World Electric Locomotives by Ken Harris with dust jacket Copyright 1981

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Introduction

This book is intended to provide a convenient and concise guide to the main locomotive types in service on the world's more important electrified railway systems. Its publication occurs during a period when the economic consequences of diminishing oil reserves have focused fresh attention on the use of electricity as a prime energy source for rail transport.

Advances in traction design since the end of the Second World War have ensured that any argument made now for major new electrification is supported by the outstanding performance and efficiency of the modern electric locomotive. The development of reliable rectifier motive power, leading to the widespread adoption of a single-phase industrial frequency power supply for new schemes, has been particularly significant, as has the more recent application to traction control systems of power electronics. These trends are reflected in the selection of locomotive types included in this book. At the same time, present day traffic demands and investment limits have ensured the survival of a wide variety of older designs on networks which were early to adopt electric traction. Several important types dating from the 1920s and 1930s are included and these provide a striking contrast, both technologically and aesthetically, with today's sophisticated machines.

The contents of the book are arranged alphabetically by country, although in certain cases, for example the French National Railways CC-7100 series, details of derived designs may be found in the parent entry. Readers are recommended to use the index, where all text and picture references are fully listed. As far as possible mechanical, electrical and performance data have been obtained from the railway administrations which operate the classes featured, although manufacturers' specifications have also been consulted. Dimensions and performance figures are presented both in imperial and metric equivalents. Rated power output data are also expressed in force de cheval: the subtle distinction between British/US and continental European practice has been necessary to ensure accurate conversion to the kilowatt units now in general use. US users of this book should note that locomotive weights are given in imperial tons, and that these figures should be multiplied by a factor of 2240 to give a value in pounds. All types featured in World Electric Locomotives were in service in mid-1980.

Electrification plays a major role in the plans of many railway administrations to meet the challenges of the closing decades of this century and beyond. As this introduction is written several national networks, including Danish State Railways and National Railways of Zimbabwe are making firm preparations for their first main line schemes. In other countries, such as Brazil, substantial extensions to existing catenary are planned. These developments will add fresh interest and variety to the field of electric motive power and the compiler looks forward to being able to record them in a future edition of this book.

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