Topic: You want HIGH horsepower !?!, here is my dream ride

[Giant Dwarf]

My brother just returned from a 2 week 'vacation' in Japan.  He told me of the wonders of REAL trains there.  Ones that operate at lightning speed (his hand-held GPS said ~300 km/h at one point I believe... and it wasn't the 'fast' train!) and on highly precise schedules.  He said watching the train operators was almost entertaining as they're so conditioned to be methodically like clock-work in all their actions.  Point to each key control/ gauge, attend to specific controls in req'd order and depart on THE SECOND.  In Tokyo, attendants wearing white gloves have a sole purpose of cramming people onto crowded trains!  He did notice an inordinate number of "accidents" on the tracks though -- a local told him that they were businessmen who couldn't handle the pressures of the working world anymore.    

[Scaerio]

BTW, the MLW M640 is now on display inside the Canadian Railway Museum at St. Constant, Québec (just across the river from Montréal).

http://www.exporail.org/musee/musee_crm.htm

[sirAQUAMAN64]

My brother just returned from a 2 week 'vacation' in Japan.  He told me of the wonders of REAL trains there.  Ones that operate at lightning speed (his hand-held GPS said ~300 km/h at one point I believe... and it wasn't the 'fast' train!) and on highly precise schedules.  He said watching the train operators was almost entertaining as they're so conditioned to be methodically like clock-work in all their actions.  Point to each key control/ gauge, attend to specific controls in req'd order and depart on THE SECOND.  In Tokyo, attendants wearing white gloves have a sole purpose of cramming people onto crowded trains!  He did notice an inordinate number of "accidents" on the tracks though -- a local told him that they were businessmen who couldn't handle the pressures of the working world anymore.    

I've seen photos of all of the above. I really want to go to Japan to see stuff like this - minus experiencing the professional pressures they face and put upon themselves. Their magnetic levitating train technology is neat too.

[Giant Dwarf]

Their magnetic levitating train technology is neat too.

That was what I said too... but was corrected.  Unbelievably, these ones are still riding on rails!

[safristi]

I've never held my GPS @ 300MPH...How does IT FEEL to be a complete err "UN_KNOWN!!?"... ..like a
Blob onna screen....HOE does it FEEEEEL...UN_REEEELLL...??... ..I once went 5KPH inna Box Car named Desire.......I'm guessing the BULLITT TRAIN...from Kelowna ta Calgary?......

[tpl]

REAL trains have REAL steam engines ( REAL pistons none of this turbine rubbish)  I never got over the demise of steam trains when I was a kid.... I do understand the very good reasons for chnaging over to Diesel or Electric or any combination thereof but.... steam is it for me


as for Japan, I saw, on their subway trains that the main instrument for the driver was a 6" diameter clock with a sweep second hand so they could start and stop on an exact second

[rrocket]

I actually programmed a CNC machine to cut the bores on the GM train blocks!!


You want big HP??  Here it is!!  Here are the specs of the 14 cylinder version:

Total engine weight: 2300 tons  (The crankshaft alone weighs 300 tons.)
 Length: 89 feet
 Height: 44 feet
 Maximum power: 108,920 hp at 102 rpm 
 Maximum torque: 5,608,312 lb/ft at 102rpm