I remember going in the cab of 46s at Delec when I was young. More recently I was lucky enough to be invited into the cab of this beast that doesn't have any problem with acceleration and maximum speed, although I wonder how it would go over the Blue Mountains. It has a nominal output of 6,400 kW, maximum tractive effort of 274 kN, a maximum speed of about 200 km/h and can run on three voltages, AC and DC, for different European systems.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vh5zFqSJtek https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vh5zFqSJtek

This is on the VUKV Velim test circuit in Czech Republic where, among other jobs, European high speed trains are tested. Within a couple of years these will also be seen push-pulling double deck intercitys at near this speed between Nuremberg and Munich. They are built alongside trams and other electric trains at Plzen, all rolling down the same production line!

Tony P
(who doesn't mind a fast trip in a tram or train)

---InTramsDownUnder@..., <arg@...> wrote :

That’s a good question Mick - I haven’t heard that myself (doesn’t sound like something you’d want to do in front of too many witnesses).

I saw the wheel spinning done on a test trip between Chullora and Delec on the Flemington-Campsie goods line, away from prying eyes, by a loco tester. Without sand it spun the wheels impressively up to about 20 mph, then the power was shut off.

That wheel spin would have left some evidence on the rail, and could have damaged the traction motors, so it was definitely in the “kids, don’t try this at home” category.

As they were low geared and built to pull, 60mph was pretty much top speed, but they could accelerate a passenger train up to that pretty quickly, with the ride quality becoming progressively more interesting as you got closer to the 70mph track speed. The short wheelbase contributed to the rough ride too. They were not a high speed passenger motor by any means.

Tony G