Re: Thought exercise - steam VFT

["David Bennetts" <davibenn@pcug.org.au>]

"David Bromage" <dbromage@fang.omni.com.au> wrote in message
E3fy5.52$nQ.6020@news0.optus.net.au">news:E3fy5.52$nQ.6020@news0.optus.net.au...
> Here's an interesting paper exercise. Suppose a multi squillionaire had
> decided to build a 200mph train between Melbourne and Sydney in the late
> 40s or early 50s with the technology available at the time.
>
> What sort of steam locomotive would have been required for such a service?
>
A steam locomotive with cylinders has been found to be limited to 126.5
miles per hour (Mallard, LNER) - even then damage was done to the bearings.
Possibly you could make the driving wheels a little larger, but that would
introduce new problems.

Turbine technology is possible, in fact a "turbomotive" was built in England
using a high pressure water tube boiler.  There are problems using such
technology on a land transport vehicle, safety is a concern due to high
vibration levels and the possibility of a crash.  The "turbomotive" loco had
some success, but no doubt was costly to maintain and operate as it was a
"one-off".

A steam turbine electric would be feasible - but it would be a very heavy
unit and its power to weight ratio would be horrible.

Regards

David Bennetts
Canberra