[geeks] electric cars

[Phil Stracchino]

Sandwich Maker wrote:
> also curiously, as few as there were this offshoot was much more
> popular than its 300hp 60-ton and 600hp 100-ton parents, with 28 and
> 24 units respectively, made by alco-ge-ir and later just ge '24-'35.
> they get the mark for the first 'mass produced' diesel locos though,
> at least in this hemisphere.
> 
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_Electro-Motive_Division
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GE_Transportation_Systems
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Locomotive_Company


IMHO, more interesting than any of these is the British Rail Class 55
diesel-electric locomotive, commonly known as the "Deltic" because it
was powered by the Napier Deltic opposed-piston two-stroke diesel
engine.  (They had a very distinctive sound, and were instantly
recognizeable because of it.)

The Napier Deltic was built in 9-cylinder and 18-cylinder models, the
18-cylinder version (with 36 pistons) developing up to 3,100BHP from an
effective swept displacement of 5300 cubic inches in a very compact
package.  The engine was originally developed for fast patrol boats, and
saw extensive naval use including the Dark class fast attack craft, the
Hunt class minesweeper, and the Norwegian Tjeld ("Nasty") class fast
patrol boat, which was used by the US Navy in Vietnam, mainly for
covert-ops missions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napier_Deltic
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_55

-- 
 Same geek, same site, new location
 Phil Stracchino                     Landline: 603-429-0220
 phil.stracchino at speakeasy.net         Mobile: 603-216-7037
 Renaissance Man, Unix generalist, Perl hacker, Free Stater