Trials & Testing at Barrow Hill

The 08e battery powered shunter recently underwent a series of trials and testing at Barrow Hill Roundhouse near Chesterfield. This allowed Positive Traction to assess several key aspects of the design and performance.

The trials at Barrow Hill focused on assessing the 08e’s’s performance under real-world conditions. The key evaluation points included:

• Battery Endurance – Measuring the charge retention and overall energy efficiency across different duty cycles. Also monitoring of battery performance in cold weather.
• Tractive Effort – Ensuring the shunter could match or exceed the pulling power of a conventional diesel-powered Class 08.
• Operational Suitability – Testing the locomotive’s responsiveness and manoeuvrability within the yard environment.
• Charging Performance – Evaluating the time required for recharging and its integration with existing infrastructure.

During the tests, the 08e was tasked with typical shunting operations, moving rolling stock (even shunting a restored Deltic!).