Is there a train that can run on an electric rail line then switch to an unpowered rail line?

Question

I think its a new technology. I can't recall where I read about it.

Answer 1

Yes there is:

FEVE, a state owned Spanish narrow gauge company (network mostly in the north of Spain) uses for a train called "El Transcantabrico" some dual power engine. Basically they are a diesel-electric engine, whose electric motors are ted by the overhead lines as soon as the train reaches electrified lines. Otherwise the diesel motors move the generators.

See also www.feve.es with access to the pages of El Cantabrico, a luxury train visiting the most interesting places in the north of Spain..

They are the first, from my knowledge, to use this system. Partly they use those engines also to move heavy freight trains.

Answer 2

Yeah, diesels can run on non-electric lines and then continue onto electric.  It just won't use the electric power, obviously.

They have made dual-mode locomotives which have both a diesel engine and an electric power pickup.  Electric interurban railways built them occasionally for switching industrial spurs. And Metro-North has a fleet of them, they run diesel north of Croton-Harmon NY, and electric into Grand Central Station.

Answer 3

I don't know about trains, but I do know that in Seattle we use hybrid buses. They run on electric motors that can be driven through a diesel engine on board or through electric power provided by overhead lines.

I'd be surprised if this technology was not being used by trains as well. This is important in underground stations and tunnels because of the noxious gases from the diesel engines. Of course they switch to electric when underground.

Answer 4

Yes, but it isnt new tecnology, they had it in the 50s in North america

Answer 5

The New Haven had locomotives called FL9's, which were extended F-units with a three-axle truck under the rear. They were equipped with plenty of extras, namely third rail equipment that would pick up current from the tracks in New York City, since diesel engines can't be run underground. My little railroad has two of them, but they're both stored dead. I think the year is 1957. Let's see about a picture...

http://crcyc.railfan.net/locos/emd/fl9/p...

EDIT: The Long Island Railroad has a modern spin on the FL9 called the DE30AC. Here's a picture of that puppy:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPic...

Answer 6

There certainly are in the UK. What was the Southern Region of British Rail was largely, but not entirely,  electrified on the 3rd rail principle. To cover area which were not so electrified/shunting in unelectrified yards etc., a class of hybrid diesels were built which could run the electrified 3rd rail system, picking up current, and also using diesel power run on unelectrified lines. More info here:-http://www.preserved-diesels.co.uk/engin...

Answer 7

That's interesting, just when you think somethign is new, it is usually a rebirth of an old idea made better.

This is a related side note, years ago I worked on an electrified RR, we had to detour on a non-electrified route because of a derailment.

We had two deisels behind the electric and by putting the electric in one notch of regenetrative (dynamic) braking there was enought control voltage to operate using the electric for controls and deisels for motive power.

There were a few rail fans around, so in someone's archives there are shots of an electric locomtive "pulling" a train over non-electrified trackage.

Answer 8

There have been some locomotives in the United States that were designed to be dual power units, most notably the FL-9 from EMD (General Motors),  Produced from 1956 to 1960 for the New Haven Railroad, they were designed to avoid the locomotive change otherwise necessary at the time for trains coming into Grand Central Terminal-- New York City has an ordinance banning diesels from operating in certain areas.  The last units were retired from service in 1977.

Answer 9

In the UK, locomotive class 73 electro-diesel with third-rail electric current collector shoes and a diesel engine.

Answer 10

in some countries they do have such engines... in use...