page 48

French Electric Locomotives

Not only on its underground railways, but also on the trunk routes serving the capital, Paris is now witnessing vast improvements of every type (writes our special London Correspondent). The reconstruction of the Paris terminal of the Eastern Railway is a work of the first magnitude, while the electrification outside the capital, of the Orleans line, has come as a boon to the traveller. This system, like the other French railways, is electrified on the direct current arrangement at 1,500 volts. For train haulage, two main types of electric locomotive are utilised, and these are of considerable interest. One type is for ordinary passenger train and goods train service, and the other is for express passenger duty. The two hundred locomotives of the first type in service and on order are the product of three French engineering works, and the principal dimensions are as follows, viz.—total length 40 ft. 11 1/2 in., total width 10 ft., total wheelbase 28 ft. 8 in., rigid wheelbase 9 ft. 2 1/4 in., diameter of driving wheels 4 ft. 5 in., total weight 76 metric tons, power one hour rating 1,720 h.p. and power continuous rating 1,320 h.p. These locomotives are capable of hauling freight trains of 1,000 metric tons at a nominal speed of 25 miles an hour, and passenger trains of 500 tons at 40 miles an hour.

For express passenger service the Orleans Railway is utilising five different types of electric locomotive, the main differences between these types being in the wheel arrangement, the method of transmission and the disposition of the electrical equipment. One type of locomotive, built by the British Thomson-Houston Company, is of the 2C + 2C gearless type. The armatures of six 750-volt two-pole motors are directly connected to an axle, the rating of each motor reaching 500 h.p. Other locomotives are the product of the “Societe Ganz,” and have connecting rod drive, being of the 2D2 type. These are rated at 4,200 h.p. The Compagnie Electro-Mecanique have also supplied two high-speed locomotives for the Orleans Railway, these having outside gear drive and small “Buchli” connecting rods, a type of equipment which is reported to have given great satisfaction in Switzerland. These have a one-hour rating of 3,600 h.p., and a continuous rating of 3,000 h.p. The gearless locomotive supplied by the British Thomson-Houston Company is of the double articulated type, each half locomotive having a main underframe with three driving axles and a four-wheel bogie. The “Societe Ganz” locomotives have a main underframe resting on four driving axles, with a four-wheeled bogie at each end.

You will believe that “Petone” Suits are good when you wear one a a

When buying clothes ask for Petone “Improved Business” Suits. They embody all the improvements with the last word in style.

Made entirely by New Zealand skill from New Zealand wool, there is nothing better.

InsistOn “Petone” Look for the label.