Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 6, Issue 2 (June 1, 1931)

Rail Cars for Branch Lines

Rail Cars for Branch Lines.

Steam and petrol-driven rail-cars are a big success in handling branch lines business, although it would be well to bear in mind that, as a result of the growth of the highway motor and the increasing likelihood of branch-line train services being superseded by railway-operated road motor vehicles, the rail motor car cannot seriously be regarded as an absolutely permanent piece of railway equipment. For some years to come there will doubtless be useful openings for the rail motor car, so that the recent move of thé London and North Eastern Railway page 21 in introducing a new type of articulated steam rail car for branch-line operation is of genuine interest.

The new L. & N.E. rail car is of “Sentinel-Cammell” make, and consists of two cars mounted in articulated fashion on three bogies. The motive power is furnished by two 100–125 horse-power engines, one driving the axle of the leading bogie, and the other the trailing axle of the articulated bogie. Gear ratios provide for speeds of 30 or 38 miles per hour at 500 revolutions per minute, the engines, thus being capable of attaining
A Typical Modern Passenger Carriage. Composite (First and Third class) side corridor coach, Great Western Railway, England.

A Typical Modern Passenger Carriage.
Composite (First and Third class) side corridor coach, Great Western Railway, England.

speeds on the level of up to 45 and 60 miles an hour. By the use of dual control, the car may be driven from either end, and on this account it is well adapted to shuttle working. Seats are provided for 122 passengers. The coal bunkers carry fuel for a 150 mile run; and the water tanks have a capacity sufficient for a run of 60 miles. The seats in the two passenger saloons are of the reversible pattern. In recent tests on the level this car attained loaded speeds of up to 65 miles an hour, while on mountain routes its economy in fuel was most marked.