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Electric Locomotives (Pantograph electrical pickup) MRH forum help
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MRH Author 5,623 posts Bernd MRH Author 5,623 posts
Bernd

What if Alco and Westinghouse had been influenced by a Swiss design?

Would this locomotive: http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=372705

Have looked more like this one? : http://www.bahnbilder.de/bilder/ce-68-320106.jpg

I feel another scratch-bash project coming on.

Bernd

New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds - NCSWIC
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Norman46 Regular poster 233 posts
Norman46

Just gotta say...

That boxcab is about as ugly as the north end of a southbound cow.
Norman Modeling L&N in HO circa 1953 We don't stop playing with trains because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing with trains. Webmaster for http://www.locallocomodelrr.org
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Pelsea Prolific poster 2,398 posts
Pelsea

Don't be so critical

of bovine posteriors. Can someone recommend a book or site where I can find out what all of that junk in the undercarriage is for?

pqe
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ctxmf74 Super User 15,980 posts
ctxmf74

what all of that junk in the undercarriage is for?

maybe the dairy farmers' almanac? ....DaveB

1990.jpg 
Read my blog
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Bernd MRH Author 5,623 posts
Bernd

Junk in the Trunk......er under the engine

Pelsea,

Which engine?

Bernd

New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds - NCSWIC
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Bernd MRH Author 5,623 posts
Bernd

Todays Diesel

Well now!

Quote:

That boxcab is about as ugly as the north end of a southbound cow.

I'd have to say that about todays diesels. Except I'd change the animal to male donkey. Much more appropriate for the end we are talking about. Now would that be the "A" end or the "B" end. I'm assuming the "B" end. Since the letter would then be correct.

Bernd

New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds - NCSWIC
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Bernd MRH Author 5,623 posts
Bernd

Quite the Monkey Motion

The Swiss Crocodile has quite the monkey motion when moving.

 

//www.youtube.com/embed/ig_Ii2Owcvw?feature=player_detailpage

 

And they are very quite.

Bernd

New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds - NCSWIC
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Larry of Z'ville Frequent poster 984 posts
Larry of Z'ville

Once again we are our biggest technology problem

Legislation interfers with the development of Electric loco systems in this country. Some interesting reading here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_locomotiveThe loco is likely a Crockadile descendant: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crocodile_(locomotive)It's design focused on the tight curves and steep track of Switzerland. It had to generate considerable tractive effort. Requirements and infer structure always dominate the design solution. Larry

So many trains, so little time,

Larry

check out my MRH blog: https://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/42408

 or my web site at http://www.llxlocomotives.com
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Bernd MRH Author 5,623 posts
Bernd

Let's not get political

Lets try to stay away from the politics on this please.

One of the reasons I think the US is more prone to using diesel electric is the fact we have a bit more oil then the Swiss do. So yes the diesel will be a better choice do to the natural resources. If you notice that the country has many mountains would suggest that water power for electricity is much cheaper. So electric locomotives is best for them. Also their infrastructure for electric has been used for a long time. The biggest factor is maintenance of the catenary. I'm sure it's not cheap.

Bernd

New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds - NCSWIC
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Larry of Z'ville Frequent poster 984 posts
Larry of Z'ville

To understand the why's as the first article

Indicates, You have to understand the factors that influence the design choices. AlLCO was driven by what thy thought would deliver the most profit. In retrospect, they bet wrong. The Alps require some special technologies, like clog loco's and crocodiles. We used electrics in mountains early on, but the cost of the infra structure was too high. The are best used on high density passenger routes. For the US that is the North East corridor. For now. Larry

So many trains, so little time,

Larry

check out my MRH blog: https://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/42408

 or my web site at http://www.llxlocomotives.com
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lvflats Active Member 91 posts
lvflats

in perspective

Switzerland is 15,944 square miles as compared to San Bernardino county in Southern California which is

20,105 Square miles. 

 Art

lvflats 
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UPWilly Prolific poster 1,965 posts
UPWilly

More info ...

(Edit: Added video at bottom)

The Crocodile (Krocodil) - this engine is displayed in the Swiss Transportation Museum in Lucerne. Retired 1982, according to the museum. Part of the undercarriage included the transformer, which gave it a lower center of gravity and additional traction.

https://www.verkehrshaus.ch/en/museum/rail-transport/the-%E2%80%9Ccrocodile%E2%80%9D-goods-locomotive

This engine as displayed is in the color (colour) green.

