Neon John wrote:
On Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:14:18 +0000, Tim Jackson wrote:


I don't have a reference, but I remember reading about steam-era
shunting locomotives (used as I recall in quarries), that used flywheel
power storage, recharged periodically from a stationary boiler.

I'm somewhat of a railroad buff, and at least in America, I've never heard of
a flywheel powered locomotive. There WERE stored energy locomotives however.
Commonly known as "thermos bottle" locomotives, they were charged with
superheated water from a stationary boiler and subsequently operated for
several hours on the stored heat. They were very popular in powerhouses and
coal yards for obvious reasons (no fire hazard) and in places like steel mills
were they had to operate indoors.

here are some photos of thermos locomotives, on display at the Railroad Museum
of Pennsylvania. I especially like the Pennsylvania Power one which looks
most like a conventional locomotive.

http://www.neon-john.com/RV/Trips/Thermos_01.jpg
http://www.neon-john.com/RV/Trips/Thermos_02.jpg
http://www.neon-john.com/RV/Trips/Thermos_03.jpg

John

--
John De Armond
See my website for my current email address
http://www.neon-john.com
http://www.johndearmond.com -- best little blog on the net!
Tellico Plains, Occupied TN
Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood. -Marie Curie


Yeah, these were nothing like that. And I wouldn't mistake a steam
engine for a flywheel. I remember thinking about the level-ground
problem at the time and wondering what happened if one derailed. (Like
a washing machine with a heavy coat in it I imagined.) I also remember
the story was accompanied by a B&W photo. They looked rather like
little diesel shunters, fully enclosed and rectangular, and I think
forward control. I wish I could remember where I read it, but it was
long ago.

Tim