A design for a small multi-service Bo-Bo locomotive, with speed up to 90 km/h (56 mph), had been devised by Giuseppe Bianchi as early as in the 1930s, but the project had been halted by the introduction of the E.326 and E.428. After the realization of the 6-axle E.636, it was however decided to revamp the project by adapting to it some solutions already in use on the E.636 (engines, bogies, suspension etc.).
Unit 075 (non "N") in its original livery, property of FerAlp Team museum, in Bussoleno
The locomotives have been built in four series starting from 1943:
001-003: prototype units with 32R-200 motors, 21/65 gear ratio, max speed 100 km/h (62 mph) and 2 field shunts; unit 003 had 20/65 gear ratio, for a maximum speed of 120 km/h (75 mph), and also had compound-type motors (model 92-250).
004-013: compound-type 92-250 motors (as unit 003), max speed 100 km/h (62 mph), 19/65 gear ratio.
014-038 and 057-078: units from 017 to 020 plus unit 022 and 024 were identical to units 001/2; units 014, 023, 025, 057 and 060 had 19/65 gear ratio that enabled the locomotives to reach 120 km/h (75 mph); all the others had 92-250 motors, 2 field shunts, 16/65 gear ratio for a max speed of 100 km/h (62 mph); unit 068 was transformed, from November 1954 to May 1974, into unit E434-068: this unit had 4 double 82-333 motors, 2 shunts and 110 km/h (68 mph)-able 20/69 gear ratio; they have been used as experiments for the following FS Class E.646 locomotives.
039-056 and 079-158: units with the same motors and gear ratio as the latters, but 5 field shunts, except for unit 136 that had 19/65 gear ratio (max speed 120 km/h or 75 mph).
Series 200 units: starting from 1986, to 1993, 105 units have received an automatic fire extinguishing system, anti-slip device, red and green lights and the 78-wire cable to permit remote control for use with commuter trains, and maximum speed was raised to 120 km/h (75 mph). These units are also referred to as E.424N, where "N" stands for "Navetta" (push-pull); also, number 200 has been added to units' serial number (i.e. E.424.116 became E.424.316).
Techniqueedit
Original E.424 driver console.
Class E.424, having DC type motors like all the Italian locomotives of the time, is a rheostatic-type locomotive; on start, a rheostat is connected in series to the motors and is gradually excluded as speed builds up allowing more current to flow to the motors; unlike other rheostatic locomotives of that time, this is not achieved via the characteristic lever (Maniglione), but through an automatic system, called Avviatore Automatico, derived from contemporary first-generation ALe 790/880/883 EMUs.
The driver simply selects the combination (series or parallel), and the relative rheostat contactors are automatically and gradually closed by this system; in case of failure, the driver can manually rotate an apposite wheel (that also usually rotates automatically as the system advances) to proceed with the exclusion.
When the rheostat is completely excluded for the series combination, field shunts can be inserted, or the driver can proceed to parallel combination, making a transition, which is handled by a device called "CEM" that automatically combines the motors (closing various contacts) accordingly.
The Avviatore Automatico wheel that rotates during rheostatic exclusion; can be maneuvered manually in case of failure.
Originally more than one unit could be coupled and be controlled remotely by the first locomotive using a system called Comando Multiplo; on the central part of the cab there also was a door that enabled the crew to pass from one locomotive to another in case of problems. However, because of safety issues and the imperfect reliability of this system (there were no instruments indicating the status of the slave locomotive, so it was not certain if it correctly made a transition or not, for example), it was abandoned and then disassembled.
Eleven units received compound-type motors, enabling a very fine speed control, in a range included between 25 and 50 km/h (16 and 31 mph) in series combination, and 50–100 km/h (31–62 mph) in parallel.
