Planes, Trains, Cars, and Ships (SFW)
NitroFury
Nitro Cat still livin’
So here’s the question they ask us Americans, why are we still using Diesel Locomotives while other countries are mostly Electric Locomotives?
AaronMk
Sky funeral
So here’s the question they ask us Americans, why are we still using Diesel Locomotives while other countries are mostly Electric Locomotives?
To make a long story short: because American railroad operators are allergic to intensive capital investments. They could have easily done so in the 1890’s but they all flirted with the very edge of the idea waiting for an excuse to do so: which was someone to go first. But because no one went in first no one did.
Intercity and light rail railroads did go into electricity hella hard. But because the balkanized rail network of America wasn’t all that comprehensive (and the carriers all didn’t care about passenger rail at all) they were left vulnerable to being torn out for car infrastructure. There are still some surprising bastions of light urban rail here and there outside or some major cities (Boston, Chicago, NYC, etc) but mostly in like, Ohio and Minneapolis.
The idea was revived again during the short Conrail era but because Conrail was composed of dyed in the wool Penn Central freaks the government was obliged to step down because they refused. In fact: the government proposal to consolidate and trim the rail network was rejected by them because they wanted it trimmed down more.
And that’s how we got Amtrak as it is today.
The good thing about diesel locomotives is that overall they’re still more effective and green than trucking and road traffic. In theory, if certain rail theory was done right than they’d still be doing as clean a job as any non-French trains. But that requires that all the class 1’s actually do intensive capital investments. And they hate that.
RD4590
Vortex Clipper
@NitroFury
Nobody wants to invest it because it’s not gon be not profitable until a very long term
Nobody wants to invest it because it’s not gon be not profitable until a very long term
RD4590
Vortex Clipper
And diesel trains are adaptive to more environments. Electric trains are relatively more vulnerable unless the power network is proven extremely robust and reliable.
It happened in 2008 in China when a nasty snowstorm hit the south. Half the network went bust and the government needed to send diesel locomotives from north China, over 1000 miles crosscountry. Even shunters were used to haul the main line services at that time.
It happened in 2008 in China when a nasty snowstorm hit the south. Half the network went bust and the government needed to send diesel locomotives from north China, over 1000 miles crosscountry. Even shunters were used to haul the main line services at that time.
14Fan
Let’s go gambling!
Currently one of the only electric rail lines in America is the Northeast Corridor, the busiest rail system in America. And it’s not even 100% electric. Some trains on it switch locomotives and continue past either Washington DC or Boston.
RD4590
Vortex Clipper
Also diesel and steam locos are a part of the strategic reserve in some countries, used in case of world wars.
RD4590
Vortex Clipper
Hmm it looks like Northeast Corridor has two different electrification systems. One 25kV 60Hz from New Haven to Boston, and the other 12.5kV 60Hz from New Haven to Harrisburg and DC via Philadelphia.
14Fan
Let’s go gambling!
@RD4590
Yep. The ALP45 and P32ACDM are some duel mode locomotives. They can switch from diesel-electric to electric. The P32ACDM can switch while in motion, receiving power from an electrical 3rd rail, however the ALP45 has to stop to switch, receiving power from overhead wires.
Yep. The ALP45 and P32ACDM are some duel mode locomotives. They can switch from diesel-electric to electric. The P32ACDM can switch while in motion, receiving power from an electrical 3rd rail, however the ALP45 has to stop to switch, receiving power from overhead wires.
RD4590
Vortex Clipper
@14Fan
Noice. Switching on the run sounds quite handy.
In England it’s called bi-mode. The most used are Class 800/802 (Hitachi A-trains) and Class 755 (Stadler FLIRT). But I’ve only seen them switching mode when stopped.
Noice. Switching on the run sounds quite handy.
In England it’s called bi-mode. The most used are Class 800/802 (Hitachi A-trains) and Class 755 (Stadler FLIRT). But I’ve only seen them switching mode when stopped.
And there’s also tri-mode like British Class 769, powered by diesel engine, 25kV AC overhead and 750V DC third rail.
AaronMk
Sky funeral
Speaking of bad British trains, WTYP Advanced British Rail
“All together quiet and delightful” the reporter says, as the glasses on their table rattles off the table
𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐫
So an F-22 Raptor scored it’s “first air to air kill” against a rogue Chinese weather balloon flying over the North American airspace.
RD4590
Vortex Clipper
I’m a bit afraid of international diplomacy in the future with the application of atmospheric satellite (super long range gliding drones developed mainly for communication and atmospheric surveys, and apparently easily fit for reconnaissance and stealth bombing) after this.
Engineering politics should be made a curricular subject in the universities.
AaronMk
Sky funeral
Engineering politics should be made a curricular subject in the universities.
tbh if anyone did that it would probably do the one things universities, companies, and governments don’t want: a radicalized professional class. Leaving such things up to engineering students - or any student - to select politics or history as a minor is the best path of least resistance to them since it leave the subject to personal choice, meaning anyone who doubles anything with history or politics, or even a sociological subject kind of ends up alienated from their class mates and they’d have a harder time organizing on that.
But honestly I wouldn’t be too entirely worried about it since the capabilities of anything that could be done in sub-orbit can already be done by satellites in space; minus the weaponization aspect. Google Earth satellites already do basically do that task already, if this is to be worried about That Balloon.
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