Running electric stock on non electrified heritage lines

[theageofthetra]

There is a debate over on District Dave about the EOR running a preserved tube unit (with a pair of diesels push/pulling) later this year. Now given that given the cost/safety of re electrifying a preserved line -especially 3rd/4th rail is simply not viable what are the alternatives? Hopefully someone who understands the electro-mechanics of it far better than me could advise. How viable would it be for say the various electric preservation groups to band together and fit a modern, efficient, compact and quiet gen set in the underframe or luggage areas and power a unit that way? Given the low speeds on most heritage lines would that much power be needed? The tram/trains on part of the Harz system have a small gen set which is used on part of the route and it looks the size of a small car engine and manages ok.I know the purists won't like it but it would give them far more options to run their stock. Perhaps this could also be done with heritage tube stock, blank off part of the coach, black out a couple of windows, would it really look too bad? Another option for the SR groups is to band together and convert a similar looking trailer or van to fit in any of their units and allow it to be shared and run. I am sure there are quite a few barriers to overcome but as time goes on there will be more demand for heritage electric to appear and perhaps this is one solution?

 

[SpacePhoenix]

It's possible that the emissions regs would come into play if a generator coach was to be made so that would need to be factored in

 

[sprinterguy]

The Stephenson Railway Museum on North Tyneside have refurbished their colliery electric locomotive to operate on batteries disguised within a specially converted coal wagon:
http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/stephenson/whats-on/events/e4-electric.html
https://www.flickr.com/photos/allan5819/13997446754/

The Southern Region Motor Luggage Vans were already fitted with batteries to allow light working away from electrified lines. According to the following website, the batteries could provide about twenty minutes of power:

http://www.kentrail.org.uk/class_419_MLV.htm
...were equipped with 230 amp/h batteries to enable them to run over these sections of non-electrified line under their own power. A full battery could provide about twenty minutes of power and was charged from a 200-volt motor generator.

It is not beyond the wit of man to "beef up" the battery power of one of the preserved Motor Luggage Vans to operate with preserved SR units, particularly with the advances in battery technology in the fifty odd years since they were built:

The East Kent Railway already operates electric Motor Luggage Vans under their own (battery) power, and the EPB Preservation Society has intentions to fit a generator to one example to allow it to provide power to their preserved EPB and CEP:

http://www.epbpg.co.uk/grouphistory.html
Our units run in passenger service on the EKR albeit mainly diesel hauled. Our intention is to run them under their own power, indeed Motor Luggage Van S68001 already does so using its part Lottery financed traction battery. These MLVs were designed to work on boat trains from Victoria to the Channel ports. They can operate on the third rail or off it on their set of traction batteries. S68001 first operated under it's own power at the EKR in July 2000 and since then has covered over 60 miles under its own battery power. S68001 can opperate two round trips per day, and operates on some services and special event days. S68002 first operated under its own power at the EKR in March 2004. Please look at the East Kent Railway's timetable for scheduled services which may use either the EPB, CEP and/or MLVs.

Project Aurora is our latest initiative to provide a generator van to supply traction current to 5759, 7105, and/or its own motors. Motor Luggage Van S68008 has been acquired for conversion and arrived at the EKR in September 2007, with repair and restoration work starting immediately. Whilst we would prefer to electrify the line it is not currently viable in terms of cost and the timescale would be protracted

 

[168lover]

Down at the Chinnor railway we have a 3CEP which is propelled by an 08.

 

[madannie77]

And the Eden Valley Railway runs a 4-CEP with a pair of MLVs on battery power.

One of the MLVs has a diesel generator which is used to supply power for lighting, heating, compressors and the MG sets of the 4-CEP and which allows the batteries to be used for hauling & propelling the 4-CEP. This enabled the set to operate from Warcop to Sandford Bridge and back every 75 minutes, the intervening period being used to charge the batteries.

Unfortunately with the recent extension on the Eden Valley Railway adding 1 mile to each round trip the MLVs need new batteries before they will be able to make the round trip in a reasonable time.

The MLV/4-CEP combination was used in May this year for the visit of the Branch Line Society, traversing a section of line not normally used for passenger trains. A rather silent movie can be seen in the link below.

http://youtu.be/_1wwOcmrts4?t=1m16s