Nice ones Darren Notice that the second locomotive is not working (pantograph down). Maybe that heavy sleeper train needed extra power on a steeply graded part of the journey?
Alan, I believe some of Amtrak's electric locomotives can feed traction power between units from a single pantograph. Is this possible with some of the Italian and other European electrics? Great shots Darren. It looks like the train was going a good bit faster than your tour bus....?
Hank, as far I know, this does not happen here. Both locomotives have the pantographs raised if they are both drawing power. If the locomotives have two pantographs (usually older types), the front one has the front pantograph raised and the second one raises the rear one. Something about as much separation as possible between pantographs. For example, if two TGV's are coupled together (happens frequently), the very front and very rear pantographs are used, as the high speed can cause resonance in the overhead wire.
Just remembered that one one of my videotapes a freight in France starting a heavy train from the yard has two electric locomotives (BB16500 class). These locomotives have two pantographs each, and during starting when heavy current loads are needed, they both raise both pantographs, then drop one each as current load decreases.
Actually we passed it. In the video the last car is first and the engines are last. It was a bit foggy as we crossed the bridge but cleared to enjoy a great day.
That makes a lot of sense. I had always wondered how a single pantograph could handle the thousands of amperes required by two 8000HP locomotives starting a heavy train. Probably what I had heard about Amtrak locomotives would be a fall-back condition in the case of a failed pantograph or similar emergency, which would make more sense.
Time for a "Where's Darren at now?" Keep in mind most of these are being taken out of a bus doing 120KPH so they are not the clearest of photographs. HINT I am slowly heading back towards London as I have been posting these in order. [ March 20, 2006, 02:08 PM: Message edited by: Stourbridge Lion ]
Well the first one looks Italian again, and the red electric is Austrian.... Might get some non-UK shots myself in the next couple of weeks, I have a trip to Paris on Eurostar lined up.
Passing a railyard; but, where am I? [ March 20, 2006, 02:09 PM: Message edited by: Stourbridge Lion ]
Stopping for the night just down the road from this train station... [ March 20, 2006, 02:10 PM: Message edited by: Stourbridge Lion ]