There is a working model layput of the Gotthard Railway:

https://www.verkehrshaus.ch/en/museum/rail-transport/gotthard-railway-model

Of course, there was a long history of staem powered locos in Switzerland as well.

Here is possibly a better video of the Gotthard Railway showing electrics that look much like the boxcabs.

//www.youtube.com/embed/okdPYLxcvuM

 

Bill D.

egendpic.jpg 

N Scale (1:160), not N Gauge. DC (analog), Stapleton PWM Throttle.

Proto-freelance Southwest U.S. 2nd half 20th Century.

Keep on trackin'
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Pelsea Prolific poster 2,398 posts
Pelsea

Which engine?

That would be the boxcab. pqe
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ctxmf74 Super User 15,980 posts
ctxmf74

The biggest factor is maintenance of the catenary

and before the maintenance comes the installation cost of the catenary.  Electric power makes the most sense on high capacity lines and shorter distances to cut down the construction and operating costs. If the railroads were nationalized and run for long term benefit to the country they'd be more likely to be electrified. The private rail companies don't want to plan that far ahead and take that much risk because their owners and management won't live to see the positive results....DaveB

1990.jpg 
Read my blog
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Rustman Frequent poster 681 posts
Rustman

A contrary view

Swiss:
 

 

American:

There are hundreds, maybe thousands of factors that influence the design of any given piece of machinery. Location, era and task intended are of course some of the bigger influences. Looking purely at ascetics it only took me a few minutes to find Swiss and American locomotive designs that reversed the appearances originally posted. There were of course many, many factors that lead to the appearance of all four locomotives posted here.

Matt

"Well there's your problem! It's broke."

http://thehoboproletariat.blogspot.com/

 
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Prof_Klyzlr Moderator 7,961 posts
Prof_Klyzlr

Is it a garratt, an electric, a....?????

Dear Bernd,

Looks like someone took a perfectly servicable Garratt, and replaced the boiler and cylinders (and everything above the decks) with an aftermarket electric-upgrade kit...

I know the Aussie and NZ loggers did some horrible "science experiment" power conversions
(Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0 with a CAT bulldozer radiator/diesel powerplant/transmission/chain-drive mounted where the boiler should be, for example), but when you have the Gotthard Pass to conquer, the solutions either fit the problem specs, or die on the ascending grade...

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr
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Bernd MRH Author 5,623 posts
Bernd

electric up-grade kit

Prof.

I like your analogy. I love those Garratt's. Maybe that's why I love that Crocodile so much too.

Bernd

New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds - NCSWIC
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michaelrose55 Super User 3,458 posts
michaelrose55

What a coincidence!

The craziest thing happened this morning: a Swiss crocodile came out of the Gustavsburg tunnel! No idea how that happened...

Michael

The Breitenbach - Rosenheim Railroad V4
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Bernd MRH Author 5,623 posts
Bernd

WOW in N scale too

Hey Michael,

I'm seriously jealous now.

Bernd

New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds - NCSWIC
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michaelrose55 Super User 3,458 posts
michaelrose55

I'm seriously jealous now.

Quote:

I'm seriously jealous now.

Bernd, what about this one then:


 

Michael

The Breitenbach - Rosenheim Railroad V4
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Dave O Prolific poster 1,145 posts
Dave O

Beautiful!

Thanks for sharing.  

 
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Bernd MRH Author 5,623 posts
Bernd

Huh? Oh WOW

Michael,

Double envious now.  

Perhaps the Georgetown & Allen Mountain Railroad executives have a program for testing some Swiss electrics in hopes they may solve some heavy tonnage in the Allen Mountains?

Bernd

New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds - NCSWIC
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Ken Biles Greyhart Frequent poster 551 posts
Ken Biles Greyhart

I'm Wondering

How did they come out of the tunnel with no catinary?

 Ken Biles

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Geoff Bunza geoffb MRH Author and Moderator 2,511 posts
Geoff Bunza geoffb

How did they come out of the tunnel with no catinary?

Hi,

Quote:

How did they come out of the tunnel with no catinary?

Obviously... they were running on battery power! 

Sorry, Bernd-- I couldn't resist!

Best regards,

Geoff Bunza

 

 

 

Geoff Bunza's Blog Index: https://mrhmag.com/blog/geoff-bunza
More Scale Model Animation videos at: https://www.youtube.com/user/DrGeoffB
Home page: http://www.scalemodelanimation.com
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Ken Biles Greyhart Frequent poster 551 posts
Ken Biles Greyhart

Ok...

I walked into that one.

 

 Ken Biles

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