Scandinavian American. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1945-1958, 1945-12-01
Swedish RAILWAY
Identification
Increases Pace

SlOChf1OLM. - On September
; 18th the identification of the
, transversal Northern Swedish rail
, way line between Ostersund and
Storlien on the Norwegian border
was completed. On that day the
last section between Jarpen and
Storlien, 81 miles, was inaugu-
rated. In all 1889 miles, or nearly
40 per cent of the total State
railway system in Sweden, COM
prising 1913 miles, are now cleo
trlfied. 568 miles have been COM
pleted during the war. A further
800 miles of the State railway
track are at present being con-
verified into electric traction. while
the work planned includes 9O7
miles.
Owing to the shortage of copper
in Sweden during the war, the
swedish Railway Authorities have
been forced to substitute alumni
mum for copper in the return
cables on the newly electrified
lines. Moreover, experiments have
been made with a view to replac-
ing the steel poles with poles of
concrete.
The war conditions have put
great demands on the Swedish
State Railways. The heavily re-
duced m tor road-traffic, and,
above all, the enormous transports
OF wood fuel have increased the
volume of the goods traffic to
record figures. If the railways had
not been electrified to such a large
extent as they We're when the
war broke out, it would not have
been possible to handle this traffic
owing to the shortage of coal.
The increased traffic has neces-
STATED a considerable reinforce
ment of the rolling stock. Thanks
to the fact that Sweden possesses
well-developed locomotive indus
try of her own, it has been possible
Tor the State Railways to receive
delivery of a considerable number
OF locomotives of various kinds i
during the war, although shortage
OF certain materials have caused
great difficulties. Among other
things, IL powerful freight loco
motives with an engine power of
$500 HIP and intended for the
Norrland lines, and express loco
motives, capable of a speed of S5
miles an hour, have been delivered,
while 10 of the latter kind will
be delivered successfully during
the next few months. In addition.
a considerable number of smaller
locomotives with maximum
speed of SO miles an hour have
been built, and 81 more of this
type are under construction. These
locomotives, which are used pri-
marily for secondary lines, local
TRAFFIC ETC., are operated by one
man from a drivers cabin situated
in the middle of the engine.
Among other novelties NAV be
mentioned that the Swedish State
Lines have ordered six electric
driven express train-sets, each con- I
sisting of three carriages. These
train-sets, which are intended for
the Stockholm Gothenburg and
Stockholm Malmo lines, will be
capable of speed of So miles per
hour. They will be put into serv-
ice in 1947.
The new express locomotives
several interesting novel
ties. These engines, which can
develop $500 HIP, have no con-
Meeting rods at the wheels. The
motive power is instead trans
mitted direct to the four driving
axfes, which are each driven by
separate motor. This arrange
ment means less wear on bearings
and journals. Furthermore, the
control system is of a new design
with so-called fine regulation"
which makes possible a perfectly
smooth start and which prevents
slipping to greater extent than
The older starting systems. The |
engines are exclusely fitted with r
roller bearings enabling, for in
stance, the 375 mile stretch be-
tween Stockholm and Malmo to be
'un nonstop without re-lubrica-
ion.