Railway General Knowledge.

[Gloster]

I will pass on this one. (I had been wondering if Brayton was a corruption of Brighton, or hoping that there were more places called Papcastle.)

 

[Calthrop]

I will pass on this one.

@DerekC -- floor to you, then...

(I had been wondering if Brayton was a corruption of Brighton, or hoping that there were more places called Papcastle.)

This Cumbrian Heathfield: anyway from a bit of a suspect source, which has caused bother for me in the past, and which I should know better than to trust -- I just wanted this one to be real !

 

[DerekC]

OK.

What new concept did M. Jean-Jacques Heilmann bring to locomotive design?

 

[LSWR Cavalier]

Something to do with bogies that could move?

 

[DerekC]

Something to do with bogies that could move?

Not that. It was more fundamental.

 

[LSWR Cavalier]

Turnouts?

 

[DerekC]

Turnouts?

No. It was a new concept of locomotive.

 

[LSWR Cavalier]

Coupling rods, so more than one axle could be driven?

 

[DerekC]

Coupling rods, so more than one axle could be driven?

Not that. I think Locomotion No 1 in 1825 had coupling rods. A clue - M. Heilmann came up with his idea in the 1890s. What technology was emerging at about that time which could be applied to locomotives?

 

[LSWR Cavalier]

Superheating? Was he another of those ingenious Belgians who seem to have invented most things?

Or compounding?

 

[DerekC]

Not suoerheating or compounding. M. Heilmann was an ingenious Frenchman from Alsace (hence the Germanic name, I guess). He tried to combine a long established traction technology with an emerging one. As far as I know only one prototype of his idea was ever built.

 

[LSWR Cavalier]

Steam-electric locomotive engine?

 

[xotGD]

Steam-electric locomotive engine?

Or electric-steam. Electric immersion heater used for raising steam instead of burning coal.

 

[341o2]

If the answer is electric preheating of water in steam locos, more than one was constructed

 

[DerekC]

Steam-electric locomotive engine?

That's the one. It's your floor but I couldn't resist doing a bit more research.

It's more complex than I thought, and quite interesting. Heilmann's first idea was to create a steam-electric "automotrice" by fitting existing rolling stock with steam driven generators and motor bogies, but this was quickly discarded on the grounds of cost. He then built a prototype steam-electric locomotive. Here's a picture:



It is described as follows here:

http://www.douglas-self.com/MUSEUM/LOCOLOCO/heilmann/heilmann1.htm

THe locomotive was named Le Fus�e Electrique. (The Electric Rocket) a reference to Stephenson's Rocket.​

Jean-Jacques Heilmann, proprietor of the Soci�t� Industrielle de Moteurs �lectriques et � Vapeur in Le Havre, took out his patent for a steam-electric locomotive on July 18, 1890, and the first prototype was built in 1892-93. Heilmann and his coworker Drouin began with static tests to determine whether DC or the recently introduced 3-phase AC would be most suitable for their purposes. It was quickly found that DC would be best, as it allowed the steam-engine and generator to work at a constant efficient speed, while the traction motor speed could be quite different. The chassis of Le Fusee was 16.3 m long overall, mounted on two 4-axle bogies. Each axle was driven by a 60 hp electric motor. The total weight was 110 tons. Electricity was generated by a 400 kW generator, driven by a horizontally-opposed two-cylinder steam engine. The field current for the generator was supplied by a small vertical steam engine driving a dynamo​

Heilmann convinced the Compangie de l'Ouest to invest in the concept and built two production units. They were chunky locos with eight motors on two four-axle bogies.

Here's a photo of the first production unit:



And a description here:

http://www.douglas-self.com/MUSEUM/LOCOLOCO/heilmann/heilmann2.htm

Two new locomotives were built, numbered 8001 and 8002, of more advanced design.​

The improved design used a conventional Belpaire boiler without superheater and a much more powerful Willans high-speed vertical steam engine to drive the DC generators. 1000 kW of mechanical power was produced at 400 rpm, and each six-pole generator gave 450V at 910A, or 410 kW each. The generators could sustain a 100% overload for 15 minutes, and a 50% overload for 30 minutes. The exciter dynamo was driven by a small-cylinder engine developing 18 kW at 550 rpm; the exciting voltage was 110V and 140A was available. Only 100A was required for excitation of the main generators, the surplus being used for lighting. The electrical equipment was once again supplied by Brown Boveri & Co.​

