Batteries Included

[@joshslater2426]

One of the few non-steam locomotives l find appealing. I liked Stafford when he became a character in Thomas, and have fond memories of seeing it at the NRM (but it has since disappeared to Shildon).

[@WA1LBK]

Inrerestingly, EMD in the USA now has proposals for high-horsepower mainline battery electric locomotives, using modern technology! This little loco was WAY ahead of its time! 😄

[@wideyxyz2271]

AD the voice of sense in a crazy world. And another Knotty Loco. Love it! She's bloody gorgeous. And I'm a steam addict!

[@eifionjones559]

I am with you there, including the steam addiction

[@SteamTrainsNStuff]

Really does look like an engine you could build in someone’s garage.

[@toyotaprius79]

I can see the inspiration where Top Gear had in making Geoff.

[@robinforrest7680]

I guess it was charged overnight? Does it still tun?

[@AnthonyDawsonHistory]

It hasn't operated in preservation. 1917 electrics would be a tad.... dodgy.

[@SteamTrainsNStuff]

@@toyotaprius79 was thinking exactly the same thing if only it had a moustache

[@channelsixtysix066]

Looks like someone found a redundant 3-plank wagon stuck in a siding, and decided to make an electric shunter out of it.

[@daylightman8459]

A motorised open wagon with a cab and a six tons of battery cells… interesting indeed!

[@wideyxyz2271]

Simplistic yet innovative.

[@the4tierbridge]

And yet some angry strikers destroyed what could have revolutionized the industry. Disgusting lot they were.

[@alexwright6038]

Just showing Musk is reinventing the wheel. Just using Lithium chemistries instead of Lead,

[@garryferrington811]

Seems very practical, and, given it's long service life, must indeed have been so. Currently the Union Pacific is experimenting with battery locomotives for the main line. So perhaps the little guy is a forerunner.

[@johnclayden1670]

I really do enjoy your stuff Anthony. I thought I was pretty knowledgeable about railways but you manage to find so much that is new to me. Keep it up!

[@brybish]

Good to know Stafford is a character in Thomas the tank engine.

[@エミリアン]

Yea

[@RockyRailroadProductions_B0SS]

I had no idea about those very early electric loco prototypes - The 1840s one is a really curious beast, as is the 4-2-0 version. Amazing to think the idea had started so far back, fantastic presentation as always! The NSR steeplecab looks like an interurban esque trolley locomotive that's escaped the wires!

[@thisisaduck]

This is very interesting. You don’t often hear about battery powered engines.

[@christianjohnson9190]

Look up battery electric locomotive, BNSF (Burlington Northern Santa Fe (for those who don’t know)) and Webtechnologien is making battery electric locomotives to be used with tier 4 locomotives

[@BassandoForte]

Nice informed and interesting video... 👍👍 Looks like it was once a 3 plank wagon... 🤣 Add a cab, battery and a powered bogy and, hey-presto, an entire loco... 🤣

[@channelsixtysix066]

They probably had so many of 3-plank wagons, no one was going to notice one going missing.

[@roberthuron9160]

Edison,in the US,developed electric locomotives,and there were several experimental units,as later,GE and Westinghouse also had battery,and combined battery/electric engines! One user,of note,was the C,NS&M,out of Chicago,who had steeple cab engines,for switching and mainline working! There were many other users but that's a starter! Thank you for your attention ☺️! Thank you 😇 😊!

[@AnthonyDawsonHistory]

early electric locos need more love!

[@rhodrage]

It was only a few days ago where I visited the old site of Oakamoor station, where the last one of these worked.

[@jogindersinghfoley3860]

In one of the many predesessors of the channel tunnel in the victoria era compressed air locos were seriously considered for traction through a victorian channel tunnel

[@krimskrams]

very cool to see something more unusual non-steam like this! that was really interesting!

[@edwilson5727]

absolutely remarkable engine

[@AnthonyDawsonHistory]

I'm going to do a mini series on the "Electric Edwardians" and look at some c.1900 electric stuff. So ahead of its time.

[@NSB463]

Very nice and informational! I loved it

[@toyotaprius79]

Imagine something like this loco but with AC motors and AC/DC converters and regenerative braking. It'll be like one of those battery electric dump trucks that generate more energy carrying rock down a mountain than it spends climbing up it.

