Technical Details
EU06 has driving cabs at both ends. The locomotives are equipped for multiple working which allows one driver to drive two coupled engines from one cab. One locomotive can haul passenger trains of up to 650 tonnes at 125 kilometres per hour (78 mph) and freight trains of up to 2,000 tonnes at a speed of 70 kilometres per hour (43 mph). Two locomotives coupled in multiple can haul a freight train of up to 3,600 tonnes. These figures apply to driving on level gradients.
All members and panels are made of Cor-Ten steel and the underframe is a shallow, cellular structure with closely spaced light-gauge longitudinal and transverse members plated above and below to make a set of closed cells.
The body sides were built up on rectangular vertical tubes forming a set of pillars and are double-skinned for additional strength and rigidity. This is to maintain the shape of the locomotive because the roof of the entire machine space between the two cabs is removable to allow machinery to be lifted out and replaced. The superstructure is built to withstand buffing loads up to 295 long tons (300 t). English Electric made extensive use of aluminium alloys and GRP for panelling, doors and ducts.
Current collection is by single-pan air operated pantographs, which feed the main power circuits by a high-speed circuit breaker. The main resistances were made by Metropolitan-Vickers' parent company, Associated Electrical Industries. The four traction motors are permanently connected in series pairs, with series-parallel combinations between pairs. Parallel and 12 field weakening positions give a total of 55 running notches. The four traction motors have Alsthom quill drives.
The minimum curve radius that the locomotives can negotiate is 6 chains (400 ft; 120 m): any curve tighter than this could cause severe flange wear on the wheels. In order to reduce flange forces, the bogies are linked by a tubular-framed spring-loaded inter-coupling and flange lubricators are fitted to each wheel.
Read more about this topic: PKP Class EU06
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