History
BBC first built a gas turbine with generator for the production of electric energy in 1938. An emergency power supply for the city Neuchâtel, providing 4000 kW of electricity, was also built on based on the same technology. Thus BBC evaluated whether it would make sense to use a gas turbine to power a locomotive and filed a proposal to the Swiss Federal Railways for a gas turbine-electric locomotive with a power of 1,620 kW (2,170 hp)
The SBB-CFF-FFS were ready to accept the proposal under some conditions and thus offered the possibility to try applying the gas turbine technology to railways. The concept of a six-axle locomotive did not permit the application of more than 1620 kW of traction power. Top speed was set to 110 km/h (68 mph). The weight (including fuel) must have not exceeded 92 tonnes, otherwise the SBB-CFF-FFS would have denied even trial runs. On the other hand, the SBB-CFF-FFS were obligated to take the locomotive into service upon its completion.
The project was led and financed by BBC, while the Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works (SLM) built the mechanical parts.
Read more about this topic: SBB-CFF-FFS Am 4/6 1101
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