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British Rail Class 365
The British Rail Class 365 ''Networker Express'' dual-voltage ( and 750 V DC) electric multiple unit passenger trains were built by ABB at Holgate Road Carriage Works in 1994 and 1995. The Class 365 was derived from the EMU after the planned "Universal Networker" Classes 371 and 381 were not funded through to production. An initial prototype that better suited the operation of long-distance services was developed from an existing unit (designated as Class 465/3), as the new type was intended to operate services in South East England and on the Great Northern Route. The purchase of 41 Class 365s was authorised in late 1993; they would be the last trains to be built at the Holgate Road works prior to its closure. Due to the front end of refurbished units resembling a smiling face, the trains have been nicknamed "Happy Trains" by enthusiasts. Deliveries began in 1994 under Network SouthEast and continued after operations transferred to the private sector; the final unit was ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Govia Thameslink Railway
Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) is a British train operating company that operates the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise, TSGN rail franchise. Within the franchise, GTR runs trains under the sub-brands: Thameslink, Great Northern route, Great Northern, Southern (Govia Thameslink Railway), Southern, and Gatwick Express. GTR is a subsidiary of Govia, which is itself a joint venture between the British Go-Ahead Group (65%) and French company Keolis (35%). The franchise was awarded, after repeated delays, to Govia Thameslink Railway on 23 May 2014. On 14 September 2014, GTR took over operations for the prior franchisee First Capital Connect; during July 2015, both Southern and Gatwick Express operations were integrated into GTR. This change made it the largest rail franchise in terms of passengers, staff and fleet in the UK. The franchise has an unusual structure involving a management contract that sees all fare revenues going straight to the Department for Transp ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gate Turn-off Thyristor
A gate turn-off thyristor (GTO) is a type of high-power (e.g. 1200 V AC) thyristor that unlike a normal thyristor is fully controllable and can be turned On and Off by their gate lead. It was invented by General Electric. Device description Normal thyristors ( silicon-controlled rectifiers) are not fully controllable switches (a fully controllable switch can be turned on and off at will). Thyristors can only be turned on using the gate lead, but cannot be turned off using the gate lead. Thyristors are switched on by a gate signal, but even after the gate signal is de-asserted (removed, reverse biased), the thyristor remains in the on state until a turn-off condition occurs (which can be the application of a reverse voltage to the terminals or a decrease of the forward current below a certain threshold value known as the ''holding current''). Thus, a thyristor behaves like a normal semiconductor diode after it is turned on, or ''fired''. The GTO can be turned on by a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
List Of Railway Electrification Systems
This is a list of the power supply systems that are, or have been, used for railway electrification. Note that the voltages are nominal and vary depending on load and distance from the substation. , many trams and trains use on-board solid-state electronics to convert these supplies to run three-phase AC traction motors. Tram electrification systems are listed here. Key to the tables below * Volts: voltage or volt * Current: ** DC = direct current ** # Hz = frequency in hertz (alternating current (AC)) *** AC supplies are usually single-phase (1φ) except where marked three-phase (3φ). * Conductors: ** overhead line or ** conductor rail, usually a third rail to one side of the running rails. Conductor rail can be: *** top contact: oldest, least safe, most affected by ice, snow, rain and leaves. Protection boards are installed on most top contact systems, which increases safety and reduces these affections. *** side contact: newer, safer, less affected by ice, snow, rain and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tightlock Coupling
Type H Tightlock couplers are a variety of Janney coupler, typically used on North American mainline passenger rail cars. They have mechanical features that reduce slack in normal operation and prevent telescoping in derailments, yet remain compatible with other Janney types used by North American freight railroads. Like all Janney couplers, the Tightlock is "semi-automatic". The couplers automatically lock when cars are pushed together, but workers must go between cars to hook up the air lines for the pneumatic brakes and connect cables for head-end power and other communications. To separate cars, a worker must use a lever to move the locking pin that keeps the coupler closed. In Europe, some operators experimented with making fully automatic tightlock couplers by adding integral pneumatic and electric connectors, but these connections proved unreliable, and most have switched to the more common fully automatic Scharfenberg coupler. Janney Type H Tightlock coupler stand ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
European Train Control System
The European Train Control System (ETCS) is a train protection system designed to replace the many incompatible systems used by European railways, and railways outside of Europe. ETCS is the signalling and control component of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS). ETCS consists of 2 major parts: #trackside equipment #on-board (on train) equipment ETCS can allow all trackside information to be passed to the driver cab, removing the need for trackside signals. This is the foundation for future automatic train operation (ATO). Trackside equipment aims to exchange information with the vehicle for safely supervising train circulation. The information exchanged between track and trains can be either continuous or intermittent according to the ERTMS/ETCS level of application and to the nature of the information itself. The need for a system like ETCS stems from more and longer running trains resulting from economic integration of the European Union (EU) and the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Train Protection & Warning System
