A.C. railway electrification at 50 c/s in Great Britain

Abstract

The paper, assuming a knowledge of the published descriptions of the equipments used and of Brigadier Langley's reports on the trouble experienced with some of it, describes the performance of equipment of all kinds in 18 months of service, during which 1100 single-track miles of overhead equipment have been brought into use on the 25/6.25 kV 50c/s a.c. system. Individual sections deal with:The method and cost of obtaining freedom from interference with neighbouring light-current circuits.The performance of the power-supply and overhead equipments, including reference to the use of 25 kV only on the Euston- Manchester-Crewe electrification and the retention of the dual-voltage 25/6.25 kV system elsewhere.The satisfactory performance of the electrical equipment of five of the seven types of 800 hp multiple-unit train equipment which have aggregated about 25 million miles in service, and of the five types of 3300 hp locomotives. Statistics are given of the performance of certain important components.The hope is expressed that the information given warrants confidence in the future of the equipments in use.The paper indicates the ways in which the information obtained from this experience with prototype equipment will be used for the further improvement of future equipments.