Blogging Hidalgo Writes About Talgo

 Yer What?

Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla was a priest heavily involved in breaking ties between Maxico and Spain.  The word also means a nobleman of lower status, perhaps the equivalent of the English word "gentleman" as used in the past. fbb is, of course a gentleman in every sense of the word, but 'Hidalgo' has nothing whatsoever to do with this blog

But you try to find something that alliterates with Talgo!

It all started with this picture which emerged as fbb was working on his transport in Copenhagen blogs.

It shows a Talgo train being delivered to DSB (Danish State Railway). The loco is off shot to the left and between loco and train is a tatty freight car acting as a 'barrier wagon'.

Below is a picture of the very first Talgo train built in 1942.

Sadly this beautiful (or should it be this 'ugly') train was destroyed when a fire engulfed its storage shed. Here is Talgo III with minimal visibility for the driver.

And now we have one of the latest Talgo trains ...

... so clearly things have moved on a bit since 1942. Whilst most Talgo designs are multiple unit, with a driving car at each end, some are loco hauled.

So, basically, what is Talgo?

It is the brand name of a specific type of train technology inventd and first built in Spain.

The core of this system is under the carriages.

At first glance this looks like a 'train' of two wheeled bogies attached to triangular sub-frames. A simple diagram looks much the same.

But those purple lines joining each pair of wheels are NOT axles. They are part of the fixed triangular frame.

Each wheel is totally independent and that is what makes it a Talgo.

There is a clue in the name!

Tren

Articulado

Ligero

Goicoechea

Oriol

You can probably manage the first two - Train and Articulated.  Ligero is 'light' (similar to French 'leger') and the last two are the blokes that invented it!

The creation of Talgo can be largely credited to the work of Alejandro Goicoechea and José Luis Oriol. During the 1930s, Goicoechea, a pioneering railway engineer, sought to produce a new generation of rolling stock that would be primarily composed of metal, rather than wood; to reduce operational cost, he also emphasised lightweight yet sturdy construction, while a low center of gravity would deter derailing and thus permit higher operating speeds. In 1942, financial backing for the construction of a prototype train was provided by Oriol, which believed in Goicoechea's concepts. 

The low centre of gravity idea is clear from pictures, with the carriages looking squashed compared with the hauling loco.

You can see 'low' when the train is at the platform.

The independent wheel design is the key to low height - there is no bogie frame, springs or pivot mechanism to get in the way. The whole unicycle construction sits in a pocket at the coach end ...

... and looks fearfully complicated. But there is still only one wheel on each side at the point of articulation.

If we take the wheel set out of the bodywork, the arrangement becomes clear. (clear? Maybe slightly less baffling!)

The independent wheels are supported in a 'U' shaped frame with the vertical tubes holding the suspension. Conventional disc brakes are evident and, on an electric multiple unit version, you might have individual electric motors for each wheel. 

Now we can pack all this gubbins back in the coach.

Sadly, there is no room for the wide open corridor connection familiar in modern, more conventional, stock.

Some Talgos have their locomotive integral to the end of the train as here with a Deutsche Bahn IC version ...

... whereas the Danish sets will be loco hauled. The 'lump' at the end of the rake of carriages is because you need a 'proper' bogie; plus body height to help with aerodynamics.

As the operation of the Talgos progresses, a phase 2 will see DT (Driving Trailer coaches) ...

... allowing fixed formation trains with no tedious uncoupling of loco, just as used to occur on the UK's East Coast Main line.

Because of the larger loading gauge, seating is much more roomy than in the UK - ideal even for fbb's ample posterior!

The speed must seem immense as you are sitting much closer to ground level!

Very nice indeed.

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Star Trik Lego Breck Quiz

Part 2 answers.

First Officer (Number One) : Jonathan Frakes

Will Riker did play the trombone; but his instrument was of a more conventional trombonic form than Lego parts caun manage.

Counsellor Deanna Troi : Marina Sirtis

Spent her time doing the touchy feely stuff on the Enterprise. Eventually married Will Riker. 

Commander Engineer Geordi LaForge : LeVar Burton

He is blind with his sight restored by technology in his visor. In later stages of the Trek franchise he has had normal sight restored.

Three more to come - and a cat!

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Tomorrow we return, full of wonder, to wonderful, wonderful Copenagen and its wonderful buses.

 Next Movia blog : Weds 12 Nov