Solar Powered Train....

[Anonymous]

  Saw a MOW train with Solar Panels in Brunswick MD....The Dump cars are solar panels

[J. Edgar]

ballast cars have solar panels to charge the batteries that run the electronics to open and close the hopper doors....a crewman would have a remote control box that he\she programs the car number and door number\letter and open or close that door with air pressure.......instead of having 2000' of extension cord from the locomotive its easier to just install small SP's to charge these batteries

[daveklepper]

But don't assume that on this basis that you could have enough solar panel energy to actually propel a train using panels mounted only on the train itself!

[J. Edgar]

But don't assume that on this basis that you could have enough solar panel energy to actually propel a train using panels mounted only on the train itself!

thats not what im saying at all and i hope thats not the point i seemed to be making....the little panels on MOW ballast hoppers are only to charge batteries.....the batteries power the electronics.....the electronics open and close air valves.....the air valves open and close the hopper dump doors...

 

[mj5890]

I think that this is actually a good idea, its alot easier then running a electrical line through the train, and beter then have a litle diesel engine in each car to do this. 

Why don't they use solar power on refers?  Have pannels on the top and maybe the sides, then that could power the refridgerator instead of a diesel generators, but since they wouldnt work at night you would still need the diesels for night, cloudy days, and backup. Just a thought

Joe

[HEdward]

I think that this is actually a good idea, its alot easier then running a electrical line through the train, and beter then have a litle diesel engine in each car to do this. 

Why don't they use solar power on refers?  Have pannels on the top and maybe the sides, then that could power the refridgerator instead of a diesel generators, but since they wouldnt work at night you would still need the diesels for night, cloudy days, and backup. Just a thought

Joe

The weight saved by eliminating the generator could be replced with a set of batteries.

How about tapping some of the dynamic braking power to also charge the reefers?  Better yet, do the honorable, green thing.  Stop producing CO2 at the most basic, personal level!(that's a suggestion for extremeist hippies only)

[martin.knoepfel]

There have been considerations to use solar panels to generate electricity for the HEP for passenger-trains. AFAIK, the idea did not materialize.

[mj5890]

The weight saved by eliminating the generator could be replced with a set of batteries.

How about tapping some of the dynamic braking power to also charge the reefers?  Better yet, do the honorable, green thing.  Stop producing CO2 at the most basic, personal level!(that's a suggestion for extremeist hippies only)

I like the baterie idea, dnyamic brakes sounds good too, I think those will have to wait until this electronic brakeing thing gets going so they can send a signal through those cables to all the refers to start their dynamic brakes and then the dynamic brakes on each car will charge the baterise, and along with the solar panels... and maybe even an EPA teir 20 diesel engine for those high peak refrigeration needs

Joe