Bo-bo-bo locomotives of America??

[Anonymous]

  Hi everyone, I have bought a EF81 bo-bo-bo model by Tomix. I wonder are there any bo-bo-bo locomotives in US?? I may kitbash it. I only know PRR E3B.

[nanaimo73]

The only one I can think of was the GM10B experimental electric.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoList.aspx?mid=890

[JonathanS]

PRR had a pair of experimental electrics in the 1950s with a B-B-B wheel arrangement.  They were classed E3b.  There was another set that was identical except that they were C-C.

[Murphy Siding]

     Wouldn't a B-B-B type unit bind going around corners?

[Cricketer]

More than a few in Italy, where it remains a common wheel arrangement. 7 separate classes of locomotive - all electric. The most recent ones (bult 1989 onwards) are very much devlopments of the older ones in a history dating back to the 1920s. Ability to handle curves was a major reason for the wheel arrangement. Max power of the latest ones 4950kw = 6600hp.

The real Bo-Bo-Bo kings are the Swiss Re 6/6 class which have a power output of 7850kw = 10,500hp. Curve handling a major factor here as well. These are mountain locos designed to haul 1000 tonnes up 3% grades at 50mph.

 

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

     Wouldn't a B-B-B type unit bind going around corners?

The center truck in such an arrangement is allowed a certain amount of side play, not too different from lateral motion devices on steam locomotives with long rigid wheelbases.

[MStLfan]

In the Netherlands there is a class of motorcars (mDDM, total number is 50) for use with the doubledeckers of type DD-AR.

See the links for pictures. Power is 2400 kW if I am correct. They are used with 3 double deck cars as an emu and can run multiple with class 1700 electrics with 3 or 4 of the same double deck cars. Note the passenger area on top is lower the the top deck of the doubledecker.

N-scale model showing the layout of the axles: http://www.phildie.nl/MDDm.htm

Doubledeckers in action: http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/nl/electric/emu/DD-AR/7841-77/pix.html

Further info in English and pictures: http://www.netherlandsrailways.co.uk/NS%20mDDM.htm

greetings,

Marc Immeker

[tomikawaTT]

Bo-Bo-Bo motors are very common in Japan, and their general appearance is rather dissimilar to anything I've ever seen in the United States.  The wraparound windshields are a distinctive spotting feature.

The EF81 can operate under any catenary in Japan, 1500VDC, 50hz or 60hz 20kVAC - which made it a very nearly universal locomotive.

IIRC, the Tomix models are HOj, 1:80 scale, built to run on 16.5mm (HO standard gauge) track.  The slightly larger scale 'bulks up' the narrow gauge (1067mm - 3'6") prototype to something very close to US prototype 1:87.1 HO in size.

Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - including 1500VDC catenary)