 |
| E5 in operation, notice the Siemens bow collector [3] |
| Information for E5 & E6 | |
|---|---|
| Number built: | 2 |
| Built: | 1908 |
| Builder: | Siemens Brothers Dynamo Works |
| Motor: | 2 Siemens D58wa commutating pole electric motors (550v DC OHLE) |
| Power: | 300 hp (224 kW) |
| Wheel arrangement: | B+B |
The first two locomotives (E1 and E2) had a single two axle chassis (Bo). E3 and E4 were of Bo-Bo configuration and intended to haul trains of up to 110 tons up a gradient. E5 and E6 were intended for shunting duties and had to handle tight radius curves. To avoid excessive overhang (E3 and E4 had problems with locking buffers with the buffers of wagons [4][5] on tight curves) the locomotives were articulated in the middle via a drag link coupling and had a single powered axle in each half of the locomotive. The second axle was driven by coupling rods. The cab roof had two overlapping halves upon which a bow collector was attached (later replaced by a cross-arm pantograph).
In the following years more locomotives were built including from Siemens Brothers, Kerr Stuart, English Electric and Baugley. The Harton Electric Railway remained in use for over eighty years though began to be run down in the 1980s with the final full electric working in 1988 [6]. Of the original six locomotives E2 and E4 remained in use into the early 1980s and both were preserved.
 |
| Arrangement of E5 and E6 [5] |
[1] William J Hatcher, The Harton Electric Railway (Oakwood Press, 1994) p. v
[2] Ibid. p. 13
[3] "Slow speed direct current locomotives for colliery service", Electric Railway Journal Vol. XXXVII No. 21 (May 27, 1911) p. 925
[4] Hatcher p. 25
[5] "Driving systems of electric locomotives", Electric Railway Journal Vol. XLII No. 26 (Dec 27 1913) p. 1339
[6] Hatcher p. 111