Re: 422's to Broken Hill

["Dave Proctor" <thadocta@spambait.dingoblue.net.au>]

David Bromage wrote in message ...
>David Johnson (trainman@ozemail.com.au) won a Nobel Prize for literature by
writing:
>> Dave Proctor wrote:
>> > Also, this *may* be a silly question, but would there be any effects on
the
>> > running of the service at speed from having one loco shut down (I know,
the
>> > IP used to do this when the CLP's were on it). What, if any, effect
would
>> > shutting down the lead loco have on the running of the train?
>
>> The only effect would be that the Air Conditioner would probably not
work.  It
>> would have to run off 75VDC, and I don't know how the Control Jumpers are
wired,
>> but I doubt they would be able to charge the batteries with an A/C
running.
>> Does anyone know how it works?
>
>Did they actually shut the second unit down or just take it off line?

According to Railway Digest, it was done to save fuel (422's don't have
enough for the entire trip) - so taking it off line would not save fuel.

The article is quite specific:

"Two locos are used because a single 422 class does not have the fuel range
to reach Broken Hill so by shutting the units down in turn whilst en route,
the train is able to reach its destination without the need to refuel."
(Railway Digest, February 2000, p43)

Dave