Does anyone have a weight estimate for the typical 32V car-set of Edison (nickel-iron-alkalai) batteries including carrier bin, in a non-air-conditioned heavyweight coach? This is for a coach which has overhead ceiling lights and ceiling fans; nothing else uses electrical power.

(The car in question is a Southern Pacific 2101, class 72-IC-1 "Interurban Commute" coach, built by Pullman in 1924; operated on San Francisco - San Jose commute trains until 1985. These were popularly called "Harriman Suburban" or "Harriman Subs", although some of the construction details differ somewhat from the earlier true Harriman lines Common Standard design coaches.)

Thanks! - Doug Debs
Niles Canyon Railway http://www.ncry.org

Hello Doug Did you know that these batteries designed by Thomas Edison are the same technology that todays electric cars are using? Anyway, you first must find out what size each cell is. Each cell is stamped on the top. Some are A4 A6 A8 larger cells are A8HW A10AW A12HW A14, A16, thur A24HW I believe. The larger the number the larger each cell is and therefore has more Ampacity. For instance without looking at the tables the A12hw probable weight is 50 lbs per cell. Typically you have 25 cells for a 32 volt DC system 50 for 64 volt and so forth. So for a 25 cell system having A12hw its is 1250 lbs. That includes weight with liquid solution. BTY the solution IS NOT ACID!!!!
Just like other batteries, YOU can add only distilled water Not Tap Water. Fill to 3 inches above plates. Do not let solution go below the plates otherwise will destroy the battery cell. Other questions Please let me know. Again you might have to scrape the tar residue of the top of the cell to find what size-style it is. Have fun They are good to have and never freeze
We have some at Irm that are 50-60yrs old and still hold a good charge Roger