Challenge: Electric Steam Locos

[roamingstop]

I saw this on a link elsewhere (theregister.co.uk) and thought it would be quite interesting for those building steam locomotives but wanting the benefits of electric. Ahem

http://www.douglas-s...ec/swisselc.htm

A unique- and apparently lunatic- locomotive scheme was to generate steam by electric heating. This appears to make no sense; having gone to all the trouble and expense of electrifying a railway line, to use the power to run a steam engine with its less-than-impressive efficiency, rather than simple electric motors, seems demented.

It was not. There was (as usual) a good reason.

So who will be the first to add overheads to their nice old 0-6-0 locomotives; or indeed reinvigorate the 12V standard 7727 and 7730

Edited November 12, 2012 by roamingstudio

[BMW]

Definitely an interesting prototype.

- BMW

[Locomotive Annie]

Now I've seen everything

[Duq]

Weird and wonderful. So strange it has to be true...

Won't be building one any time soon though.

[wondermonkey]

Interesting. Must have felt like a huge leap forward at the time after shoveling coal.

[El H]

World's largest electric kettle.

[Frank STENGEL]

It has actually been built in lego by a French AFOL. I have one rather bad photo (with the same reference) of it :

I'm actually quite annoyed: the closeup I made is so blurry I can't even recognize it is a locomotive... One thing is that the white bit is actually part of a chain of ice cones to simulate steam/smoke coming from the smokestack...

Edited November 13, 2012 by Frank STENGEL

[roamingstop]

Those French... always beating the British. Actually it might be possible to find out who did it va these forums and flickR accounts.

[Cirkit]

Well.. that's an interesting loco..

The Lego Loco looks like it turned out pretty good. From what I can see, it matches up with the photographed loco well.

A small part of me thinks that in a year or so, this type of engine will somehow make it into the "Thomas & Friends" show. Help us all.

[THERIZE]

I know its stupid to reply but i know why they did this. The railways did not have enough coal so they used steam locomotives with electric stuff in it as a main power source. There was always a small fire in the firebox so if there were no overhead wires they could just use steam. A very clever solution in my opinion.