Not reading this could affect your health !

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg286.htm

Thanks pre 65, That was just what the doctor ordered!

^2440

Ok I will simplify things a bit.
I really think that deisel traction may die out in the next 50 years.
Remember steam, no one thought it would, but in the space of 13 years it was wiped out almost to extiction.
Can you see a pattern here.
Hydrogen engines are being developed and further more steam traction has been developed behind the scenes for a long time now.
Just look at the 5AT project and the steam loco design group.

The next point is that the replacement will if not steam will not be electric.
This is far too expensive as quite a lot of power is wasted.
Steam is popular.

Whatever happens there will always be preservation groups to satop it's disapearance, and so it will most likely have a status similar to steam now.

I would think it's quite common knowledge that alternative energy sources are being researched and developed for vehicles in general.

However I personally would feel that steam propulsion of any sort is unlikely,no almost inevitably totally unlikely !:D

If a new power source was found that could be fitted to a mobile device (car,bus,lorry,train etc) then surely it would generate electricity ?

The 5AT (or AT5 ?) is an interesting project but they will be very lucky to build one,let alone a fleet. All in my humble opinion of course.:D


Philip.

Hi SFE,
You've mentioned it a few times now but can you please explain how all this electrical power is wasted?

Well lets think about it.
Between trains there is no usage of the power.
If it is a stretch of line between trains on in the middle of the day, then that circuit will still be have power in the cables.
Electricity can not stay still in the wires, it has to move along the circuit and out of it.
Just like in an ordnary circuit.
Unlike an ordinary circuit however, when there is no trains to take the power then ask- where is all the power going?
To waste thats how.
Simply the power is just not used most of the time.

I think that the only place where electric is really usesful is on suburban lines where there is many trains running all the time.
Hope this helps.

To my knowledge isn't it the motors in the train that complete the circuit? Therefore, no train in section, no current is drawn.

I think your understanding of electricity is flawed.:confused:

How much electricity does your kettle use when it is switched off ? There is electricity in the wire.:rolleyes: :D

The power is'nt switched off at all during daylight hours.
Anyway I know of three different types of system so perhaps This is the answer.
The power doent have to be drawn anyway, its still in there travelling around.

Thanks for being so polite, Philip.
Personally I'm stuck for words.