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April, 1945
Electric Locomotives for Surface and Underground Use
The wide variety of conditions for which electric locomotives can cater in industrial service is illustrated by two examples recently supplied by The English Electric Company. Fig. 1 shows a standard gauge locomotive of the centre cab type weighing 13½ tons used for coal haulage and general shunting at the Sunderland Corporation Power Station. It is fitted with two nose-suspended axle-hung traction motors connected permanently in series for operation from an overhead contact wire at 550 volts with earth return.
Fig. 2 shows a locomotive supplied to Imperial Chemical Industries. In size and performance it is a repeat of one supplied to the Company in 1930, but embodies a number of modifications introduced as a result of the operating experience gained with the earlier locomotive. This locomotive operates on 2 ft. 6 in. gauge tracks in a main underground road and weighs 6 tons. It is provided with two nose-suspended axle-hung traction motors arranged for series parallel control for operation from overhead contact wires at 250 volts, with insulated negative. The controller is fitted with a dead-man's handle arranged to cut off power by opening the main circuit breaker if released. Since the mine in which this locomotive is used is non-gassy, the equipment is not of the flameproof type.
In order to facilitate lowering the locomotive down the mine shaft, it is provided with a removable cab, and the conduit and wiring are arranged to be easily divided close to the joint.
For both locomotives, the controller is arranged to provide rheostatic braking additional to the screw-down hand brake. In the case of the mining locomotive, the hand brake can also be operated by a hand lever working on a ratchet and quadrant.
The characteristics of the locomotives are given in the accompanying Table:
| Sunderland | I.C.I. | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 13½ tons | 6 tons |
| Voltage | 550 volts | 250 volts |
| Max. tractive effort | 6,000 lb. | 2,700 lb. |
| H.P. at max. T.E. | 68 H.P. | 62 H.P. |
| Speed at max. T.E. | 4½ m.p.h. | 8½ m.p.h. |
Drawings and Photographs accompanying the article
Article reproduced from a copy of the magazine held at National Mining Museum Scotland, Newtongrange, Midlothian.
Contains public sector information licensed under the 
