Re: Tasrail ZR2 adhesion

[pcc@ocean.com.au (Leslie Brown)]

mccallum@melbpc.org.au (John Duncan McCallum) wrote in aus.rail:

>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.

Ahh, old DVR S300! The one that I pranged after running into the GY
that fouled the running line, during my driver training with Syd
Gillies. Boy, did I feel bad.

Where is it now, John?

Les Brown.

(Member DVR 1965-1968).