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Are card model kits strong enough?
Posted in: Kit building, Assembling and gluing
5th November 2019
I would not recommend sitting on one, but otherwise they are very good and sturdy. Most card kits are made of thick...
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What is the steepest gradient I can use on my model railway layout?
Posted in: Model Railway, Design and Planning, Best practices
7th April 2020
Gradient, is often displayed using a height measurement followed a distance measurement. For example, a 1 in 100...
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When does it make more sense to use N gauge?
Posted in: Model Railway
11th April 2022
Most modellers are aware of the benefits of using a smaller gauge such as N gauge, but the dilemma most face is...
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What is a pin pusher?
Posted in: Assembling and gluing
8th December 2020
A pin pusher is a special tool designed to hold a small pin, tack or nail in place while you use the handle to push...
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In railways, what is a DMBS coach?
Posted in: Rolling stock
4th March 2024
In railways, a DMBS coach stands for a Driving Motor Brake Second carriage. The key features of a DMBS coach are:...
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What is an EMU?

EMU stands for Electric Multiple Unit and is a type of passenger train where most or all of the carriages has its own electric motor negating the need for a regular locomotive to provide traction.

EMUs have been around since the late 1800s and have played an important role on the railway network ever since. Compared to traditional locomotive-hauled consists, EMUs are lighter, less polluting, have a simpler motor, are more reliable due to multiple motors per consist, offer operational flexibility as train lengths can be tweaked by adding more or removing additional units and do not require a locomotive to run around the coaches at a terminus thanks to a driving cab located at each end saving on time and infrastructure.

EMU types vary tremendously, the most obvious difference is between those that draw an AC power supply from cables suspended above the tracks (known as catenary) and those that draw a DC power supply from an electrified rail (known as the third rail) placed next to the regular tracks.

Another difference between EMUs is the number of motors they have with some designs opting for more but less powerful motors attached to most bogies while some of the more powerful high-speed EMUs feature larger motors but less of them and often have unpowered trailing cars as part of their consist.

Although EMUs have never been of real interest to rail enthusiasts due to their lack of ability to please many of the human senses, they are here to stay and are significantly growing in numbers thanks to their operational, speed, environmental and cost advantages meaning many railways and governments around the world are placing them high on their priority list. This is sad to see for a lot of railfans and begs the question will the humble rail enthusiast die out along with the very pleasing sound, smells and visual splendour of traditional steam and diesel locomotives.

Posted in: Model Railway, Rolling stock

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