Why all the power?

[fanie kleynhans]

Hi all, spot this train yesterday going through Kraaifontein, question why are all the pantos up for such a short train? I would have thought that only 2 would be used and the other 2 would be running dead.

[Jez Smith]

I've noticed this a lot on my visits, and from photos etc.
It seems to be popular South African practice, and rather wasteful - I have even seen 3 locos travelling light with all their pantos up!
Super shot, by the way Fanie!

[Stefan Andrzejewski]

For that load one would have been sufficient. I took a photo outside Wellington earlier this year (see Soetandal- Wellington) under Electric Motive power pictures where seven 6E's were travelling light engine four of them lit. Again one would suffice.

[Derek Walker]

Cant they run with the panto up but power turned off inside the loco? or does panto up mean power is on irrespective?

[Jez Smith]

Cant they run with the panto up but power turned off inside the loco? or does panto up mean power is on irrespective?

Panto up = drawing juice.
If the panto was not feeding from the overhead, there would be uneccesary wear on the carbon contact on the pantograph where it meets the copper wires.

[Nathan Berelowitz]

Better get caught with your pants up then down!!

[Stefan Andrzejewski]

You mean "Panto's"!!!!!!!

[John Ashworth]

Or "panties"?

[Stefan Andrzejewski]

After seeing the shortage of working Loco's at Bellville. These 4 are probably the only stock they could muster up