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The-Combine-Engineer — 4-4-4 side tank engine
#passengertrain #steamlocomotive #train #goodstrain #tankengine
Published: 2017-03-09 00:06:02 +0000 UTC; Views: 219; Favourites: 6; Downloads: 0
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Description
A sketch of an imaginary 4-4-4 tank engine. I have no idea what the jack-shaft ahead of the coupled axles purpose is, maybe someone can come up with something for it.Related content
Comments: 4
Well. . . . (And this was a crazy idea I had when I needed a break at work) That shaft could be coupled to an electric motor. A small bank of batteries could be built into the tank area and the motor could be used to help with additional horsepower when needed in short burst (cresting a hill, starting out from a stop, even to move without steam pressure. To charge the batteries the motor could be switch to power generation and be used as a dynamic break. The concept would be similar to the GE Hybrid locomotive, but with a steam engine application.
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Hmm. All of that is playsible. However, a few concerns arise, mainly about water leakage. Any water leaks could corrode the connections between the batteries and motor, if left unchecked. The second is, how would the electronics be controlled?
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Easy, you build the battery banks as separated compartments, so the are separated from the water tanks. Connections are easy with rubber coating (See it all the time on the trucks we build at work). Controls are also easy. You would be looking at the same tech that is found first generation diesels, except batteries would take the place of a resistor grid. Controls would be similar to the MU controls on some of the mainline excursion engines (UP 844, SP 4449, MILW 261,ect...).
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Or perhaps they could be placed on top of the tanks. Indeed, insulated wiring would work, it's just the seperate connections, although that could be solved with shrink-wrap. Oh? I didn't realize that those excursion locomotives were equipped with such a device.
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