Electric Railways 1880-1990 [Hardcover]

This book presents a thorough survey of electric railway development from the earliest days of the London Underground to modern electrified main line trains. Coverage includes chapters on signalling and communications, power supplies, and a detailed survey about traction systems, both AC and DC. The introduction, first of mercury arc rectifiers, and later of power semiconductor controls, is also discussed in detail.

The author has a long standing interest in engineering history and has written many papers on aspects of railway technology. This book will be of particular interest to scientists and historians interested in the development of electric railways.Introduction
1. Telegraphs, track circuits and signals before 1890
2. Electric railways and American practice
3. The electrification of street railways
4. Heilmann, Ward Leonard and the electric railway
5. Electrification of British rapid-transit lines
6. Electrification 1900-20
7. Track circuits, describers and electrical signalling 1890-1920
8. Evolution of the electric railway 1920-40
9. Railway electrification and the thermal-electric locomotive
10. Converters, the mercury-arc rectifier and supply to electric railways
11. Signalling, communications and control 1920-40
12. Railway electrification 1920-40
13. Electro-Motive, General Motors and oil-electric traction
14. The mercury-arc rectifier locomotive
15. Railway electrification in Britain 1920-60
16. Signalling, communications and control 1940-70
17. Main line direct current traction in Britain
18. Main line alternating current traction in Britain
19. Solid-state electronics, motor control and the locomotive
20. Solid-state electronics in signalling, communications and control
21. The electric railway 1965-95
Bibliography
Index [T]his is a history of the teclÃ"