Jet powered trains, I never new they existed!!!!
Discussion
This is just so "Thunderbirds" I love it. I wonder why the idea never caught on? I suspect its because trains are just too heavy. Are there any other examples of jet powered trains?
From Wiki
The M-497 (nicknamed Black Beetle) was an experimental jet-powered locomotive test bed of the New York Central Railroad corporation, developed and tested in 1966 in the United States of America. Two second-hand General Electric J47-19 jet engines (designed as boosters for the Convair B-36 intercontinental bomber) were mounted atop an existing Budd Rail Diesel Car (an RDC-3, part coach, part baggage and mail configuration) body which had received a streamlined front cowling. The construct was then successfully sent on test runs over the existing tracks between Butler, Indiana and Stryker, Ohio (the line was chosen for its arrow-straight layout and good condition-, but otherwise unmodified track). The car reached a speed of 183.68 mph (295.54 km/h), still the light-rail speed record for the United States.[1][2][3]
Even with this spectacular performance (and even though it had been built relatively cheaply, using existing parts), the project was not considered viable commercially. The railroad gathered valuable test data regarding the stresses of high-speed rail travel on conventional equipment and tracks then existing in America. The data was largely ignored, as the NYC was headed for merger with its arch rival Pennsylvania Railroad. The PRR was already heavily involved in the USDOT-funded Metroliner project. After jet engine removal, the rail car returned to normal service and was scrapped in 1984
From Wiki
The M-497 (nicknamed Black Beetle) was an experimental jet-powered locomotive test bed of the New York Central Railroad corporation, developed and tested in 1966 in the United States of America. Two second-hand General Electric J47-19 jet engines (designed as boosters for the Convair B-36 intercontinental bomber) were mounted atop an existing Budd Rail Diesel Car (an RDC-3, part coach, part baggage and mail configuration) body which had received a streamlined front cowling. The construct was then successfully sent on test runs over the existing tracks between Butler, Indiana and Stryker, Ohio (the line was chosen for its arrow-straight layout and good condition-, but otherwise unmodified track). The car reached a speed of 183.68 mph (295.54 km/h), still the light-rail speed record for the United States.[1][2][3]
Even with this spectacular performance (and even though it had been built relatively cheaply, using existing parts), the project was not considered viable commercially. The railroad gathered valuable test data regarding the stresses of high-speed rail travel on conventional equipment and tracks then existing in America. The data was largely ignored, as the NYC was headed for merger with its arch rival Pennsylvania Railroad. The PRR was already heavily involved in the USDOT-funded Metroliner project. After jet engine removal, the rail car returned to normal service and was scrapped in 1984
How about propeller driven :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bennie_Railplane
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schienenzeppelin
There have been a few gas turbine driven including the original APT-E
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_APT-E
Which was powered by Rover Gas turbines
or the canadian Turbo train :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UAC_TurboTrain
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bennie_Railplane
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schienenzeppelin
There have been a few gas turbine driven including the original APT-E
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_APT-E
Which was powered by Rover Gas turbines
or the canadian Turbo train :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UAC_TurboTrain
Was that front streamlining based on Darth Vader?
If you tried running that in the UK it would work really well....until the first bridge/tunnel!
Also, it's generally not recomended top stand behind a jet plane (Top Gear blew cars away from behind a Jumbo) so leaving a station could be a bit of an Elf n Safety issue, the newspaper stall would be a mess!
If you tried running that in the UK it would work really well....until the first bridge/tunnel!
Also, it's generally not recomended top stand behind a jet plane (Top Gear blew cars away from behind a Jumbo) so leaving a station could be a bit of an Elf n Safety issue, the newspaper stall would be a mess!
Streetrod said:
The movie was called "The Big Bus" and the bus was called Cyclops and yes it was very silly
Fat Albert said:
Here's the IMDB link:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074205/
Thanks. There are times when I want to watch something silly and ridiculous.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074205/
Hooli said:
Webber3 said:
Reminds me of the film about the nuclear powered bus - 'You eat one lousy foot and they call you a cannibal. What a world!'
Brilliantly stupid film that, not seen it in years!Had a bowling alley on board and melted market stalls as it passed.
Not quite a jet but I used to travel on the CN Turbo,powered by Pratt & Whitney..sounded like a Jet
Here is vintage film
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-ght8Zzf3k
Here is vintage film
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-ght8Zzf3k
Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff