But, imagine, self driving or not, having semi trucks line up and drive
over a railway spur. Then, lower their steel wheels, and drive off as a
train, of sorts.
EVDL Administrator via EV wrote:
I see the big positives here, but I also see a troubling side effect.
Freight is the lifeblood of rail service. This scheme would effectively
kill traditional railroads, including passenger service.
Like any new idea, there will be details to work out. But I think the
idea has merit, and would be worth a try. Find some ways to do some
demonstration projects.
They already load semi-trailers onto flat cars to deliver them by rail.
It's a lot quicker and easier to transferring the contents from the
trailer to the boxcar. Stepping up to putting the entire truck on the
tracks could be easier yet.
In the old days, the spacing between trains was set by the signaling
problems. You couldn't space them too closely in case something went
wrong. It takes a train miles to stop; so they wanted to leave miles
between them for safety.
Today, we have far better methods of signaling. If the lead train or
truck-train has trouble, it can electronically warn all the ones behind
it to stop NOW! I'd guess that trucks with rubber tires could stop a
heck of a lot faster in an emergency than a train car on steel wheels.
Maybe a panic stop would drop the truck's tires onto the roadbed.
Regarding passenger service: I recall an idea that Rick Woodbury had for
his Tango EVs. They were short enough to sit crossways on a standard
railcar. The idea was to have ramps on each side of a flatcar. Train
pulls into station, ramps lower, and you can drive your EV right on.
Ramps raise, and train heads to next station. You have your own "private
car", with heat, A/D, music, TV or whatever. When the train reaches the
stop for your destination, just drive off, and you're "there", with your
own car.
But the railroads said nope, never, no way, can't be done...
Lee
--
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.
-- Leonard Cohen, from "Anthem"
--
Lee Hart, 814 8th Ave N, Sartell MN 56377, www.sunrise-ev.com
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