Diesels and Electrics

[Kevin Wilson-Smith]

Mix of diesel and electrics in Mpumalanga.

[John Ashworth]

Kevin, is the terminology different (or confusing) between South Africa and UK? Or was the title of this thread a slip of the keyboard?

My understanding of an EMU (electric multiple unit) is a train (usually passenger, although in the UK there are also post office and parcels EMUs) in which most (or all) of the vehicles have electric traction motors powered from the overhead line or a 3rd rail. Similarly a DMU (diesel multiple unit) is a train where most of the vehicles have electric traction motors powered by onboard diesel engines. There are a small number of freight DMUs in the UK - can't remember offhand what they're called, and I think they're mainly used now for weed spraying and railhead treatment duties.

This picture shows an electric unit, which may be running in multiple with other units (can't see from the picture), but in my understanding that wouldn't be called an EMU. Similarly several diesel locos running in multiple would not be called a DMU.

Or am I confused as I sit by the Nile in Juba surrounded by trees and the din of a diesel generator powering this satellite internet link?

[Kevin Wilson-Smith]

It is I - you are rright!

[John Ashworth]

And now that you have edited the title to read, correctly, "Diesels and Electrics", we need either to inform our dear readers that the original title read "Diesels and EMUs", thus leading to my earlier post and your reply and editing of the title, or else to delete all but the original post. I leave it in your capable hands to decide which, and to do the necessary!