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Jet Turbine Locomotives

Posted by michael on from the leave-the-driving-to-us dept.

An anonymous submitter writes "I saw this article in the paper today. Not only is it lighter than a comparable diesel engine, it should burn the fuel more completely and be a bit better for the environment. Not to mention it is much faster. They should make more of a point that the North American railway system needs a major overhaul in order to support faster trains." The Department of Transportation has some information about next-generation trains, including a design incorporating a flywheel to improve acceleration.

1 of 438 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Noise by Pig+Hogger · · Score: 1, Flamebait



    Another turbine advantage is they can run on almost anything flammable, given the right nozzles etc. Some power plants actually burn pulverized coal in their turbines. They can also run on methane, LNG, etc... so if/when it becomes unfashionable enough/too expensive/whatever to power the trains with dead dinosaurs, they can switch over to something else... (methanol anyone?)

    Back when CN had it's turbo-train, mechanics would clean the turbines by running them full blast for a few minutes, then quickly switch the fuel for... water. The water would expand to steam thanks to the hot turbine, and they would run for at least 10 minutes on water alone...