Each and every newly constructed Edwards Rail Car is designed and built especially for the service for which they are recommended. Each and every component and the smallest detail pertaining to its operation have been worked out and time proven. Using surviving blue prints, mechanical specifications and employing modern technology where ever possible, each unit is designed and constructed upon ideas and decisions gained by over 25 years of building successful, economical and dependable rail cars.
Our cars are not only constructed with perfectly balanced and matched components, but the whole line of drive is arranged so as to produce the best possible results, both in performance and efficiency, by utilizing the maximum percentage of the gross horse power produced. The horse power of a motor car, regardless of whether it is straight mechanical drive, gasoline-electric, or diesel-electric can very well be classed in two parts, i.e.
1st. The GROSS HORSE POWER PRODUCED IN THE CAB, a large percentage of which may be lost in inefficient transmission to the rails.
2nd. The NET EFFECTIVE HORSE POWER DELIVERED TO THE RAILS, which is the only and all the power available for tractive effort.
Therefore, the horse power produced in the CAB is of little importance to the car's performance, but if it is transmitted inefficiently to the rails, it reflects most unfavorably in the cost of operation. Now, it must be agreed that to produce power costs money; therefore, to waste power is a waste of money. A motor car so designed that a considerable amount of the gross power produced in the cab is absorbed or lost in the transmission of the power from the engine to the rails, or is out of balance in weight with its horse power and passenger capacity is inefficient and expensive equipment to operate. Actual tests made in comparison with other designs has proven beyond all doubt, that our standard car is one of the most efficient, economical and dependable means of transportation for passengers, express and mail.
We offer three types of propulsion systems, mechanically, electrically or hydrostatic driven. The mechanically driven car employs the use of engine, transmission, final drive gear box with sprockets and chains to deliver power to the driving wheels. Cars equipped with electric propulsion have an engine which turns a generator for providing electricity for the traction motors. Hydrostatic propulsion employs the use of diesel engine to power a hydraulic pump which supplies pressurized fluid to two 100 H.P. hydraulic motors on the front truck, in place of the final drive gear box as per the mechanical set-up for the standard Model-20.
