Oil Firing

From the Guardian this morning:

'The government on Friday launched a consultation on cutting the target for new EVs to as little as 50% of all new cars in 2030, down from 80% under existing rules, in proposals that could add millions of tonnes a year to the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions.

But in a broadcast interview, he also defended his “pragmatic” approach on extracting oil and gas from the North Sea. His government will shortly have to decide whether to allow new drilling at the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields, with a consultation on the former closing on Monday.

The decision to consider weakening one of the UK’s key climate policies on EVs was announced hours after the country recorded its hottest day of the year so far – and the fifth hottest ever – after five heatwaves that scientists have said are almost certainly worsened by global heating caused by carbon emissions.'

The longer serious action is delayed, the more drastic the measures required will be. It's not going to happen under Burnham, he's too scared of losing votes. It's the old problem of the five year election cycle.

 

We need two get the Q1 out of the NRM, you could steam that on old telephone directories - apparently

Tom

 

I did some estimates on the electric-steam concept last time it was discussed. There are two or three 50kV electric railways in the world, where you might just about get away with it. However it would be unlikely that you could run anything else on the section fed by the same substation at the same time. An electrically heated steam locomotive would be about 10% efficient. DC traction motors are about 92% efficient and AC traction motors about 94%. I'm all in favour of railway electrification, but only for conventional electric trains.

 

Deleted.

 

Cairngorms?

 

The HRAmemo said:
“If your own risk assessments identify a risk, please think carefully about what action you could take until further information is available. Please remember the implications beyond your own fence - and take an abundance of caution. Consider what the public and other stakeholders would expect you to do in these circumstances as a responsible heritage railway.”
They can’t say don’t use steam but that sends a strong message. In the case of the Highlands, I suspect their risk assessments would allow steam to carry on if it is that wet.

 

That's well written - and having seen a couple of accounts from people burned out at Stourbridge, the risk calculation is obviously shifting