Radical steam locomotive

Press, 13 August 1980, Page 17

Radical steam locomotive

NZPA London A radical new design for a steam locomotive has been developed in Britain. The design, by Dr John Sharpe, a research, engineer at London University, is: for a pollution-free engine which can be fuelled with poorer quality coal or even logs and wood chippings. Dr Sharpe told the NZPA that several Australian railway authorities were interested but he did not Want to name them because it would not be fair to them at this stage.. “People are very sensitive about this whole thing,” he said. - Hcwever, he said Australia was unique because of its. abundant coal supplies, and it had the right traffic for £his type of lo-

comotive — long distances and heavy freight. “If you are transporting coal it makes sense to burn some of it for transportation,” he said. Dr Sharpe said that a sugar cane company in Queensland had already asked him to draw up detailed specifications to adapt their <’iesel locomotives to steam power, burning waste sugar cane. He also believes that steam locomotives should be considered as an alternative to electrification of the Sydney-Melbourne railway link. Eelectrification of such lines could be enormously expensive and technically complex because of .the huge weight of trains, requiring a combination of engines of up to 20,000 horse-power to haul them.

Dr Sharpe said that despite the obvious economic advantages of steam, the main problem to overcome was a psychological one. “People and governments still see steam as filthy and inefficient,” he said.

However, Dr Sharpe is certain that the next five years will see the development of a modern steam locomotive.

“The crucial point at the moment is whether governments or other organisations are willing to put up the funding to allow this sort of development to take place,” he said.

“Wherever this locomotive is developed somebody has got to put up something like $5O million. I would say that we are at fhe point where we

are seeking that sort of commitment.”

Dr Sharpe said one of the problems was that the whole technology for building steam locomotives had been lost. “I don’t know of any company which is in a position to do the development.”

“The last steam locomotive was manufactured by Mitsubishi in Japan, and they say they have disbanded all their manufacturing capacity in this area.

“The same applies to this country, and to Australia, I think.” Dr Sharpe said that while his design included many improvements over traditional steam locomotives, because of advanced technology, there were many common factors.

Railway enthusiasts, however, should prepare for a shock. The steam engine of the future will be quite unlike the majestic locomotives of the past.

Dr Sharpe’s design depicts it as a chunky, double-ended functional monster, more than 30 metres long.

“It represents a total rethink of the common perception of the steam locomotive,” said Dr Sharpe. The 3000 horse power, 180-tonne loco will differ from the traditional steam engine in more than looks. Rather than, puffing steam in the air, to the delight of small boys, the locomotive will convert steam back into water and back into steam again, using a novel application of the turbo-charger.