Your partially right on the reason for the demise of the electric locos. When Freight Rail was corporatised they had to pay for power for the 85's and 86's, also a lot of the 86's had cracked frames. Today Pacific National uses only diesels as apart from Clarence colliery none of the others are wired for electric locos.
It may be environmentally good to use electric locos but it doesn't make economic sense. We still have the out of date 1500 v DC instead of 2500 kv ac. A political decision.
I guess like New York and London subways, the cost of changing to AC would be too great. Anyway, the modern variable frequency AC traction motors in the Millennium and the Oscar sets seem to have solved most of the problems associated with the older DC motors in the Red Rattlers.
Sorry, I cheated a bit on specs for Tangaras. These are for last batch made for semi- interurban work They have a lot better seating and have toilets.
The older Tangaras are showing signs of wear. Inter carriage couplings are noisy, either from wear or lack of maintenance. Automatics doors between carriages cease to work, probably from misuse.
The old non air conditioned sets seem to still function OK. I think high maintenance costs are their ulimate downfall.
Your partially right on the reason for the demise of the electric locos. When Freight Rail was corporatised they had to pay for power for the 85's and 86's, also a lot of the 86's had cracked frames. Today Pacific National uses only diesels as apart from Clarence colliery none of the others are wired for electric locos.
It may be environmentally good to use electric locos but it doesn't make economic sense. We still have the out of date 1500 v DC instead of 2500 kv ac. A political decision.
faulcon1 2 years ago
Thanks for information.
I guess like New York and London subways, the cost of changing to AC would be too great. Anyway, the modern variable frequency AC traction motors in the Millennium and the Oscar sets seem to have solved most of the problems associated with the older DC motors in the Red Rattlers.
erniepond1 2 years ago
T
25
yscb1 2 years ago
Sorry, I cheated a bit on specs for Tangaras. These are for last batch made for semi- interurban work They have a lot better seating and have toilets.
The older Tangaras are showing signs of wear. Inter carriage couplings are noisy, either from wear or lack of maintenance. Automatics doors between carriages cease to work, probably from misuse.
The old non air conditioned sets seem to still function OK. I think high maintenance costs are their ulimate downfall.
Greetings from The Shire,
Ernie
PROFLOP1 2 years ago
@PROFLOP1 Hey dude do you work on the railways or just an avid fan?
DjTommyKx 10 months ago
@DjTommyKx
Sorry about the change in identity.
Just a hobby in my retirement.
Thanks for the comment.
erniepond1 10 months ago
Glad you like the information. Just takes a bit more effort. Only wish other train videos would have similar data.
PROFLOP1 2 years ago
i like how u have the info on the Tangaras and other units in cityrail fleet. And the info on the EMDs
Skyhawk501 2 years ago