The Mancha "Little Tramper" is one of the smallest mining locomotives manufactured by the Mancha Storage Battery Locomotive Company. It is powered by batteries, allowing it to be used deep within the mines without emitting toxic fumes. Although small for a locomotive, it was capable of pulling several 1.5 ton fully-loaded ore cars (up to about 10 tones total).
The Mancha has a removable battery box that allows an exhausted battery pack to slide off and a freshly-charged battery to slide on. This allows the Mancha to continue operation for as long as freshly-charged batteries are available, much like many of today's cordless tools.
This particular locomotive was used the Guadalupe mine from the 1940s until the mine closed in the 1970s. The Guadalupe Rubbish Company donated the Mancha to NAQCPA in 1987.
SpecificationsManufacturer: Mancha Storage Battery Locomotive Co., St. Louis, Mo.
Model: Little Trammer Type B
Gauge: Adjustable, 18 to 24 in.
Weight: 1.5 tons
Power Supply: Two #725 batteries, 20V ea. in series, 13 kw max.
Traction Motor: 5.5 bhp
Top Speed: 6 MPH light, 3 MPH loaded
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