Aviation Lifters. Part-One.

From civil to Military.

Air freight is one thing, but to lift specialist loads aircraft have been designed for the job. Initially these types of aircraft started off as the heavy bombers of the early years in aviation history and during World War-II (1939-45) they were developed for the movement of mass troops and long range flying boats.

After the second world war there was a demand for the movement of main battle tanks and missiles components and so began the need for bigger and bigger aircraft. 

Soviet Russia had its giant Antonov An-22, while the United States developed the C-141 Starlifter, Boeing 747-100-400/8, Globemasters 1-111 and the C-5 Galaxy.

Russia replied with the need for an aircraft to carry its robotic space shuttle Buran and so was born the Antonov An-124 Ruslan and 224 Mirya.

Cargo Ships. Part-Three.

Differing Loads.

Most of today's cargo traffic is part of the container world, the container protects goods and also hides them from prying eyes. But not all goods that need moving by sea can fit into a container and so a group of ships have been designed to meet this criteria in the term General Cargo.

Some vessels carry odd shaped loads, other pre-built housing and machinery, others have been adapted as internal tankers, others for fertilisers, various types of ground down rocks and still others for coal. They all fit the category for sea and large canal operations and are flexible in what they take from A-to-B.

Today there are thousands of these types of vessels operating right across the world, some are quite aged and still chugging along while newer ones are more state of the art with low loading and their own cranes.

In the Big Country. Part-Two.

Canadian Pacific.

Canada has that awesome feel about it, it is only one of a few countries that can claim that feeling still today. Most of Canada is lonely and remote and its has temperature differences much like Russia, the need of long distant travel is a necessity that cannot be done without.

The railroad from Vancouver in British Colombia to the east remains the focus of this vital link covering the southern areas and the centre. Going north and north-west is a continuing problem, because of the cold and harsh winter conditions. 

That is why we have the 'Iceroad Truckers,' who take vital supplies of equipment to isolated mining sites. Modern Air travel has facilitated the opportunity to get people and general freight from A to B. But it is the railroad and the need to expand it that perhaps will remain the back bone of Canada.

Easter Eggs.

Transportation of Eggs.

People tend to forget that the egg was one of the hardest commodities to transport, it was easy enough to go from the root to the home with the basket. The problems started initially on the carts and waggons and the age old problem was solved with the development of the egg carton.

The invention of the train demanded the development of wooden racks and waggons designated just for eggs with ceiling vents, these were usually painted white to start with and later blue and white. What had been gained here went on to trucks and vans, as long as the eggs could not move to much they stayed intact.

Today with the cartons, accidents will still happen but new development in controlled cooling allows the egg to have a slightly longer life to enable it to travel longer distances than ever before!

HAPPY EASTER.

In the Big Country. Part-One.

Railways in their own Right.

Australia.

To get from A-to B railways are the best for the movement of goods and minerals, Melbourne to Perth and Darwin to Melbourne via Alice Springs in now part of the life line of this Island continent. Australia's out back is harsh, lonely and extremely dangerous.

The trains that cross these wildernesses are operated by hard crews and their machines are some of the best in the world. Australia has plenty of mineral resources from copper and Iron ore to bauxite and Uranium. Many areas of mining are now undertaken by robotic controlled trucks, because of their toxic nature.

The railroad is inland and safer, some countries may use their coasts for shipping, Australia does not have that option, because the mineral's are located in the heart of the continent.

Air Freighters. Part-Five.

Freighters of the 21st Century.

Many older aircraft as we have seen in this series remain in service for these roles of freight and postal use, but now with the rise in Internet shopping their is an even greater demand on 'Mail order and many traditional carriers such as FedEx and UPS are turning to the Boeing 777, because of its cubic space.

The Russian Antonov An-124 Ruslan, Ilyushin Il-176, Boeing C-17 Globemaster III and Boeing 747-8, are able to lift those really cumbesome loads.

Meanwhile the market for large business and executive jets, with a combi capability has provided most manufactures to develope varians such as the sucessful Boeing 737 BBJ, 777, Embraer is now adopting their E-190's and Airbus is offering a version of their A319 for this role.

Aircraft both civil and military large, medium and small will always be found a useful role in cargo, post, and private use.

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!