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05-23-2016, 10:43 PM | #1 | |||
The future is unwritten
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May 24th, 2016: First US Commercial Railroad
In 1825, when architect Solomon Willard found a granite ledge in Quincy, MA, he found the perfect stone for what would become the first monumental obelisk erected in the United States, the Bunker Hill Monument. A 221-foot obelisk require some 6,700 tons of granite. Moving the blocks from quarry to the site of construction was the challenge.
Quincy to Charlestown, was 12 miles of swamp, forest, and farms. The stone needed to travel four miles to Neponset River, then barged through Boston Harbor to Charlestown. Willard said move the stones on sledges during winter, but Gridley Bryant, an engineer, suggested a more efficient method, a railroad. Quote:
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05-24-2016, 03:36 AM | #2 | |
amnesic-confabulatory opsimath
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Quote:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haytor_Granite_Tramway |
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05-24-2016, 07:18 AM | #3 |
Banned
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...and in the end, a major transportation system still used for all kinds of overland shipping was introduced to the US because of pretty rocks.
Next person who gets condescending about my addiction to collecting minerals is going to get this URL and if they don't get the hint they won't be talking to me again . |
05-24-2016, 10:06 AM | #4 | |
UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION
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Quote:
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05-24-2016, 11:05 AM | #5 |
The future is unwritten
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That struck me too, but on a level smooth track, good traction, and well greased wheels, I can believe it. Of course these weren't just horses, these were HORSES, with bloodshot eyes and hairy knuckles.
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The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump. |
05-25-2016, 06:27 PM | #6 |
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And what did they get?
Another day older and deeper in debt.
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05-24-2016, 12:25 PM | #7 |
Junior Master Dwellar
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That sling mode of transport was used to move huge redwood logs, again by horse (or oxen) power. I've always thought they would make great battering rams.
As for "a level smooth track, good traction, and well greased wheels," hasn't that been the point of rail transport all along? Is "Rrailroad" really clever? |
05-24-2016, 07:18 PM | #8 |
The future is unwritten
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Not the level part.
No, it's a misspelling.
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The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump. |
06-09-2016, 02:27 AM | #9 |
Professor
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Steel wheels on steel rails is uber efficient!
Union Pacific moves 1 ton 456 miles with one gallon of fuel. Try that with your lameoid rubber tires on ass fault. |
06-09-2016, 03:00 AM | #10 |
The future is unwritten
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That's great if you want to take that ton to someplace on the rails, but no detours, you can't swing by the Mustang Ranch for lunch.
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The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump. |
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