and practical, to the steam locomotive. As will
be gathered from the fact that the book runs to over 600 pages, the subject
is dealt with in considerable detail. The comprehensive text is supported
by many good lineand half-tone illustrations and there are 11 loose folding
plates which show many technical details and arrangements of .the main
components; diagrams of many German locomotives are also included. German
locomotive practice has always been worth a careful study and the book under
review provides an excellent opportunity of becoming familiar with up-to-date
practice in that country. The book is well produced and must be regarded
as one of the most important works on the subject for it contains much
information that is not, so far as we are aware, available elsewhere.
Locomotives and train working in the latter part of
the' 19th century. Vol. 6. Edited by. L.L. Asher. Cambridge:
Heffer & Sons Ltd. 120
This, the last of the reprints of Ahrons' classic works. which appeared
originally in The Railway Magazine, deals with that fascinating subject-
the Irish railways. Many will deplore the fact tha.t no further volumes in
this series can be pleasurably anticipated for Ahrons' work was unique and
presented a mass of valuable information in a manner all his own. Both Editor
and Publishers have done an excellent job in making this series of articles
available to present-day enthusiasts.
German steam locomotives. 120
More of the 23-c1ass standard 2-6-2 mixed-traffic locomotives of 19
tons maximum axle load and with all-welded boilers and all-welded' frame
structures are now being delivered to the German Federal Railway, 14 from
Henschel, nine from Krupp and' four from Arn. Jung.
C.I.E. diesel-electric locomotives. 135
via index: Crossley Brothers. illustration.
Correspondence. 136
A mystery locomotive design of 1845. 136
via index: illustration.
Oiil fuel burners on locomotives. 143
via index: illustration.
Swedish power-gas locomotive.177
Reorganisation Jura Rys. 181
via index: illustration.
P.C. Dewhurst. Commentary on
"Railway locomotives
down to the end of 1831". 185-6
Next part of Commentary
Air pollution. 187
via index: illustration.
Pneumatic-tyred rail-buses. 190
via index:
Obituary. 199
via index: Lt. Colonel L.B. Billinton
O.S.M. Raw. Some locomotive reminiscences. 200-1
August & September Issues: L. Lynes. Wagon design
"December Issue" Clean Air Committee chaired by Sir Hugh Beaver: see Volume 61 page 123
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