Hi everyone....can anybody answer this question? Why are all contemporary passenger locomotives made with only four axles? Is it just for turning radius? It would seem logical that in regions with dynamic altitude changes, six axles would be useful. Thanks in advance!
Passenger trains, especially modern ones, are not that long or heavy compared to freights. Freight cars are mostly densely packed, and even empty freight cars are somewhat heavier than passenger cars, which are mostly air inside, even when full of passengers. Also, the more heavier the loco is, the more you cut into its fuel economy.
4 axles will get more amperage per axle with the same horsepower vs 6 axles, and as a general rule, more amps= quicker acceleration.
ah, makes sense. Especially on commuter lines- light cars, light engine, fast acceleration. Thanks! :thumbs_up:
Who needs four axles? Try one! ;-) Just to confuse things a little more, consider the axle configuration on the Amtrak Cascades Talgo trainset: each car has one axle (one pair of wheels) per car. These are attached at one end of a given car. At the other end, the car is attached to the next car - at that next car's end with its own single axle.
One of the best explanations for this is here, courtesy of Al Krug: http://www.alkrug.vcn.com/rrfacts/hp_te.htm
