The Electric Train!

Japanese Technology Applied?

Battery trains are nothing new, they have been operating on the London underground since 19th Century electrification was introduced. Meanwhile the Electric Multiple unit or overhead electrics, apart from third rail has been in service since the 1920's.

But the concept of an Electric train running on non electric lines is a new concept that will see it applied in the urban environment over the next twenty years and this may also be combined with driverless trains? 

Much new technology is being applied each year to the British rail network, thus the hike in train fares? Internet fibre caballing is the latest feature to hit the headlines, but it is a side track to what is really being planned and that is the phasing out of all old locomotives by 2020!

Early success with long life lithium batteries and solar-panels is proving effective, so the demand for cleaner air in our large towns and cities is driving this concept forward!

The Automobile, Car. Part-Two.

The Basics.

Up until recently, say the last five years the car was a basic machine made up of many components. But the one thing that all of them had, was they could be repaired or restored by anyone with a bit of mechanical engineering knowledge?

Today the car has changed greatly in that you now need a computer to diagnose a fault, particularly the locking systems and the starter. The car started life as wood and metal and then in the 1950-60's it was the chrome craze. From 1970 to the mid eighties design focused on economical driving, this was because of the Saudi and Gulf price wars.

Today cars are light and plasticated or fibre glassed. They are made for both speed, interesting design concepts and comforts. Many claims have been made in relation to safety, but if you notice car collisions they are usually mangled wrecks. This might be that people drive to fast, than they did say 50 years ago.

Don't worry next week we will going on to another subject.