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Things that seemed a good idea at the time, but in practice are pretty useless.

Discussion in 'Steam Traction' started by Eightpot, Oct 3, 2019.

  1. huochemi

    huochemi Part of the furniture

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    Yes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Pacific_GTELs . GT3 was rather different in that the turbine was not used to generate electricity to power the wheels. Many countries experimented e.g. USSR, China, France Switzerland.
     
  2. huochemi

    huochemi Part of the furniture

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    In his paper to the I Loco E Colonel Fell focused on its superior power/weight ratio compared with a diesel electric loco of the period. (This factor presumably also influenced the early enthusiasm for diesel hydraulics e.g. 80 tons for a Warship v. 130+ tons for a Peak or Class 40.) Ricardos were involved with the development of the Fell concept, so it could hardly be dismissed as a crackpot scheme, although it seems that BR (probably correctly) was not very interested in the concept.
     
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  3. Steve B

    Steve B Well-Known Member

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    I don't think I'd like to get too close to the platform edge with that around...

    Steve B
     
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  4. Eightpot

    Eightpot Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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  5. Ploughman

    Ploughman Part of the furniture

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  6. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    So that's your next new-build project Bryan????
    Cheers,
    Ray.
     
  7. ross

    ross Well-Known Member

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    I seem to recall Tri-ang made a model that used the same principle. Braking could be tricky
     
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  8. tor-cyan

    tor-cyan Well-Known Member

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    that would be the Battlespace turbo car
    http://www.tri-ang.co.uk/battleturbo.htm

    cheers

    Colin
     
  9. huochemi

    huochemi Part of the furniture

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  10. Robin

    Robin Well-Known Member Friend

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  11. goldfish

    goldfish Nat Pres stalwart

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    I’m sure we’ve covered this elsewhere, but ‘inappropriate streamlining’ should feature… Schools, GWR 6014/5005, etc.

    Simon
     
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  12. Ploughman

    Ploughman Part of the furniture

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    Don't need a new build as we already got one.:)
    Needs a bit of a tidy up though.
    Other than the one at the NRM not sure if there are anymore around, unless anyone knows any different?
     

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  13. Richard Roper

    Richard Roper Well-Known Member

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    Put some doors in, and longitudinal seats on the running plate.... No steam heat problems in winter!

    Richard.
     
  14. Smokestack Lightning

    Smokestack Lightning Member

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    Brunel failed to take the next step. Make the tube bigger and put the whole train inside, cf Hyperloop. :)

    Dave
     
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  15. nickt

    nickt Member

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  16. nickt

    nickt Member

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    Yes, though hyperloop is not powered by air pressure. The loop is evacuated to reduce/eliminate air resistance and enable much higher speeds. As the loop is in a vacuum the passenger modules must be pressurised, yet another reason why it's a very unwieldy technology.
     
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  17. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    Sounds just like the sort of project Brunel would have supported...
     
  18. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    There - that’s my suggestion for “things that seemed a good idea at the time, but in practice pretty useless”. :)

    Tom
     
  19. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    That's harsh.
     
  20. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    Well, there's the broad gauge that had to be expensively converted to standard; the atmospheric railway that had to be converted to conventional traction; the first locomotives ordered to his design were dreadful beyond compare and almost immediately withdrawn; a ship that bankrupted its builder, almost failed to be launched and then exploded on its maiden voyage ... For a man so revered, he was certainly associated with losing his financial backers a lot of money!

    (I'll accept he was a half-decent bridge builder ...)

    Tom
     

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