[@AnthonyDawsonHistory]

Such locomotives do exist: the series of 3B Electric Shunters built by English, Electric in Britain from the 1930s could be built as battery only; battery and over-head wire collection or just over-head wire. They have rheostatic brakes in addition to the hand brake (and using the notches on the power controller). Or check out the locomotives being built today by the Clayton Equipment Co. :-) The little E,E locos are a natural successor to the North Staffs battery loco. kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5XMiKqii5plm80

[@MrSvenovitch]

Imagine comments on the internet not beginning with 'imagine'. I mean, could you imagine? Or do you lack imagination?

[@kayEnt3rtainm3nt]

@@MrSvenovitch The vast majority of comments on the internet don't begin with "imagine". It's merely a common phrase frame such as starting a sentence with "well," or ending a question with "you know?".

[@obelic71]

I only knew that battery powered multiple units ( Wittfeld ) were used in Germany from 1909. Never knew battery powered shunting locomotives were used also in that era.

[@tramlink8544]

we have one here in Switzerland too which we managed to get going again, was made for the simplon tunnel construction in 1919 but was in service shunting until 1984

[@obelic71]

@@tramlink8544 History repeats itself. Small robot shunters shunt in the workshops and on yards. Multiple units with batterpower are also build by Stadler

[@milanzilvar5976]

Hello, I think you or somebody else would be interested in this shunting locomotive Ringhoffer No. 2 built in 1916 by Ringhoffer Werke in Prague. It is still in perfect operating order now displayed in Czech National Museum of Technology Depository in Chomutov.

[@FreeManFreeThought]

Fantastic :) An oddity for her time, but obviously one which filled it's niche well.

[@AnthonyDawsonHistory]

I dont think she was that much of an oddity. the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway had built a very similar locomotive a few years earlier and they were pushing on with electrifying some of their suburban routes to compete with electric trams. If anything the railways were lagging behind the trams in adopting clean, electric traction.

[@mnic1234]

Thank you for producing, this was really interesting.

[@AnthonyDawsonHistory]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@williamhoward2731]

Awesome Historical railroad video .

[@AnthonyDawsonHistory]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@DanInHisDen]

I have found a bfi film of this or the midland railway one. It also shows the cadburys locomotives.

[@Taorakis]

Nice little summary about this tiny useful engine. The upsides from an alectric one over a steam engine surely works good in a shunting station. As long as you have a charge.

[@EuroScot2023]

You're doing excellent work on here, Anthony. British Railways ran a Battery Electric Multiple Unit on the Deeside railway between April 1958 until the line was closed at the end of 1966. It provided the regular passenger service for most of this time. Fortunately, it was then used for experimental work by BR at the Derby Test Centre until 1980 and has been preserved. If you want to know more about it, there's a Wikipedia article at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_BEMU

[@johnd8892]

Six tons of batteries a plus for locomotive adhesion. Expecting a response that it would get lighter when the electrons run out.

[@wideyxyz2271]

lols....

[@cncshrops]

Uhmm, so not, then?

[@alistairsmith4308]

Thanks again for another local look and can see what the world was like before the big 4

[@AnthonyDawsonHistory]

My pleasure. It all gets a bit modern and boring after 1923 to be honest.

[@FQP-7024]

By George I can't believe it a battery that large can move it so easly, imagine what modern day batteries could do to it

[@mikego18753]

Hay Anthony what a great looking design. Thanks&thumbs up.

[@AnthonyDawsonHistory]

Thanks 👍

[@hamjazz]

There was a similar one in London docks about the same time.

[@NJPurling]

This locomotive deserves to be revived with a modern battery set. It really does like someone combined a damaged freight wagon with a broken up tram.

[@AnthonyDawsonHistory]

I can assure you this locomotive was purpose built and built from scratch. If the locomotive were to be made operational, it would require a significant amount of work to bring it up to modern safety standards which would represent the loss of historic material and fabric. There's no need to operate it. Restoration to working condition and operating historic machinery is a destructive process and these days should be best treated with caution due to all the ethical concerns it raises.

