Quote:
Originally Posted by hellfeu
Thoughts on this? Batteries are fine in cars, but wouldn't it be best to hook up locomotives to the mains?
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Hello hellfire.
Yes it would be great to have a railway which had 100% OHLE. Unfortunately we've had witless politicians for the last 75 years. They spent a king's ransom on steam trains when other countries were going diesel, then scrapped the steam locos and bought diesel when other countries were electrifying. Serves us right for voting for moronic millionaires to run the country I guess.
Because there are vast swathes of the UK rail network which are unelectrified, good old blighty has opted for the usual Heath Robinson madness. Instead of spending money putting up catenary wires....we're buying into all the 'Whacky Races' technology - Hydrogen powered trains, Bi-Mode trains, and as you mentioned, battery trains.
I think it would be cheaper to just bring back steam locos and shovel tons of £100 pound notes into their fireboxes.
As an ex-driver, at least you can see that I'm not bitter...
