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How does electric freight work in terminals?

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alangla

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I'm pretty sure no builk freight of the type carried in hopper wagons is electrically hauled in the UK, but what do other countries use for overhead loading terminals?
I remember in the late 2000s (I think) EWS trialled 92s+HTA on Mossend to Arpley coal workings, I think it was only a couple of runs though. Although the Ardrossan to Hunterston freight line isn’t wired, Hunterston I believe had a “beetle” on one loading line that could drag wagons through the loader, so that could have solved the loading challenge had the terminal been wired. Academic now really as big chunks of it, including one of the big cranes, had been demolished last time I was down that way.

If you’re looking for the most famous UK electric hauled hopper working, I guess you need to go back to coal over Woodhead, but, IIRC, those workings were diesel at either end & only electric from (correct me please!) Wath to Reddish?
 
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ac6000cw

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If you’re looking for the most famous UK electric hauled hopper working, I guess you need to go back to coal over Woodhead, but, IIRC, those workings were diesel at either end & only electric from (correct me please!) Wath to Reddish?

Correct - that was its (economic) problem, two traction changes in the course of what was a fairly short journey anyway e.g. South Yorkshire mines to Fiddlers Ferry power station. From memory, I think the west-end traction change was at somewhere like Godley, before heading along the (now closed) route via Stockport low-level to reach Fiddlers Ferry.
 

LAX54

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Avoiding OHLE through the loader, you could either push part of the train through the loader with an electric loco then run-around to the other end and pull the remainder through, or use loaders that can move the train slowly themselves e.g. rubber tyred wheels acting on the side of the hopper wagons or arms pushing on part of the wagon or its wheels.

or just use a diesel loco or shunter....so much easier !
 

Pakenhamtrain

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That wouldn't work at loading/unloading speeds. Would also need to have the trains pantograph modified other wise when it runs out of wires the pantograph will over extend then completely drop.
It does.
The gap isn't longer than a locomotive and they have distributed power locos along the train.
 

broadgage

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To add to the points already made, historically a standard type of steam shunting engine was used, unless the fire risk of same was considered unacceptable. In such circumstances a safety fireless steam locomotive was used. These had no fire but were powered by a large pressure tank containing a mixture of steam and superheated water, this being replenished as needed from static boiler plant located outside the high risk area.
Used in areas containing bulk petrol or explosives, and the like.
Fireless steam locomotives often had a warning bell rather than a whistle so as to save steam. If lighting was needed it was usual to employ safe types of battery or oil lamp as approved for use in coal mines.

Looking to the future, I suspect that battery locomotives may start to displace diesels in docks and similar places. A diesel shunter is very un-green as it needs at least a few hundred HP, but spends a lot of time idling and producing pollution. A battery shunter would be far better, no pollution at the point of use, and reduced pollution in total.
 
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