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This article does not cite any sources Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources FS Class E 424 news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2014 Learn how and when to remove this message The FS E 424 is a class of Italian railways electric locomotives They were built in 1943 1951 and have been decommissioned in 2008 FS class E 424A E 424N in Catania with the recent XMPR liveryType and originPower typeElectricBuilderBreda Off Savigliano Off Reggiane Ercole Marelli OM CGE Ansaldo TIBBBuild date1943 1951SpecificationsConfiguration UICBo Bo Gauge1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in standard gaugeWheel diameter1 250 m 49 21 in Wheelbase7 350 m 24 ft 1 3 8 in between bogies3 150 m 124 02 in between axles of each bogieLength15 540 m 50 ft 11 3 4 in Loco weight72 short tons 64 long tons 65 t Electric system s3 000 V DC CatenaryCurrent pickup s PantographTraction motorsDC seriesTransmission19 65 gear ratioSafety systemsRSC4Performance figuresMaximum speed120 km h 75 mph Power output1 500 kW 2 000 hp Tractive effort168 kN 38 000 lbf CareerOperatorsFS TrenitaliaFirst run1943Dispositiondecommissioned in 2008 Contents 1 History 1 1 Series 2 Technique 3 See also 4 External linksHistory editA design for a small multi service Bo Bo locomotive with speed up to 90 km h 56 mph had been devised by Giuseppe Bianchi as early as in the 1930s but the project had been halted by the introduction of the E 326 and E 428 After the realization of the 6 axle E 636 it was however decided to revamp the project by adapting to it some solutions already in use on the E 636 engines bogies suspension etc Breda SpA workshop provided the three prototypes of E 424 in 1943 1944 Mass production however could begin only after the end of World War II part of the funds provided by the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration program Series edit nbsp Unit 075 non N in its original livery property of FerAlp Team museum in Bussoleno The locomotives have been built in four series starting from 1943 001 003 prototype units with 32R 200 motors 21 65 gear ratio max speed 100 km h 62 mph and 2 field shunts unit 003 had 20 65 gear ratio for a maximum speed of 120 km h 75 mph and also had compound type motors model 92 250 004 013 compound type 92 250 motors as unit 003 max speed 100 km h 62 mph 19 65 gear ratio 014 038 and 057 078 units from 017 to 020 plus unit 022 and 024 were identical to units 001 2 units 014 023 025 057 and 060 had 19 65 gear ratio that enabled the locomotives to reach 120 km h 75 mph all the others had 92 250 motors 2 field shunts 16 65 gear ratio for a max speed of 100 km h 62 mph unit 068 was transformed from November 1954 to May 1974 into unit E434 068 this unit had 4 double 82 333 motors 2 shunts and 110 km h 68 mph able 20 69 gear ratio they have been used as experiments for the following FS Class E 646 locomotives 039 056 and 079 158 units with the same motors and gear ratio as the latters but 5 field shunts except for unit 136 that had 19 65 gear ratio max speed 120 km h or 75 mph Series 200 units starting from 1986 to 1993 105 units have received an automatic fire extinguishing system anti slip device red and green lights and the 78 wire cable to permit remote control for use with commuter trains and maximum speed was raised to 120 km h 75 mph These units are also referred to as E 424N where N stands for Navetta push pull also number 200 has been added to units serial number i e E 424 116 became E 424 316 Technique edit nbsp Original E 424 driver console Class E 424 having DC type motors like all the Italian locomotives of the time is a rheostatic type locomotive on start a rheostat is connected in series to the motors and is gradually excluded as speed builds up allowing more current to flow to the motors unlike other rheostatic locomotives of that time this is not achieved via the characteristic lever Maniglione but through an automatic system called Avviatore Automatico derived from contemporary first generation ALe 790 880 883 EMUs The driver simply selects the combination series or parallel and the relative rheostat contactors are automatically and gradually closed by this system in case of failure the driver can manually rotate an apposite wheel that also usually rotates automatically as the system advances to proceed with the exclusion When the rheostat is completely excluded for the series combination field shunts can be inserted or the driver can proceed to parallel combination making a transition which is handled by a device called CEM that automatically combines the motors closing various contacts accordingly nbsp The Avviatore Automatico wheel that rotates during rheostatic exclusion can be maneuvered manually in case of failure Originally more than one unit could be coupled and be controlled remotely by the first locomotive using a system called Comando Multiplo on the central part of the cab there also was a door that enabled the crew to pass from one locomotive to another in case of problems However because of safety issues and the imperfect reliability of this system there were no instruments indicating the status of the slave locomotive so it was not certain if it correctly made a transition or not for example it was abandoned and then disassembled Eleven units received compound type motors enabling a very fine speed control in a range included between 25 and 50 km h 16 and 31 mph in series combination and 50 100 km h 31 62 mph in parallel See also editFS Class E 646 FS Class E 636External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to FS E 424 Detailed history of the group Italian Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title FS Class E 424 amp oldid 1220473793, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
