Tesla has joined the weapons of Choice!

 For International terrorism with the SUV and the Toyota pickups?

The world is changing for terrorism, the lack to explosives is evident but it is easier to kill people with what you can find in your kitchen and hire a SUV or a Tesla to get you point across mowing down peoples and hearing,  'the snap, crackle and pop!

Wither they kill five or fifteen, its a start on killing many more with a stolen truck as was seen in France and many other places, some incidents could be terror related but are being classed as out of control vehicles rather than deliberate?

In Germany over Christmas a mechanical digger was used to try to demolish a super store and the driver shot dead. Knife crime across the U.K. in cities is now normal and an everyday occurrence with both the police and the government doing their best to play it all down, since they are well protected and the rest of us have to hope for the best!

DART. Part-One.

Dublin Area Rapid Transport.

The DART was the Irish Republics first attempt at thie own electric railways, initially running from Bray in north Co. Wicklow to Howth Co. Dublin. The first trains were West-German in make Linke-Hofmann-Busch 2 car units built in 1983 at Saltzgitter. These original 40 cars were upgraded by Seimens in Liepzig, Germany, in 2008, apart from sets 8110 and 8136 that were destroyed by a fire at the Fairview depot in 2001 and scrapped.

The Class 8100 have now been joined by the new Class 8200 built in Spain by GEC-Alstrom at Santa Perpetua de Mogoda. Both use the 1500 V Dc overhead. there is a small variation in weights, but speed remains at 62mph. 

The network has greatly expanded over the years with an extention to Greystones and to Malahide. the latest additions to the ever need for increasing fleet has come from Japan. The 8500, 8510 and 8520 all built by Tokyu car corperation, Yokohama. Some of these newer vehicles have not lived up to expectations with many breakdown problems, All are 4-car units with a speed of 68 mph to slightly above.

Commuter Trains. Part-Two.

Most Efficiant System.

As yet there is no alternative to the need for Communter and Metro or Underground trains? In recent years many of the newer classes of trains operating around the world have ended the need for seperate locomotives, thus there is no need to turn anything as the unite just moves from A to B and B to A.

The only time some driver unit's are taken off is for maintenance, but then that whole train is taken out of service. Metros and Underground systems have opted for seperate engine units to pick up current under each coach and there is no need of the traditional idea of a Loco.

The design of many new trains is space for standing over seating and more windows allowing in light and seeing almost from one car to another. This has had to be done in relation to theft and other crimes on older stocakge.

France, Japan, Spain, Germany have been the world leaders in many new designs, but so has the United Kingdom, U.S.A. and China. Many new systems such as the Maglev and the mordern Monorails are coming of age now on shorter usage and being combined with existing infrustructure of Motorways/Autobahns and Airports.

Self-Propelled Guns. Part-One.

Mobile Battlefield Artillery.

In someways the early development of the tank was the idea to have armoured artillery on the battlefield, but it was not until the 1930s that the United States produced the first SPG as a over armed MBT known as the Lee-Grant.

During World War-II (1939-45) Nazi-Germany became reliant more on their developments of SPG's that they had more of them than actual tanks. The idea of mobile artillery was good as long as that was their primary role, but as the war progressed Hitler in his madness and interference used them for the wrong role.

In Soviet Russia they easily became prey to the light T-34 tanks and in France and Italy to the American Sherman's. After the war Russia and America, along with many other nations saw the value of such a plat form in infantry support and even to this day they are still being developed.

U.S.A. M109 155mm, M109 105mm, SP 122, 
Russia, 2S19 152mm, 2S3 152mm.
U.K. AS90.
Sweden Bofors 155mm.
Germany Wegmann 155mm.
Japan Type 75. 

France GIAT 155mm.
Italy Palmeria 155mm. 

Israel Soltam 155mm.

High Speed Trains. Part-One.

From the Bullet to ICE.

Over the last seventy years Japan with its Bullet, France and the TVG and now Germany and the ICE have made serious breakthroughs in speed and comfort to get people from A-B/Z. Japan was the first to develop a really high speed train and despite Earthquakes and many other disasters the system has expanded and continues to grow.

France was determined to have a similar system to fan out from its capital Paris and be also part of a wider European network, even before there was one. The Channel Tunnel has allowed a serious extension to be made, but within the U.K. this remains limited and future plans are being delayed.

On the other hand Germany has joined the European network with its own sleek version known as ICE, while Italy, Switzerland are also developing their versions and linking up with France and Germany.

Driverless Vehicles. Part-Two.

'More common that we Realise.'

Many modern tram, mono rails and rapid transit systems are now robotically controlled around the world. The most famous of these is perhaps the London Docklands Light Railway, were millions of people each day put their hand's in their driver less trains.

This now extensive network that serves East and South-East London is controlled from one centre at Poplar, while the main depot is at Becton. This line also goes underground now in two places from Tower Hill (Gateway) to Bank and under the River Thames from Island Gardens on the Isle of Dog's to Greenwich (Cutty Sark).

Many of the newer monorails in Germany are also driver less, not as extensive as the London DLR and the new London Ski Lift they are automatically controlled. In time more and more systems and trams will be automated, perhaps with only a conductor or ticket collector to give re-assurance of human contact!

Artificial Intelligence. Part-Two

Knowing.

This is some realy old stuff, but back in the 1970's West-Germany, the police introduced a robotic policeman to guide traffic and for years no one actually ever knew that he was not real.

This robot in a police uniform had authority and respect, he stayed out in all weathers and no one ever thought anything was strange.

Today our train driver or other roles could be in the hands of robots, and we being so busy now with technology, emails and the various sharing sites, would not take notice.

