BRITISH TURBO-ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 306, 20 September 1921, Page 5

BRITISH TURBO-ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE

. Great secrecy is being observed regarding thp turbo-electric locomotive which a f leading British engineering firm )h bnildj ing for trial on a main line British railway. It can, however, he staled that tho , principle adopted is similar to tho sys- ■ tom of electric ship propulsion, which was first patented in Great. Britain. ’l.lio prime mover is a high-speed turbinu coupled direct to an electric, generator; this generator supplies current through controllers to motors, which drive the wheels ■ through some form of gearing. The advantage of this arrangement is that it combines the great efficiency of the high-speed turbine with (he flexibilI ity of electrio speed control. If tho • trials are successful they will probably > lead to tho conversion of many express ■ ’ steam locomotives to the electric drive ■ This turbo-electrio locomotive is not In • be confounded with a new type ot i “thermo-electric” locomotive which an- • other British firm is building for exnori■j mental purposes. In this case the prime I mover is an internal combustion engine l of a novel and economical design, which , can utilise any kifid of crude oil. In . ; countries overseas ‘.vhere there is a <<e- ! licient water supply along the routes of i railways there is n, magnificent field for . an internal combustion engine locomotive 1 which proves to b» really efficient.