Re: Tasrail ZR2 adhesion

[mccallum@melbpc.org.au (John Duncan McCallum)]

In article <341f0090.14455073@nntp.peg.apc.org>, jdennis@acslink.net.au (John 
Dennis)wroted:
>I was reading the latest issue of Tasmanian Rail News, and came across
>an interesting description of the newly rebuilt ZR2.  One paragraph in
>particular seemed unusual, to say the least:
>
>"Initially the adhesion of the loco wheels to the rails is to be
>assisted by the action of friction blocks onto the treads of each
>wheel to control wheelslip, rather than by using sand."
>
>Now I am familiar (at least in layman's terms) with the various modern
>electronic techniques to improve adhesion, and also with the age old
>method of sanding the rail, but applying friction to the wheel treads
>does seem to me to be a little strange.
>
>Can anybody out there shed some light on this.  Does it really work?
>
>Cheers...JD
>==========================================================
>John Dennis                         jdennis@acslink.net.au
>Melbourne                                  denjo02@cai.com
>Australia               http://www.acslink.net.au/~jdennis
>                  Dutton Bay Tramway pages updated 14 June
This seems to be the way English Electric controlled wheelslip on starting. I 
think it was called "adhesive braking", although I cannot be sure. 
By the way, with old S300 on the Diamond Valley Railway, it was one way to 
prevent excessive wheelslip under slippery conditions. I have used that method 
at least once to get the train moving. It's a pity the old girl is no longer 
on the railway.


John McCallum