[@paulmishler402]

Something else i was wondering, has there ever been a steam locomotive with inside pistons but with the valve gear on the outside

[@johnd8892]

Fairly widespread design in Italy from 1900 to 1920 or so. An image of a 2-6-0 sticks in my mind from the Dumpy Book of Locomotives from my childhood.

[@AnthonyDawsonHistory]

Widespread in France: check out my video on Montparnasse: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYCyiaOLnrBjhbc

[@johnd8892]

Now found the preserved Italian Gr. 640, perhaps several. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hWLUg5KcrZdlaaM Cilindri 2 interni

[@paulmishler402]

Wow thanks guys

[@johnd8892]

Very interesting and appreciated. Like to think my comment on the last episode on Princess helped inspire this, but more likely planned all along.

[@AnthonyDawsonHistory]

Planned all along I'm afraid.

[@thomaswilkinson3241]

Looks amazing, like it was built on a short flatbed chassis.

[@TweetsieRailroader]

I'm waiting for that comment from something that says: "Hey Look, It's Stafford from Thomas & Friends!" or something like that. You know someone's going to say it. LOL.

[@obelic71]

Next episode of Thomas & Friends: Will he and his friends find the right USB port charger?

[@jaxixteen]

@@obelic71 I mean yeah.

[@eduardoaguero1220]

@@obelic71 Spencer couldn't find the USB charger 3 times in a row.

[@toby070]

You've beaten me to it!

[@pepsicannot]

Hey lOoK, iT StAfForF fROm ThOmAS and FriEnD! JHkjdI ;jkJKjkSMKdkSCN DJKDkj

[@colors7792]

You guys remember Stafford from u know?

[@Tom-Lahaye]

Battery powered rail traction has been used ever since the invention of electric locomotives. In Germany you had the Wittfeld BEMU's and later the class ETA 150 / Br515. These BEMU's I have travelled in as a kid, they were used between Maastricht in the Netherlands and Aachen in Germany in the 1970s and 80s. But they never became very popular as the maintenance of these batteries was more expensive as diesel fuel in those days, the advantage was in their reliability. Now with diesel being more and more expensive, environmental issues and the advance in battery technology we will see more battery operated EMUs and locomotives, in the locomotive as a hybrid option were batteries supply power for the last miles over non electrified track. Mainline use is subjected for testing in the US, were longer distances and less dense use than in Europe make electrification too expensive for now, building a battery electric which can operate autonomous over 500-1000 miles and supply around 2000-3000kW is a great challenge still, and only further development in storage technology will make it possible. In Russia they are experimenting with a gas turbine-electric which runs on methane now but can be converted to hydrogen, the hydrogen can be produced with wind and solar energy, and this is probably a better solution for a mainline locomotive and the concept is tried and proved by the UP in the past but running on heavy fuel oil instead.

[@frankmitchell3594]

I believe these were used on the Dusseldorf to Rheine service also

[@SMPandanic]

stafford is a engine in thomas and friends I had no idea the name was the actual name in real life

[@toyotaprius79]

I did. Hated how wasted such a loco example/character that had been.

[@jaxixteen]

He looked cool.

[@eduardoaguero1220]

@@jaxixteen yeap RIP Stafford.

[@tnais]

Very interesting. What electric engines really needed was AC current (yes, that’s true also for DC powered ones)

[@sheep1ewe]

Yes, but i think the lack of a suitable onboard rectifier did delay that a lot until the late 1920s. I don't know in Britain, but in Germany and Scandinavia they did not make any broad entrance until the mid. 1920s. (In Sweden 1926 to be more precise), when i was a kid most of the old locos still had MAR system onboard beacuse of the extreme peak tolerance compared to the at the time more modern solutions.

[@tnais]

@@sheep1ewe AC, as opposite to DC can be transported on wires on long distances. That’s why you needed AC power even for DC lines. DC based railway systems use several “substations” to feed short sections of the lines. German DB and most Swiss railways unse single phase AC (SBB-CFF-FFS and most canton narrow gauge mountain railways - only the Tirano - St. Moritz line is the only exception I know) and engines use AC or universal motors.

