BS: UK Leads the Way (Road to Rail)

Subject: BS: UK Leads the Way (Road to Rail)
From: Jim Martin
Date: 09 Mar 12 - 07:42 AM

http://www.eadt.co.uk/business/felixstowe_new_bid_to_get_freight_off_the_roads_and_onto_the_rails_1_1231121

Subject: RE: BS: UK Leads the Way (Road to Rail)
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 09 Mar 12 - 10:08 PM

Sounds good to me!

Subject: RE: BS: UK Leads the Way (Road to Rail)
From: Edthefolkie
Date: 10 Mar 12 - 11:14 AM

This is all good, but moving containers by rail in the UK involves huge sums being spent changing the road and rail infrastructure. Round here we recently had to suffer horrendous delays for over a year while Network Rail rebuilt several road overbridges to allow container trains under them. This followed a major road junction overhaul caused by a new T*sco superstore (don't ask). Needless to say a utility company then started digging up the road, followed by the council resurfacing the roads over the bridges! Can't say I noticed any council tax rebate when I got the bill the other day.....

Come to think of it, shouldn't China be paying? The containers are doubtless full of their knick knacks!

Subject: RE: BS: UK Leads the Way (Road to Rail)
From: Jim Martin
Date: 11 Mar 12 - 08:20 AM

Unfortunately 'Edthefolkie' - this is one of the downsides of the EU foisting things onto us which we can't really take (bigger/heavier lorries/containers)!

Subject: RE: BS: UK Leads the Way (Road to Rail)
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 28 May 12 - 03:36 PM

Not exactly on topic, but we do have a few RR Buffs around and I didn't find one of the more specific threads with my superficial search.

An "item of interest" vaguely related to railroading at least in a peripheral way has appeared at:

Classic 1937 steam engine soon to run carbon-free.

The article touts the use of "carbon neutral" bio-coal as the next great thing to save the world, and gives no real detail about the train; but does have a fairly nice picture of the engine - and it is "saveable" if someone wants to add it to a personal collection.

John

Subject: RE: BS: UK Leads the Way (Road to Rail)
From: gnu
Date: 28 May 12 - 03:49 PM

It will come. Truck transport will give way to rail transport to an extent. I studied it over 30 years ago as a transportation engineering student.

It will come. Too bad it didn't happen (continue) 40 years ago but fuel was cheap then. Sad but $ talks.

Subject: RE: BS: UK Leads the Way (Road to Rail)
From: pdq
Date: 28 May 12 - 03:56 PM

"Biocoal has the same energy density as regular coal, but is cleaner burning, and since trees (the fuel source) sequester carbon as they grow, the system is considered carbon neutral, according to Ward."

If you say something often enough it becomes "the truth", unfortunately.

If you burn coal, charcoal or gasoline, CO2 is produced. The carbon may stay "sequestered" if you don't burn the tree, I suppose.

Subject: RE: BS: UK Leads the Way (Road to Rail)
From: michaelr
Date: 28 May 12 - 04:02 PM

Right - that's the same "clean coal" myth they're trying to get us to believe in the US. There is no such thing.

Who is Ward?

Subject: RE: BS: UK Leads the Way (Road to Rail)
From: pdq
Date: 28 May 12 - 04:11 PM

"Who is Ward?"

I was quoting from the text of the story on the 1937 steam locomotive retrofit. See link by JohnInKansas.

Subject: RE: BS: UK Leads the Way (Road to Rail)
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 28 May 12 - 05:12 PM

Any biofuel is "Carbon neutral" in that the CO2 produced by burning it exactly equals the amount of CO2 required to grow it. Burning such a fuel neither inreases nor decreases the CO2 in the atmosphere. Sources such as solar, wind and water power, if used to replace fossil fuels, decrease the CO2 levels.

Subject: RE: BS: UK Leads the Way (Road to Rail)
From: Rusty Dobro
Date: 29 May 12 - 03:38 AM

I look forward to seeing this loco 'chug along at speeds of up to 130 miles per hour'. As the existing world speed record is 126 mph, ('Mallard', UK), I'm sensing that the emphasis is on the 'up to'.....

Subject: RE: BS: UK Leads the Way (Road to Rail)
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 29 May 12 - 10:55 AM

Anytime I've heard the phrase 'clean coal' it referred to coal low in sulfur.