by charlesriverbranch
I still think the commuter rail of the future will be battery-powered. With today's technology, I suspect a battery-powered MU trainset could be built to handle of the MBTA's routes.
Railroad Forums
Moderators: sery2831, CRail
charlesriverbranch wrote:With today's technology, I suspect a battery-powered MU trainset could be built to handle of the MBTA's routes.Today's technology can't successfully get a bus through a day's service without issues. Hybrid technology hasn't even been instituted on trains yet despite them having been electric drive for 70+ years, let alone battery power without a fuel source. I'm not saying we'll never get there, but certainly not with today's technology.
CRail wrote:Hybrid technology hasn't even been instituted on trains yet despite them having been electric drive for 70+ years, let alone battery power without a fuel source.Yes, it has, though not in road-switcher form.
BostonUrbEx wrote:.... greater than 3,000hp tractive effort (more like 4,000hp).Tractive effort is not the same as horsepower.
BostonUrbEx wrote:My apologies. However you would phrase horsepower dedicated to producing traction, then. For example, the HSP-46's have engines along the lines of 4,600hp, but about 600 of which goes towards providing HEP.What you stated is one way I have seen. Alternately, have seen: 4,600 HP of which 4000 is available for traction. Tractive effort is usually more talked about for freight trains and is rated in thousands of pounds of force required to overcome train resistance.