Diesel Electric Railcar project
This project is being developed in conjunction with two other 2' gauge railways for use on the Launceston Steam Railway and its proposed extension to Egloskerry.
The aim is to produce a railcar and control trailer to provide comfortable, heated accommodation for out of season passengers. The railcar could not only be used to provide a tourist service, but also a public transport service for the residents of Egloskerry - which would be of particular benefit when local bus services are under threat due to a cut in the operating subsidy they receive from the local council.
Initial experiments in November and December 2009 were based around ex GPO tube railway motor units, and the test rig pictured below consists of two GPO units temporarily bolted together to create a long wheelbase 4 wheeler, powered by a modern diesel alternator. The motors, by English Electric, are 400v series wound machines with wave wound armatures and commutation interpoles. These are axle hung and nose suspended on wheelsets of about 2'0" diameter, with a gear drive ratio of 3:1. Balancing speed on 400v line voltage is (terrifyingly) 36 m.p.h.
On the test rig 440v 3 phase A.C. is rectified and fed to the two motors wired in series. Control is via a version of the Ward-Leonard system.
The initial trials exceeded all expectations, and the test rig was dismantled in January 2010. The original motors and wheelsets were then incorporated into a new 'archbar' power bogie.
A number of seats for the railcar were purchased in April 2010 from the Blackpool Tramway. These are of the 'reversible' type and until recently were in use in a tram at Blackpool.
In May 2010 the power bogie, now affectionately christened "The Gherkin", was taken to the Ffestiniog Railway in North Wales for trial runs and to take part in the FR's "Quirks and Curiosities" gala. Trials here proved more than satisfactory, with the Gherkin notably hauling a wagon containing a number of passengers non-stop from Porthmadog to Tan-y-Bwlch with ease.
During Summer and Autumn 2010, work focused on fitting a sprung bolster and brakes to the power bogie, reusing a number of components from the original post office unit, as seen in the following photos:
Work on the railcar in the 2010/2011 winter was focused on reconditioning a second (unpowered) bogie for use under the railcar.
In August 2011, work started on building the steel chassis for the railcar. At 36 feet (approximately 11m) long, the railcar will be the same length as the Plynlimon carriage. Two lengths of steel channel form the side members, connected by a number of steel box section cross members. On top of each side member is a truss built from box section - having the truss on top of the side member, rather than below as is usually the case in railway vehicles, will allow the railcar's engine and alternator to be mounted in a cradle under the floor, which can be slid out to allow easy access for maintenance.
By September the chassis was finished and lowered onto the two bogies, ready for trials during the winter period when the railway is closed.
The chassis made a number of test runs during October 2011. The tests were carried out using the Lombardini diesel generator which had previously been used to test the railcar's power bogie; it is planned that the railcar will be fitted with a Peugeot turbo diesel engine and alternator under the floor. The test runs to date have been very succesful.
