Tourist electric locomotive

A real railway machine

CFD also offers narrow gauge locotractors for tourist railways or sub-metric industrial networks (gauge between 500 and 760 mm or more). For this type of vehicle, CFD has chosen to offer only electric versions on lithium-ion batteries.

While the powertrain consisting of two asynchronous motors is combined with a latest-generation battery, the vehicle remains first and foremost a railway vehicle with axle-mounted bridges, brake rigging including a direct pneumatic shoe brake, a spring-applied park brake with pneumatic release also used as an emergency brake and an emergency shunting wheel. The Scroll-type air compressor and particularly quiet drive train ensure operation without noise or pollution. As standard, the locotractor is fitted with a two-tone horn but also an AVAS sound generator like on electric buses for noise generation on command or at low speeds.

What about performance and range?

We offer our different locotractors with different traction and energy storage solutions. Battery autonomy is defined with the customer with a view to guaranteeing all-day operation with or without intermediate recharging. The CFD teams analyse your requirements and adapt, if necessary, the amount of on-board energy or the size of the chargers.

Benefits for the operator of 100% electric locotractors

For the operator, the 100% battery solution means lower or no fuel and maintenance costs, and a quiet, environmentally-friendly rail vehicle that is suitable for all rail traction operations in complete safety. For example, replacing a diesel locomotive with its 100% battery equivalent, which has a charging point on the electricity network, offers savings of up to 50% on operating costs (excluding maintenance). Added to this are the savings on equipment maintenance operations due to the absence of a diesel engine.

Locotracteurs 600mm Li Ion 53 kWh du parc des Chanteraines (92)

CFD has delivered two new electric locotractors that meet the environmental requirements of the park, which has been awarded the EVE® (Espace Vert Ecologique) label. These two machines are powered by Lithium Ion batteries and asynchronous electric transmission. The challenge was to design a vehicle capable of travelling more than 40 km a day with a large towed load, while maintaining a high level of safety. The locotractors have a useful capacity of 44 kWh, providing over 6 hours of autonomy, and an ultra-high-performance braking system enabling the entire load to be braked on the locotractor alone. The traction power and flexibility of electric braking mean you can overcome any difficulties on the line or stop the convoy at a station without touching the mechanical brakes.