[@sheep1ewe]

@@tnais Interesting. In Sweden there was a lot of experiments on locomotives built in the 1950-60s, some of them had multi windled motors in order to control the speed, others had DC motors with Ignitrons (wich where replaced bu better type of diods in the early -50s here, i don't think the ignitron locos where that many), later for example the Rc serie as far as i remember had Tyristor controlled DC motors. The modern ones are probably more as You described above since they are no longer made here, the ones still in traffic here built in sweden by ASEA are old ones from the 1980s as far as i know. A lot of the older types where still in use for certain purposes whan i was a kid, however most of the more strange constructions did undergo a lot of rebuild and updates, like the Da, wich changed the motor standard i think about 4 times ower the years, but the 1930s modell with the steel caross was still in use but with new motor set (and probably re fitted with the tyristor control instead of the old diod control (the ignitron system was very short lived in new production since it vecame obsolet very fast, i think it was a product of the early 1950s by adopting industrial tecnology for long distance transfear and industrial arc control applied on those locomotives)) for some special purpose in the 70-early 80s. (The ones from 1925 where of early german type, but build by ASEA with a few improvements to the original construction but they did not realy went into traffic on the mains until the next year whan the line was finished as fas as i heard, but they where probably in use)

[@cooltrainsinmontreal4883]

battery powered mainline locomotives are in testing in North America and in 10 or 20 years they may replace diesel

[@atshinkansen7439]

What’s the “D” in the white square on the rear-facing bonnet indicate?

[@connormclernon26]

Neat

[@ing4trainz]

I am intending to make a virtual model of no. 1 for Trainz railsim. Do you have any dimensions for the loco? The wheel diameter, wheel base and/or overall length or height would allow me to scale the side view photo.

[@AnthonyDawsonHistory]

Let me have a look and I'll get back to you!

[@ing4trainz]

Many thanks. I understand it was built on a wagon chassis so a basic dimension of the wagon type used would do the trick.

[@AnthonyDawsonHistory]

@@ing4trainz It was purpose-built from the ground up. It wasn't built on a wagon chassis; I've no idea where that idea has come from but its not true. The locomotive is 19ft 8in over the buffers. Wheels are 3ft 1in diameter. The wheelbase is 8ft exactly. Overall width 8ft 4 1/2in, overall height (from top of rail to top of cab) 9ft 3 3/8 inches.

[@ing4trainz]

Thanks that's just what I need. I must have read that it was built from a wagon chassis on a website. I suspect the assumption was made as the short wheelbase meant it could use a wagon turntable to shunt sidings set at 90 degs.

[@AnthonyDawsonHistory]

@@ing4trainz never trust what you read on the web unless there's a source!

[@shaydailly]

The train on the thumbnail is from Thomas and Friends.

[@knuckles1206]

what did the loco do between withdraw in 1963 and being preserved in 1968?

[@laszlokaestner5766]

And now we are getting ready for battery powered trains on the Isle of Wight (Class 484) at least we will if they can ever make them work properly.

[@bingola45]

I didn't know that. I thought they were to be 3rd-rail electric, based on withdrawn London Underground stock.

[@laszlokaestner5766]

@@bingola45 Judging by recent reports I think they are actually "hybrid" and have both for some reason.

[@bingola45]

@@laszlokaestner5766 I'll have to check on that.

[@krystalmills1622]

3:23-3:24 so it that means if a battery engine needs 2 caps 😡

[@SuperJacob2006]

That Engine Looks Like Stafford From Thomas And Friends

[@AnthonyDawsonHistory]

Well, there's a reason for that......

[@SuperJacob2006]

@@AnthonyDawsonHistory True True

[@sabertooth3studioshq838]

It's his basis

[@awesome-xk8vj]

Hay Anthony. When was the Midland Railway Battery-Electric shunter built & it is scrapped? If so when? Please respond when you get this please.

[@AnthonyDawsonHistory]

Built 1913, scrapped 1964.

[@mistermadmachine6311]

Wow who to think batteries date back that long Also doesn’t this engine look familiar?

[@brybish]

thomas the tank engine .

[@brybish]

Stafford

[@wyndhamcoffman8961]

Depending on your definition; they had batteries over 5000 years ago, in ancient Egypt; even though they didn't really know about electricity, they used battery for electroplating metals. If you are using a more strict definition, they had batteries as far back as the 1700s.

