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10-20-2009, 01:03 AM | #1 | ||
The future is unwritten
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 71,105
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Oct 20, 2009: Electric Locomotive
From the early 1800s to the mid 1900s the custom built steam locomotive was king.
It was replaced by cheaper to make and service, cookie cutter diesel locomotives. Whereas on the steam locomotives steam drove the wheels, on newer locomotives, diesel engines drove a generator, making electricity to power electric motors, that actually turned the wheels. Sound familiar? Hybrid cars? The Norfolk Southern Railroad had a Quote:
Quote:
It was built with $1.3 million obtained by Congressman Bill Shuster, the ranking Republican on the Railroads Subcommittee. link
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The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump. |
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10-20-2009, 04:51 AM | #2 |
Beware of potatoes
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Upstate NY, USA
Posts: 2,078
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Can I get Congressman Shuster to buy me one with your money?
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"I believe that being despised by the despicable is as good as being admired by the admirable." |
10-20-2009, 05:08 AM | #3 |
Professor
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,911
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That actually makes a lot of sense. Since most the cars are just moved around on level ground, if they actually slow the cars back down instead of coasting them, they would get most of the acceleration energy back. Only losses would be due to efficiency. The efficiency would be around 90%.
Now the good senator needs to add 50 flat cars with solar panels! |
10-20-2009, 06:47 AM | #4 | |
Doctor Wtf
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Badelaide, Baustralia
Posts: 12,861
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Quote:
Therefore toot toot!
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Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl. |
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10-20-2009, 11:32 AM | #5 |
Dog O'Nine Tails
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 20
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http://www.trainweb.org/greengoats/
These guys tried and failed to produce and market the concept. Company didn't come out of the recession. |
10-20-2009, 01:06 PM | #6 |
Lecturer
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 796
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No emissions from lead-acid batteries?? What about from the power plant that's charging them?
There are new much cleaner burning developments in diesel engines that could have been incorporated, but oh no, we're going to go "green extreme". Whether it makes any sense, or not. I can hear the telephone conversation now: "I'm calling back to see what you think about our new no emissions locomotive - isn't it a marvel? And don't forget out special deal on emergency umbilical cords, on every marvel-motive we sell this month!" "I manage 10,385 miles of converging rail lines leading into Indy, 24 hours a day. I don't have time to play with your toy engine that requires 10 hours to recharge, after every 24 hours of work. And no, I don't need an emergency extension cord, 500 miles long!" "We call them 'umbilical cords' because that makes them sound so natural and earth-friendly, and ..." "Click" "Hello? Hello?" |
10-21-2009, 12:47 AM | #7 | |
The future is unwritten
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 71,105
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Quote:
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The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump. |
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10-21-2009, 07:17 AM | #9 | |
Doctor Wtf
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Badelaide, Baustralia
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I liked this best:
Quote:
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Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl. |
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10-21-2009, 09:13 AM | #10 | |
Belt Conveyor
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Meijersville
Posts: 68
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Quote:
And that doesn't even take into consideration the huge fuel efficiency advantage you get with a diesel, a locomotive diesel in particular. The gasoline engine in your average passenger car is around 33% efficient. That means 33% of the energy in the gasoline is turned into motion to make the car go. (The other 67% is lost as heat, and exhaust). A hybrid gasoline car is about 35% efficient. A modern diesel car is about 41% efficient. The efficiency king however, is a modern diesel locomotive, like the GE Evolution, which is an amazing 50% efficient! There is no other internal combustion vehicle in the world that even comes close. |
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10-21-2009, 10:00 AM | #11 |
The future is unwritten
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 71,105
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I would think the Diesel locomotive has an advantage, unlike cars, in that so little of it's running time is unladen. It has to be more efficient when it's working.
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The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump. |
10-21-2009, 12:53 PM | #12 |
Chews Food Coming In, And Going Out
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 339
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The most eco-friendly form of transportation... is walking... bare-foot.
That'll give you the lowest carbon footprint, of all. -- Also, xoxoxoBruce: The pen is mightier than the sword, whilst actions speak louder than words, because a strongly-worded letter (action + pen) will do more for your cause, than yelling like a mad-man whilst brandishing a sword (word + sword!) I hope I've cleared your confusion.
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"O' Captain! My Captain! Our fearful trip is done;" "The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won;" - Walt Whitman / Leaves Of Grass. |
10-21-2009, 11:02 PM | #13 |
The future is unwritten
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 71,105
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Wrong, all those band-aids and their packaging, not to mention peroxide and it's plastic bottles, would create a landfill crisis.
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The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump. |
10-22-2009, 05:10 PM | #14 |
Chews Food Coming In, And Going Out
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 339
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Only if you're a clumsy walker.
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"O' Captain! My Captain! Our fearful trip is done;" "The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won;" - Walt Whitman / Leaves Of Grass. |
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