A New G.W.R. Petrol-Electric Railcar.
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We are enabled to reproduce below several interesting photographs of a new class of self-propelled railcar, with which experiments have for some while been proceeding between Windsor and Slough on the Great Western Railway. This compact coach, of which tha general appearance is evident, from the top photograph in the group reproduced below, has a seating capacity of 44 passengers.
file power plant consists of a 15 hp. standard Maudslay engine, which has been embodied in the complete unit by the British Thomson tfouston Co., Ltd., of Rugby, in connection with its electrical equip
ment. This latter consists of a, direct-coupled dynamo from which c:irrent is taken to an electromotor on each of the two axles. The single-cylinder air compressor. is driven from the front of the engine, nod 'hay be seen in the lefthand picture herewith. The engine itself is of the fourcylinder type, and with a bore and stroke each of 5 in. develops 35-45 b.h.p. ; it has the standard arrangement of overhead camshaft, which is peculiar to the Maudsla,y design, and it is interesting to note that it is provided with two carburetters of the White and Poppe type, one being
fitted as a spare in case of emergency. Either can be brought into operation at will.
The cooling system is by thermosyphon through four t in, diameter uptake pipes direct through the roof of the engine-room to the radiator, which, it will be seen, is placed transversely over the top of the coach. This last component, which is placed in such a prominent position, has with its own supply _system a capacity for 12 gallons of water. The exhaust silencer is also carried on the roof.
The car itself, which, by the way, has been built for experimental purposes entirely, weighs only 14 tons. and this, we find, yields a tare weight per passenger of 6 cwt. 1 qr., which, "The Railway News" reminds us, compares with about 1322 cwt. for the steam coaches which are in use by the same company.
The whole design has been conceived with the idea of producing as compact a self-contained rollingstock unit as possible. One of the most-noticeable advantages which a petrol-electric car of this type has over the more-commonly used steam railcar is the restricted space into which the fuel can be stowed. Sufficient petrol is carried on this new Great Western car to run as far as 250 miles without taking a fresh supply of fuel on board, although this is seldom necessary. One of our photographs gives a good impression of the interior seating arrangements, and it will be noticed that, in accordance with modern practice, the car is exceptionally well lighted, the generator in the engine-room being ample to insure brilliant illumination of the interior of the passenger compartment. As is usual on these self-contained coaches, three separate divisions are made in the coach-work, and these comprise : the engineroom proper ; the passenger compartment ; and a small front division for alternative end driving. In this last, the electric control and brake gear are duplicates of those provided at the engine-room end. The car will be given various trials.