AboutChris Holliday Expertise Questions related to contemporary passenger rail vehicles and their technology, including subway, light rail, commuter and intercity rolling stock. Includes all vehicle systems and features along with integration of the vehicles into the general railroad system.
Experience I have over 22 years of experience in the passenger rail vehicle business as both an engineering manager at a car builder and as a provider of engineering services to commuter railroads and transit agencies in the US. I have worked to apply the latest technologies to passanger rail equipment. I have worked with leaders in our industry to develop and establish Standards and Recommended practices.
Expert: Chris Holliday Date: 10/12/2006 Subject: New irish Trains
Question Irish Rail has purchased new trains from CAF for intercity use. I expected them to be similar at both ends, as the TGV is for example but they have a TGV type engine at one end and a regular GE loco at the other. Why do they need a regular engine?
Thanks,
Colin
Answer Thanks for your question!
I am not personnally familiar with these new Irish trains you are referring to. I can speculate on a response based on the information you have provided in your question.
The "symetrical" TGV that you refer to could be either of two possible configurations. The first possibility is that each of the bullet nosed end cars are what is sometimes referred to as Power Cars. These power cars contain the propulsion equipment necessary to drive the traction motors which drive up to four axles under each power car. These power cars exist in both passenger carrying and non-passenger carrying configurations.
The second TGV configuration is the newest "AGV" version of the TGV. This train utilizes "distributed" power. In this configuration, propulsion equipment is distributed along throughout the entire train. There are traction motors mounted on axles along the entire length of the train, not only beneath power cars.
In each TGV case above the operators cab is located in each aerodynamic bullet nosed end unit, whether it is a power cars or just an end unit of the distributed power version of the train.
Now to speculate about the Irish train, I suspect that this is what is known as a "Push-Pull" train. This is very common train configuration in US Commuter railroads. A "traditional"locomitive is placed at on end of the train consist. At the other end is what is known as a "Cab car". The cab car is a passenger carrying coach with an operating cab at the end which can allow the driver to control the locomotive when in "push" mode. In the case of the Irish train, the cab car may have an aerodynamic nose treatment.
Again, I am purely speculating based on your rather detailed question. Hope this helps.
