Western Question

[IanBanks-Jones]

Please bear with my hypothetical side on this one;

If the westerns (class 52) had not been considered too non-standard to continue, how easy would it have been to convert them for electric train heating?

Would it have been a job like the 31/4's, where 200hp was robbed from the engine whether it was in use or not, or would another solution have been available (like fitting another small generator where the boiler once was)

Thanks in advance for indulging my meandering curiosity.

 

[djo]

Your question puts the Deltics into my mind, when they had ETH fitted, it wasn't a power consideration but one of space. ETH generator was quite a tight fit. I wonder if there was actually enough room in a western for the generator?

David