A prototype battery-electric ‘08e’ shunter has successfully completed two weeks of trials at a quarry.
The plug-in shunter, designed to meet modern environmental, safety and noise pollution standards that a regular Class 08 cannot do, was taken to Whatley Quarry in Somerset, where it was operated by Mendip Rail.
During the trials, 08308 managed to push and pull trains of more than 1,000 tonnes from the bottom of the yard to the stone loading area - a journey that involved reverse curves, crossovers and steep gradients.
Positive Traction, the company behind the ‘08e’, said the trial allowed engineers to gather data regarding battery life, revised uprated tractive effort, hill start capability, and fast charging through regenerative braking. The results of these were all said to be “more than satisfactory”.
“The…
You're reading a preview of
RAIL (Digital) - 1 Issue, Issue 1022