[Jonatan]

I rarely write stories about my locos, heck I rarely write stories at all, but here goes!

Vault Battery Switcher #1, known as a motor, was built in February 1940 by Grönoset Locomotive Works, Mass, and delievered to Seaview by ship arriving at Port Iguana, from there the loco was transported to The Vault by flatcar. Being towed behind a loco or train at line speed would destroy the geared motors.

The Vault was at this time guarded and maintained by the US Military and #1 was set to move cars around the different sidings and spurs. The battery motor has three axles, all powered by their own motor via a worm gear and bevel gears, this results in slow speed but extreme power and immediate acceleration. Motors all have a flywheel. The power comes from twentysix 200V DC lead acid cell batteries coupled in series and develops 510 hp when worked at full current. The estimated running time on one charge at full power is little more than one hour.

During the fall of 1942 the US Navy yard in Norfolk was short on power and during a visit to Seaviews (then US governed) military installations they decided to requisition #1 in the service of the United States, Vault staff had no other choice than to accept. She was shipped to the naval yard and painted a dark blue and yellow handrails with the US Navy markings on the cab and hood sides. She was worked hard until the end of 1948 when she was returned to the Vault. The US Navy markings and colors were retained but later the markings were painted over with a closely matching paint and new Vault markings were added to the cab sides. #1 also recieved a thurough overhaul, among these a complete rewireing of her motor components as the loco was in poor shape after her grueling navy service.

The years passed and Battery motor #1 was used less sporadically with the arrival of newer and bigger diesels to Seaview. In the 1970s she was stored at the Biotechnologies Inc spur as a spare and did very little work other than shift one car between two spurs once a month.
The lead-acid-cell batteries from the 40s had seen better days and leaked battery acid resulting in frequent burnouts and short circuits, and also posed a lethal danger to operators when going to charge them. The batteries were replaced by modern batteries at 260V each, and at the same time the enitre cirquit board and wireing was replaced.
Grönoset Locomotive Works, who have a reputation of lifelong guarantee to their customers and free of charge, sent their own technicians to do the work and these young men were well amazed to see the battered old battery motor still in service. The old batteries were removed just in time and one of them exploded after having been put down on the ground.

Despite this upgrade #1 continued to see little service until 1998 when a case of carbondioxide poisoning to a whole floor of Vault staff resulted in emissive locomotives being banned to work switching duties or stay in the Vault for long periods. The new law, having been inspected and passed by the Seaview Government, prompted immediate action in aquireing emissions-free motive power within the Vault area. After having discussed 3rd rail electrification this prooved not to be viable due to the dangers of electrification to people visiting the Vault. In search of a solution their eyes were turned to motor #1 and she was promptly pressed into service.

The new batteries allowed an increase in power from 510 hp to 670 hp to the wheels. Battery motor #1 is now currently working alone but there's plans on aquireing bigger and modern battery locomotives in the future to replace her. #1 is old, a bit rusty and has paint scraped of in places but the locomotive from the 40s is still able to turn a wheel and move some two cars around the Vaults grades and curves.

This is a very interesting unit to play with, she's quick on the controls and behaves like a Shay. And she got simple controls, throttle, reverser and brake, and an air whistle. ;)

http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/4202/vault1.jpg
http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/1208/vault2.jpg
http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/5971/vault3.jpg
http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/4603/vault4.jpg
http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/9631/vault5.jpg
http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/6323/vault6.jpg
http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/5725/vault7.jpg
http://img816.imageshack.us/img816/7126/vault8.jpg
http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/7862/vault9.jpg
http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/1866/vault10.jpg
http://img807.imageshack.us/img807/7864/vault11.jpg
http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/1032/vault12.jpg
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/5584/vault13.jpg