MR electric units facts for kids
The Midland Railway (MR) was a major railway company in Britain. They were always looking for new ways to make trains better. In the early 1900s, they started trying out a new idea: electric trains!
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Early Electric Trains in Britain
Most trains in the early 1900s ran on steam. Steam trains were powerful, but they also made a lot of smoke and noise. Railway companies around the world started thinking about using electricity instead. Electric trains could be cleaner, quieter, and perhaps even faster.
The Midland Railway's Bold Move
The Midland Railway decided to be one of the first to try electric trains in Britain. They chose a specific line for their experiment. This was a big step for them and for railway travel in general.
Why Electrify?
The Midland Railway wanted to see if electric trains could be a good idea for their busy lines. They hoped electricity would make trains run more smoothly and efficiently. It was also a way to stay modern and competitive with other railway companies. This experiment helped them learn a lot about how electric trains worked.
How the System Worked
The system the Midland Railway used was quite advanced for its time. They used a special type of electricity called alternating current (AC). This AC power was sent through overhead lines above the tracks. The trains would collect the power from these lines using special equipment on their roofs.
The electricity was at 6,600 Volts. This is a high voltage, meaning it had a lot of electrical "push." The power also had a frequency of 25 Hz. This refers to how many times the electrical current changes direction each second. The electricity for the trains was made at the Midland Railway's own power station in Heysham.
The Heysham-Morecambe-Lancaster Line
The Midland Railway chose a specific route for their electric train experiment. This line connected the towns of Heysham, Morecambe, and Lancaster in Lancashire, England. It was a good line for testing because it had both passenger and freight traffic.
Electric trains started running on this route in 1908. This made the Midland Railway one of the pioneers of electric rail travel in the United Kingdom.
Trains on the Line
The trains used on this line were electric multiple units (EMUs). An EMU is a train made of several carriages that can all power themselves. This means the train doesn't need a separate engine pulling it. Each carriage can have its own motors. This design is very common for passenger trains today.
What Happened Next?
The Midland Railway's experiment was important for the future of railways. It showed that electric trains could work well. Over time, more and more railway lines in Britain and around the world became electrified. While the specific system used by the Midland Railway changed over the years, their early efforts helped pave the way for the electric trains we see today.
