RAILWAY ELECTRIFICATION IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

In this paper the author, having been responsible for the recommendation that 25,000 V single-phase electrification at industrial frequency should be adopted as standard for Great Britain, completes the story first unfolded at the previous Electrification Conference in 1960. The paper is of a general character and reviews the evolution of the art and the contribution made by British Railways and industry, giving historical reasons for the present position. Reference is made to electrification schemes outside the London Midland scheme, and because of the author's subsequent extensive travel abroad, it has been possible to include some interesting comparisons. Remarks are also presented on the peculiar situation of Great Britain, geographically located between countries East and West who hold divergent views on motive power policy, and the future of the industry at home and abroad is considered. The importance of the British solution assumes greater proportions. (1) Reduced clearances, now proved to be technically acceptable and resulting in immense savings in cost of providing clearances as well as permitting the use of cheaper equipment. (2) P.t.f.e. insulation, now proved to be technically acceptable and resulting in large savings in cost of overhead equipment. (3) Simple catenary equipment for 100 mile/h, technically proved to supersede compound and stitched catenary equipment, resulting in large savings in cost of overhead equipment. (4) Redesigned pantograph, technically proved and now only one necessary per locomotive with consequent saving in cost. (5) Nose-suspended axle-hung motors for locomotives, technically proved that special designs incorporating full suspension are an unnecessary expense. (6) New rectifier manufacturing techniques, technically proved to lead to the elimination of auxiliary apparatus prone to failure and thus ensuring more reliable and cheaper equipment.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Proceedings of a Technical Conference sponsored jointly by the British Railways Board and the Institutions of Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Locomotive and Railway Signal Engineers, 25-26 October 1966.
• Corporate Authors:

  Institution of Mechanical Engineers

  1 Birdcage Walk
  London SW1H 9JJ,   England 
• Authors:
  • Warder, S B
• Conference:
  • Proceedings of a Technical Conference sponsored jointly by the British Railways Board and the Institutions of Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Locomotive and Railway Signal Engineers, 25-26 October 1966.
• Publication Date: 1967

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References;
• Pagination: p. 4-16
• Serial:
  • Volume: 181
  • Issue Number: Pt3F

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Electric locomotives; Locomotives; Railroad electrification; Technology; Unsprung weight
• Identifier Terms: British Rail London Midland Region
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• Old TRIS Terms: Axle hung motors; Unsprung mass
• Subject Areas: Construction; Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00054331
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Institution of Mechanical Engineers
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 10 1974 12:00AM