The first of the two machines made its initial test run of 115 km on 12 November 1897. The load consisted of 12 personnel and a test van, giving a total weight of 150 tonnes, and the maximum speed was restricted to 30 km/h. These tests were completed without difficulties. On later test runs the total weight was increased to 250 tonnes and speeds increased to 100km/h. The maximum speed attained was 120 km/h. The two big Heilmann locomotives clearly showed their advantages over the classical steam locomotive. The total weight was usable for the adhesion and the design gave good acceleration and traction power as well as outstandingly quiet running over the whole speed range.​

I can't find out exactly why the CF de l'Ouest lost interest but I would guess that capital cost had a lot to do with it. Also the loco required a crew of three - driver, fireman and engine attendant.

 

[LSWR Cavalier]

Very good, it could have revolutionised rail travel had things gone a bit differently, who knows?
..
How many thousand points and crossings are there on the DB network in Germany?
The most numerous turnouts are type 190, what does the number signify, how fast may they be taken?
Points can be transported on special wagons, suspended at about 45° (the wagons are unfortunately scarce). The DB point works found a way to make points that could fit in the loading gauge on standard flat wagons, what was the modification?
The fastest turnout in the world (going straight ahead) is in France. What was the maximum speed of a train traversing it?

I bet I am not the only one here who loves pictures of trackwork without trains.

 

[LSWR Cavalier]

Anyone like to try guessing?

 

[Gloster]

For the third: does the point stick out of the bottom of the wagon?

 

[LSWR Cavalier]

For the third: does the point stick out of the bottom of the wagon?

No, the point is ingeniously modified so it is smaller while being transported. But how?

 

[xotGD]

Is the clue in the question?

Type 190: 190 km/hour

Otherwise, I have no idea so would just be coming out with random numbers, which feels a bit pointless (pun intended!).

 

[LSWR Cavalier]

Is the clue in the question?

Type 190: 190 km/hour

Otherwise, I have no idea so would just be coming out with random numbers, which feels a bit pointless (pun intended!).

No, these are the standard turnouts like in those lovely photos of the station throat at Frankfurt/M. Taking them at 190 kmh would be disastrous and hopefully impossible. The permitted speed would be quite high on a bicycle though.

 

[LSWR Cavalier]

Anyone like to guess, if not I shall give the answers soon and declare Open Floor?

What maximum speed might be allowed into the platforms at Frankfurt/M or Muenchen?

 

[LSWR Cavalier]

Very good, it could have revolutionised rail travel had things gone a bit differently, who knows?
..
How many thousand points and crossings are there on the DB network in Germany?
The most numerous turnouts are type 190, what does the number signify, how fast may they be taken?
Points can be transported on special wagons, suspended at about 45° (the wagons are unfortunately scarce). The DB point works found a way to make points that could fit in the loading gauge on standard flat wagons, what was the modification?
The fastest turnout in the world (going straight ahead) is in France. What was the maximum speed of a train traversing it?

I bet I am not the only one here who loves pictures of trackwork without trains.

Answers:
67 000 points and crossings.
40 kmh is the maximum speed through turnouts with radius 190 m.
Hinged points can be transported on normal flat wagons, the sleepers are interrupted with metal hinges, the turnouts are folded out (unhinged?) and bolted into shape on site.
560 kmh (straight ahead only), LGV Est in France.

Open Floor.

 

[xotGD]

If I may step in...

How many Class 81s were withdrawn before they were able to receive TOPS numbers?

 

[Strat-tastic]

None.

 

[LSWR Cavalier]

All?

 

[xotGD]

None.

All?

The answer lies somewhere between these two!

 

[Strat-tastic]

Some?

 

[D6130]

Three: E3002 and E3019 were damaged beyond repair in fires and E3009 was wrecked in the Hixon crash in January 1968.

 

[xotGD]

Three: E3002 and E3019 were damaged beyond repair in fires and E3009 was wrecked in the Hixon crash in January 1968.

Three is the correct answer, and bonus points for the extra gen.

Your turn to roar with the next question...