Steam engines powered by battery

[Enthusiast]

Is it me, or does this basically sound like a full size version of a Hornby tender-drive model of the 1990s....

Yes. Except that the tender only contained the traction motor. It wasn't laden with 10 PP3 9v batteries!

 

[AndrewE]

Yes. Except that the tender only contained the traction motor. It wasn't laden with 10 PP3 9v batteries!

at least a tender full of batteries will provide adhesion whether they are charged or empty! And we mustn't forget the value of regenerative braking - although from a max of 25mph there won't be very much energy to recover.

 

[Ashley Hill]

So we are looking at pantographs on the tender to supply power to electric elements in the boiler to produce steam? Turning a kettle into a,err, kettle?

 

[DarloRich]

this, clearly, will be one of the options to be explored for the future of "steam" railways - coal isn't going to be available for ever, for any number of reasons.

 

[Sun Chariot]

So we are looking at pantographs on the tender to supply power to electric elements in the boiler to produce steam? Turning a kettle into a,err, kettle?

And the bigger ones have a biscuit tin on the back

 

[satisnek]

Is it me, or does this basically sound like a full size version of a Hornby tender-drive model of the 1990s....

Tender drive was introduced by Tri-ang Hornby in 1971 on their Evening Star model. It would certainly be an odd situation if the real one followed suit!

Seriously, electric 'steam' locomotives will happen - but it will probably be some decades away yet. Look at the Severn Valley Railway. Jointed track is no longer laid, all track renewals are continuous rail. Eventually, when it's all replaced, there will be no jointed track left. Do you enjoy nocturnal travel? That's now a completely different atmosphere to less than 20 years ago (and how it had been for a century before then) owing to LED lighting which is brighter and with a different colour temperature. The SVR's signals have been electrically lit from the start, so why not motorise all signals and points, track-circuit the line throughout and operate the whole lot from a workstation in Kidder booking office?

The simple truth is, once all of those who can remember the 'real McCoy' have passed on, you can do whatever you like.