Mercedes-Benz.

G-Series Vehicles.

This is perhaps one of, if not the best 4X4 in the world? Developed jointly between Germany and Austria is has taken the military, para-military and police security market. The first generation vehicles were built between 1970 to 1979, with the second generation concept being laid down in 1976.

Austrian Steyr Pusch-G entering the market with the U.S from 1993, while the German 1990-96 model was already well established. There are too many sub models to list, but initially powerful engines were employed, I suppose for military towing capability, and recovery of various loads.

The Austrian version looks like a dedicated military vehicle, but the second generation has joined its German counterpart in style and civil looks.

Today there are various civil takes on the Jeep, but they look more car like or SUV/waggons to appeal to private security and farming vehicles.

The Airbus Story. Part-One.

From A300 to A350.

The beginning of the Airbus story started in 1965, when British European Airlines proposed a 200 seat aircraft to compensate on the United States Boeing model 747. But it was not until the 28th October 1972 that the A300B2 took to the skies on its first test flight.

In 1970 eight European airlines and their national aviation companies from Germany, United Kingdom, Netherlands, France and Spain met to start the development of a total European joint built commercial airliner. 

The 28th June 1973 saw the A300B2 enter production, with the first delivery to Air France on 30th may 1974. This gamble paid off very quickly with orders from forty airlines in twenty-nine countries.
The A300 was reliable and cheap to operate, it could accommodate three crew and 336 passengers, was powered by two General-Electric CF6-50C1 engines.

Cruising speed 911km/hr at 9450 metres and a range of 5375Km. Other airlines to operate the aircraft were Air India, Saudi and Thai Airways.

Fast-Attack Boats.

Gun Boats.

The age of the Gunboat was perhaps in World War-II. (1939-45), when both Nazi-Germany with their E-Boats and the British equivalent deployed similar vessels to work the English/French Channel. The U.S and Japan also deployed basically similar types boasts in the far east and Pacific.

These boats were well armed and could have the advantage of operating in shallow waters, but could also move fast from A to B/A to Z. There role was to patrol and observe, but they became a handy and cheap tool to do other work, such as planting and recovering of individual spies. 

Initially they were not as well armed as they are today, and they ran the risk of being spotted and attacked by aircraft. 

Today these craft are more larger and have a host of guns, missiles and torpedo tubes fitted. They are popular with smaller navies, such as in the Persian Gulf states. It was he former Soviet Union (Russia) who during the 'Cold War years became one of the largest producers of these types of boats, but it was the British company Vosper-Thorny craft that is perhaps one of the best builders of the Fast Attack Craft type world wide.

Main Battle Tanks. Part-II.

Tried and tested.

You really need some sort of serious conflict, such as an outright war to test a tank's performance and vulnerability? Security conflicts, such as Afghanistan, the Balkans, Mali do not really test heavy equipment like the MBT.

There are many great claims about the German Leopard-II and the British Challenger and I am sure against a T-55/64, may be even a T-72 they would do very well. but the reality is that we do not really know. 

It is only the U.S. Abraham's that over the last twenty years, has taken the full brunt of war in Iraq.

VW Beattle.

Volks Wagon. (The Peoples Car).

What we know today as the 'Beattle' and probably one of the best ever designed automobiles, started life as a Porsche. 

Designed for the German Dictator Adolf Hitler, as his peoples car. Meanwhile this design has well stood the test of time, coming off the board in the 1930's it is mustering on.

Curved lines and simplicity are its good points. It is different from other cars, because of the small engine in the traditional boot and larger space at the front.

The car was not popular in Nazi Germany 1931-45, but after the war and the take over by the British of VW, exports around the world and especially to Mexico booted its appeal. 

Today many cars continue to survive, because of their attraction to be converted to 'hot rods.'

Canal Barges. Part-One.

Britain and the rest of the world.

The canal barge and coaster remain a very viable form of transport across the world today, from the River Rhine in Germany to the many rivers of China. 

These flat bottomed vessels can move from rivers to man made canals to the sea with ease. Today's shipping is far flung from the early days of invention and development in England, UK. 

The UK retains the long barge now almost soley for pleasure and living use. But some river barge industries remain in the river Thames.

Flying Boats. Part-Two.

The days of the flying boats are not over yet?

This is perhaps one of the greatest feats in the aviation world to take-off and land from water. Many early aircraft in the 1920/30's were adapted to have floats, but it was the Shorts Sunderland that became the flagship carrier of the British BOAC. 

World-war-II (1939-45) saw a increased demand on all sides for dedicated flying boats, such as the U.S. Catalina, and British Walrus, while several Italian and German types were also deployed. The flying boats were of great use at Sea to attack submarines and proved to be an invaluable tool. 

After the war several nations went on to develop their own types of boats. The U.S. the UH-1 Albatross, Japan, the Kawasaki PS-1 and Russia their Beriev family BE-12/15, 606.

Today Canada builds the CL-215/415, while the Russians have developed the first jet powered flying boat, the Beriev A-40 and a civil version the BE-200. Many nations continue to use their world war-II boats and 1950's developments are still flying, such as the Mongoose.

Electric Trains.

Where are we going in the future?

What does the future hold for the electric train? Is it here to stay and will it just get faster and faster? France has its TVG, while Germany has ICE and the rest of Europe has a mixture of other high-speed stock. Today these trains are very comfortable to travel in, that is because of improved track work and the hydraulic systems employed.

But were do we go from know? Will these fast trains be replaced by the mono-rail of science-fiction or levitation trains, that do not even need rails to run on. 

The environmental issues will probably dictate the future use over long distances?