Is your railroad invested in atomic research?
An ad placed in Time magazine (April 26, 1948) by the "Federation for Railway Progress" boasted about their investment in atomic research, and urged railroads to join the federation to benefit from all the great advances that atomic research would soon bring to the transportation industry:
Almost 70 years later, is it possible to say if U.S. railroads actually did benefit in any way from atomic research? I've never thought of railroads and atomic research as being in any way related.
Will your railroad have a place at the atomic research table?
No industry stands to benefit more from atomic "vitamins" in its diet than the undernourished railroads...
A new, lighter and stronger metal—which could be applied to the construction of light-weight freight and passenger cars—may well come out of atomic research.
There is also the promise of new and more efficient lighting and heating systems, and other possibilities which only properly directed research could uncover.
No industry stands to benefit more from atomic "vitamins" in its diet than the undernourished railroads...
A new, lighter and stronger metal—which could be applied to the construction of light-weight freight and passenger cars—may well come out of atomic research.
There is also the promise of new and more efficient lighting and heating systems, and other possibilities which only properly directed research could uncover.
Almost 70 years later, is it possible to say if U.S. railroads actually did benefit in any way from atomic research? I've never thought of railroads and atomic research as being in any way related.
Comments
High hopes that obviously fell prey to big oil like so many other great inventions we've been deprived of.
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 08/26/15 at 09:04 AM
Nuclear waste shipment by rail come to mind.
Posted by crc on 08/26/15 at 09:18 AM
"The Big Bus" was the first thing on my mind. It's a nuclear-powered train disaster movie parody.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074205/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074205/
Posted by TheCannyScot in Atlanta, GA on 08/26/15 at 09:45 AM
This is why the railroads never took to powering locomotives with nuclear reactors:
Maitre D: And finally, monsieur, a final tiny little uranium atom.
Mr Engineer: No.
Maitre D: Oh sir! It's only a tiny little one.
Mr Engineer: No. I'm full... [Belches]
Maitre D: Oh sir... it's only a single U235 atom.
Mr Engineer: Look - I couldn't eat another thing. I'm absolutely stuffed. Bugger off.
Maitre D: Oh sir, just... just one...
Mr Engineer: Oh all right. Just one.
Maitre D: Just the one, sir... voila... bon appetit...
Maitre D: And finally, monsieur, a final tiny little uranium atom.
Mr Engineer: No.
Maitre D: Oh sir! It's only a tiny little one.
Mr Engineer: No. I'm full... [Belches]
Maitre D: Oh sir... it's only a single U235 atom.
Mr Engineer: Look - I couldn't eat another thing. I'm absolutely stuffed. Bugger off.
Maitre D: Oh sir, just... just one...
Mr Engineer: Oh all right. Just one.
Maitre D: Just the one, sir... voila... bon appetit...
Posted by KDP on 08/26/15 at 10:00 AM
Imagine derailing a!! nuclear powered train
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 08/26/15 at 10:03 AM
@ TheCannyScot,
Why is it always Denver?
Why is it always Denver?
Posted by crc on 08/26/15 at 05:30 PM
Apparently more than once.
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 08/26/15 at 07:16 PM
@TheCannyScot
We were driving through Angeles National forest and came around one of the many curves upon a large lookout area, and lo and behold, there was the "Big Bus" hanging off the edge of the ledge (a prop of course). We had to stop and check it out. They were filming the end of the scene where the bus was out of control in the mountains and stopped just short of going over the cliff.
Never went to see the movie when it came out.
We were driving through Angeles National forest and came around one of the many curves upon a large lookout area, and lo and behold, there was the "Big Bus" hanging off the edge of the ledge (a prop of course). We had to stop and check it out. They were filming the end of the scene where the bus was out of control in the mountains and stopped just short of going over the cliff.
Never went to see the movie when it came out.
Posted by Gary Foster on 08/31/15 at 02:57 PM
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Category: Atomic Power and Other Nuclear Matters | Trains and Other Vehicles on Rails | 1940s