BRITISH ELECTRIC BATTERY LOCOMOTIVES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 158, 29 March 1919, Page 8

BRITISH ELECTRIC BATTERY LOCOMOTIVES

Extensive uso is being made in Great Britain of electric buttery locomotives in factories, goods yards, and other places where 11 considerable; amount of shunting lias to bo done. The Ministry of Munitions ordered a large number of theso machines for expediting the handling of largo quantities of materinls in Government works. There are many objections to the uso of steam locomotives in or near factories; tho noise and the emission of steam and smoko arc the chief drawbacks. Where explosive or inflammable goods are stored there is also the* danger of lire. Further, a steam locomotive is using power even when if is idle! and it involves a lot of time and trouble in connection with coal, water, and the disposal of ashes. The electric battery locomotivo cuts out' all these faults and dangers. Its equipment consists simply of secondary colls, controllers, and driving motors. The cells are charged during the idle night hours, so that tuc locomotive is ready for work in tho_ morning. It runs quietly and can be easily driven by an ordinary workman after a short training. As it can be built with a very short base it can negotiate sharp curves with ease. The designs produced by British engineers have proved so successful that a large development of this mode of point-to-point haulage is expected.