61 replies to this topic

[Geoff E]

The following appeared in the May 1957 edition of "Trains Illustrated".  I've no idea if the magazine printed "April Fool" stuff in those days.

 

A latter-day Brunel?

A formidable railway of the future has been dreamed up by a Russian professor, who visualises a railway across the Himalayas from the Russian Kirghistan through westernmost China and Kashmir to India laid to a gauge of 4.5 metres^* – or 12ft. 4 in.! Although such a line would have to be built through extremely rugged and sparsely populated country, there would be a potentially heavy traffic for it to carry. The professor therefore envisages the use of 5,000-ton atomic powered locomotives of 100,000 h.p. Hauling wagons of 1,000 tons apiece, all of which woould be feasible on the professor's super-broad gauge. The locomotives, he points out, would be ideal for the terrain, since they would need infrequent refuelling and the immense power would enable them to surmount the fierce gradients through the mountains.

 

* 4.5m is actually 14ft 9in

[Odseybod]

5 months or so before Sputnik - the Bear was certainly on the move.

[BRG]

That German bloke wanted to build railways across Europe to the gauge of 3 metres back in the 1940s. 

[Ray Bell]

It's extraordinary what some people will dream up...

 

Then  again, that gauge of line would have been handy for Hitler to ship people across Europe (and Asia?) to gas chambers.

[lyntonh]

Then there was the famous 'regauging' April Fools Day 1989 prank......

 

https://youtu.be/9uq...zKtX0AXZx3ylcrF

These were the reactions to the news of the conversion in the 'letters to the editor' in 'Steam Railway' magazine.

 

 

Edited by lyntonh, 18 September 2024 - 11:20.

[Geoff E]

The following appeared in the May 1957 edition of "Trains Illustrated".  I've no idea if the magazine printed "April Fool" stuff in those days.

 

A latter-day Brunel?

A formidable railway of the future has been dreamed up by a Russian professor, who visualises a railway across the Himalayas from the Russian Kirghistan through westernmost China and Kashmir to India laid to a gauge of 4.5 metres^* – or 12ft. 4 in.! Although such a line would have to be built through extremely rugged and sparsely populated country, there would be a potentially heavy traffic for it to carry. The professor therefore envisages the use of 5,000-ton atomic powered locomotives of 100,000 h.p. Hauling wagons of 1,000 tons apiece, all of which would be feasible on the professor's super-broad gauge. The locomotives, he points out, would be ideal for the terrain, since they would need infrequent refuelling and the immense power would enable them to surmount the fierce gradients through the mountains.

 

* 4.5m is actually 14ft 9in

 

"Other ideas such as the Soviet nuclear locomotive project for a 4.5 m broad gauge trans-Himalayan railway may have been clever fiction stories."

https://trains-world...com/500/501.htm

[BRG]

"Other ideas such as the Soviet nuclear locomotive project for a 4.5 m broad gauge trans-Himalayan railway may have been clever fiction stories."

https://trains-world...com/500/501.htm

Imagine my shock at reading this....

[Pullman99]

Just a reminder for those that follow the heritage of the permanent way that there are still some tickets left for the Anthony Coulls talk on the Flying Scotsman at Beaulieu on the 19th October.    You can always catch up with Strictly on iPlayer!

 

Tickets for the Flying Scotsman Transport Torque are £7.50 for Friends of the National Motor Museum and £15.00 for non-members with all proceeds going directly to the museum.  The event is held in the National Motor Museum's Collections Centre theatre and begins at 7pm and the doors will open from 6.00pm.   Please see the link below for more details

 

https://www.beaulieu...nsport-torques/

 

Edited by Pullman99, 11 Sept

[Pullman99]

The Transport Torque at The National Motor Museum at Beaulieu on Saturday 19th October still has a few tickets left.     Anthony Coulls, the Senior Curator at the National Railway Museum is presenting an insightful look at the history, the series of rebuilds, and the frequent  controversies surrounding the ongoing saga of the Flying Scotsman.  Tickets are £7.50 for Friends of the National Motor Museum and £15.00 for non-members with all proceeds going directly to the many projects of the National Motor Museum including the restoration of the Sunbeam 1000HP .  The event is held in the National Motor Museum's Collections Centre theatre and begins at 7pm and the doors will open from 6.00pm.   The link below gives more details.

 

https://www.beaulieu...nsport-torques/

[BRG]

I remain a little confused as to why the National MOTOR Museum is hosting this?  At Beaulieu, somewhere that has never even been on the railway network..

[Pullman99]

Hi BRG!

 

The Transport Torques at Beaulieu have a broad range of subjects reflecting all transport themes.  In previous events, the museum has hosted talks on ships, including one by the designer of the the Queen Mary 2, and aircraft as well as all aspects of motoring and motorsport.   As with this Forum, there are many enthusiasts for railways amongst the National Motor Museum's supporters.      Beaulieu regards the restoration of the Sunbeam 1000HP as a current flagship project in the same way as York regards their restoration and custodianship of Flying Scotsman and I am sure that Anthony Coulls and the NMM's Chief Executive, Dr Jon Murden, share similar views on how each museum promotes its role in this regard.

 

I will arrange to provide a link to the recording of this talk after the event but if anyone would like to attend on the 19th, just follow the link above.

[BRG]

I am both a motor and railway enthusiast myself.  But I wonder if specialist institutions shouldn't stick to what they know best?  I wouldn't expect a motorsport event to be held in the roundhouse at the NRM in York!  Still, no harm done anyway.