[@bennickss]

Looks like a modified 4-plank wagon!

[@AnthonyDawsonHistory]

It's not though. Purpose-built from the ground up. The NSR pioneered not only electric locomotives, but from the 1890s electric lighting in carriages. None of that super dangerous gas lighting.

[@krystalmills1622]

1:06 op thomas prime have electricity and I think he have steam and I think he safe 😡

[@cdev2117]

I will call it "Stafford Krokodilchen".

[@isitredormaroon2196]

That’s good to know, I don’t have any batteries to spare at the moment.

[@malcolmnicholls2893]

Especially at 6 tons (Tonnes)?

[@the_autism_express]

Fun fact: an American built battery engine is being trialled by the BNSF as a possible replacement for diesel locomotives

[@toyotaprius79]

Is this an all electric switcher or more of a battery diesel engine running in series as traction diesels do efficiently.

[@Tiredoldchannel]

@@toyotaprius79 it’ll be a 6 axle mainline locomotive, that will be MU’d to diesel locomotives

[@the_autism_express]

@@toyotaprius79 neither, it's a battery electric engine built to a similar design to most general electric goods diesels. Just search up "BNSF battery electric locomotive" and you'll find it.

[@flashrocket9158]

I guess this makes Wabtec's new Battery engine not so farfetched after all.

[@AnthonyDawsonHistory]

Battery-electric locomotives and multiple units are a mature technology.

[@terrier_productions]

And next: The Knotty Coaches..

[@catthecommentbothunter6890]

Lol they must add gears to the four motors to get it more torque because mote torque the more the locomotive could pull heavy cars

[@AnthonyDawsonHistory]

Yep. Traction Motors are geared to the axles.

[@krystalmills1622]

3:22 it just like thomas's number 1 😡

[@skydive7054]

STAFFORD!!!

[@channelsixtysix066]

I've always had a fascination of pure electric traction, more so than steam or diesel-electric. It's because I have an electronic background. I can't help thinking it was deliberately stymied in a similar fashion to electric cars. No guesses needed who the vested interests were.

[@bingola45]

It wasn't.

[@scottfw7169]

For non-battery locomotives the startup cost of building the electric supply infrastructure was high enough to be a dissuading factor, be that supply via overhead trolley or third rail. And the price tag for renewal of it after deferred maintenance and heavy use during WW2 was what did in a number of US city trolley systems. A spot of trivia as an added bonus at no extra charge: in his book The Milwaukee Road Under Wire, author Noel T. Holley gives accounts from MILW's catenary maintenance crews who via using rail-capable road vehicles could often get to a wreck site, have the catenary mended, and be back in bed before the track and wrecker crews even reached the site.

[@terrygray9840]

it's stafford's base.

[@OhHowTheTurntablesHaveTurned]

i used to watch thomas as a kid and stafford an engine in the series is bassicaly the same engine with a face and when i see the real life version all i see is that engine from thomas the tank engine and friends #spelling might be bad im tiered

[@Mr._funny2006]

Is It electric?

[@AnthonyDawsonHistory]

Absolutely. battery electric loco.

[@zangryomani1257]

i could just picture a electric engine that resembles the A4's but use's electric pistons to move instead

[@KuntalGhosh]

Time to pack this with as many lithium ion or lithium iron phosphate cells and see how far it goes. Then replace the motor with 3 phase induction & electronic drive and see the improvement in performance. Maybe we can build a loco that goes 0 to 100 under 5secs with two tesla roadster motors

[@DavidOfWhitehills]

It'll still need to weigh 17 tons, just for traction.

[@WesternOhioInterurbanHistory]

D U R A C E L L

[@jandoerlidoe3412]

Typical that Robert Davyson's locomotive was destroyed by stupid people who oppose inovation....

[@christianjohnson9190]

They are jealous

[@ffjsb]

It happened to the inventor of the sewing machine. I believe it was in France, disgruntled tailors were not happy about the invention.

[@angelobates601]

Stafford

[@profcraneporter]

Hehe, I called it last time out hehe

[@marker6814]

Thom has

[@matzotv4047]

Musk does trains V1

[@DinoPon3]

1000th like

[@KaciCooperations]

Bruh.. Why people mad at this comment