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British Rail's Flying Saucer

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the to-manchester-and-beyond dept.

Dynamoo writes "The Register is carrying a story about a patent for a fusion powered spacecraft filed by British Rail in the 1970s. While the concept may seem silly for a public railway, it seems that the British Rail Research Division employed a large number of aircraft engineers who presumably had some spare time between projects such as the Advanced Passenger Train."

2 of 155 comments (clear)

  1. British Rail by pubjames · · Score: 5, Interesting


    Is this the same British Rail that can't even keep a train running on time? What chance have they got with a flying saucer?

    "British Rail would like to announce that the 17.34 UFO to Mars has been delayed due to a slight wind and a few leaves blowing in the air..."

    1. Re:British Rail by 91degrees · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Leaning over to take corners at speed is cool unless it throws everyones coffee into the isle

      It didn't do that. The ride was very smooth (when the tilt mechanism worked). Too smooth actually. People got motion sickness from going round a corner without feeling like they were going round a corner.

      You used to be able to see one rotting in the sidings at Crewe railway station.

      It was still there last August.

      Some of the technology made it to other trains. Sadly, not the tilting mechanism .