The Train Protection & Warning System (TPWS) is a train protection system used throughout the British passenger main-line railway network, and in Victoria, Australia. According to the UK Rail Safety and Standards Board, the purpose of TPWS is to stop a train by automatically initiating a brake demand, where TPWS track equipment is fitted, if the train has: passed a signal at danger without authority; approached a signal at danger too fast; approached a reduction in permissible speed too fast; approached buffer stops too fast. TPWS is not designed to prevent signals passed at danger (SPADs) but to mitigate the consequences of a SPAD, by preventing a train that has had a SPAD from reaching a conflict point after the signal. A standard installation consists of an on-track transmitter adjacent to a signal, activated when the signal is at danger. A train that passes the signal will have its emergency brake activated. If the train is travelling at speed, this may be too late to stop ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Automatic Warning System
Automatic Warning System (AWS) is a railway safety system invented and predominantly used in the United Kingdom. It provides a train driver with an audible indication of whether the next Railway_signal, signal they are approaching is clear or at caution. Depending on the upcoming signal state, the AWS will either produce a 'horn' sound (as a warning indication), or a 'bell' sound (as a clear indication). If the train driver fails to acknowledge a warning indication, an emergency brake application is initiated by the AWS; if the driver correctly acknowledges the warning indication, by pressing an acknowledgement button, then a visual 'sunflower' is displayed to the driver, as a reminder of the warning. Principles of operation AWS is a system based on trains detecting magnetic fields. These magnetic fields are created by permanent magnets and electromagnets installed on the track. The polarity and sequence of magnetic fields detected by a train determine the type of indication ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Contact Shoe
A current collector (often called a "pickup") is a device used in trolleybuses, trams, electric locomotives and Electric multiple unit, EMUs to carry electric power (Electric current, current) from overhead lines, electric third rails, or ground-level power supply, ground-level power supplies to the electrical equipment of the vehicles. Those for overhead wires are roof-mounted devices, those for rails are mounted on the bogies. Typically, electric current connectors have one or more spring-loaded arms that press a collector or contact shoe against the rail or overhead wire. As the vehicle moves, the contact shoe slides along the wire or rail to draw the electricity needed to run the vehicle's motor. The current collector arms are electrical conductivity, electrically conductive but mounted Electrical insulation, insulated on the vehicle's roof, side or base. An insulated cable connects the collector with the switch, transformer or Electric motor, motor. The Rail profile, stee ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Railway Magazine
''The Railway Magazine'' is a monthly United Kingdom, British railway magazine, aimed at the Railfan, railway enthusiast market, that has been published in London since July 1897. it was, for three years running, the railway magazine with the largest circulation in the United Kingdom, having a monthly average sale during 2009 of 34,715 (the figure for 2007 being 34,661). It was published by IPC Media until October 2010, and in 2007 won IPC's 'Magazine of the Year' award. Since November 2010, ''The Railway Magazine'' has been published by Mortons of Horncastle. History ''The Railway Magazine'' was launched by Joseph Lawrence (British politician), Joseph Lawrence and ex-railwayman Frank E. Cornwall of Railway Publishing Ltd, who thought there would be an amateur enthusiast market for some of the material they were then publishing in a railway staff magazine, the ''Railway Herald''. They appointed as its first editor a former auctioneer, George Augustus Nokes (1867–1948), who ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Brecknell Willis High Speed Pantograph
Brecknell Willis is a Wabtec company headquartered in Chard, Somerset, Chard, Somerset, South West England and brand-name of Railway electrification system, electrification equipment for railways, mostly Pantograph (rail), pantographs and contact shoes. History Henry Brecknell and Sons began operating in 1854. In 1894, it moved into electrification. Since 1938 it has been in Chard, when known as Brecknell, Willis & Co. Ltd. In 2023, site’s production facility was closed by Wabtec. The production was transferred to other Wabtec plants while the office in Chard will maintain its engineering, project management, and sales office. Antonio ScancariellBrecknell Willis’ production to be transferred by the end of the year chardandilminsternews.co.uk, 27 March 2023 Products For the London Underground, it has supplied shoe gear and Third rail, conductor rail systems, as well as pantograph (transport), pantographs to the rail industry. Pantographs Low height pantograph The Breckne ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pantograph (transport)
A pantograph (or "pan" or "panto") is an apparatus mounted on the roof of an electric train, tram or trolley buses to collect power through contact with an overhead line. The term stems from the resemblance of some styles to the mechanical pantographs used for copying handwriting and drawings. The pantograph is a common type of current collector; typically, a single or double wire is used, with the return current running through the Rail profile, rails. Other types of current collectors include the bow collector and the trolley pole. Invention The pantograph, with a low-friction, replaceable graphite contact strip or "current collector, shoe" to minimise lateral stress on the contact wire, first appeared in the late 19th century. Early versions include the bow collector, invented in 1889 by Walter Reichel, chief engineer at Siemens & Halske in Germany, and a flat slide-pantograph first used in 1895 by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The familiar diamond-shaped roller ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Overhead Line
An overhead line or overhead wire is an electrical cable that is used to transmit electrical energy to electric locomotives, Electric multiple unit, electric multiple units, trolleybuses or trams. The generic term used by the International Union of Railways for the technology is ''overhead line''. It is known variously as overhead catenary, overhead contact line (OCL), overhead contact system (OCS), overhead equipment (OHE), overhead line equipment (OLE or OHLE), overhead lines (OHL), overhead wiring (OHW), traction wire, and trolley wire. An overhead line consists of one or more wires (or Overhead conductor rail, rails, particularly in tunnels) situated over rail tracks, raised to a high electrical potential by connection to feeder stations at regularly spaced intervals along the track. The feeder stations are usually fed from a High voltage, high-voltage Electricity distribution, electrical grid. Overview Electric trains that collect their current from overhead lines use a de ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
