To Ray , Allen et al Electrical contractor net.
Thank you very much for the reply back. I was about to come back on this topic again to explain the stark differences between Series commutator wound type motors and asynchronous motors. Like I said about the secific applications. I think it would be impractical if a series commutator type motor of 385 HP would be made at 400hz. If made it would probably be huge! And I'm going to correct myself a little bit, that I had mentioned that the GG-1 had 350HP motors. Last night I looked at the GG-1 series locomotives shop manuals and to my little surprise they had 385HP series commutator twin arrangement on one axle through a geared Quill. Their where a total of 12 of these motors. In it's time of hey day, these machines where the oppulance of the rails. They where nice machines/motors. Some day I would like to teach the trade based on some of these old technologies with the electric railway industry as my basis as the originality of the electrical trade for my teaching.
Predisessors of the GG-1, such as the old syle Baldwin box cab motors had third rail pickup shoes so when they reached the end of the 25hz 11KV territory just before Grand Central terminal in New York City.
They would make a painless change over from 25Hz to 650 volt DC. Yes, with those type of motors, you could get away with operating on either type of power.
Finally I have to say is that what I find here in the USA is that there is no interest in any form of electric railway technology. Out of 20 people in the electrical departmnet where I work, people could care less about electric mass transit. I'm the only one in my departmnet that commutes in using rail then pedal bike intermodally speaking. This is America, addicted to the automobile in the same fashion as Cocaine. If you could bring one of those GG-1 locomtives to a trade school for teaching, the kids would probably end up throwing rocks at it. The teachers themselves would probably not know whats under the hood of the associated electrical gear and it's uniqueness on distributing that 25Hz power through out that locomotive.
Its a crying shame the electric railway industry in America has become so technically retarded.
So there you have it. "Live to drive a car or die" That is the epitamy of travel here in the USA.
Paula Walach
[This message has been edited by Paula Walach (edited 01-20-2006).]
