They Just keeps Going.
The D6600 1960's (1960-66) built Deisel-Electric's are still in British operation today, apart from N-Irleand. These engines were re-calssified as 37/4 from the standard 37/0, there are now 37/5, 6, 7, and the newest Network Rail 97/3.
From passenger service hauling in the 1960's to around 1990, they know are used in all frieght movements, to the Royal Scots train and part of the cambrian Nuclear flask trains.
Meanwhile they are to be found all over the system in various private colours, and only 12 of them carry name plates.
With a speed of 90 mph top speed, they were restricted to 85 and now to 80mph. These 107 ton engines are some of the most reliable to be kept in over 50 years of service.
Thursday, 25 February 2016
Thursday, 18 February 2016
Military transport Aircraft. Part-Two.
Enter the Giants.
The United States have a choice of three heavy transports from the C-141 Star lifter, C-17 Globe master and the enormous C-5 Galaxy. This has proven invaluable for them as a world superpower over the years.
Initially the Soviet Union and now the Russian Federation to have developed their three types, but all from one manufacturer Antonov with the An-22, An-124 Ruslan and the An-224 Mirya (Dream).
Both superpowers have also the back up of their own large civilian commercials such as the Boeing 747-2/400F' and the Ilyushin IL-89/96.
These dominate heavy lifting capability around the world, in the moving of missile systems, radars, and extra warheads, The Boeing 747-400 and the Russian Antonov An-224 were adopted and developed for both the NASA Space shuttle and the Soviet Buran to piggy back between landing and relaunching.
Most of the aircraft are capable of the movement of between 150 to 250 fully laden combat troops, with essential equipment from vehicles to artillery. Apart from Surface to Surface missiles, there is of course the need to move medium range mobile carriers for Nuclear ICBMs.
Today some of these aircraft also work with the United Nations in medical and food relief to disaster zones.
The United States have a choice of three heavy transports from the C-141 Star lifter, C-17 Globe master and the enormous C-5 Galaxy. This has proven invaluable for them as a world superpower over the years.
Initially the Soviet Union and now the Russian Federation to have developed their three types, but all from one manufacturer Antonov with the An-22, An-124 Ruslan and the An-224 Mirya (Dream).
Both superpowers have also the back up of their own large civilian commercials such as the Boeing 747-2/400F' and the Ilyushin IL-89/96.
These dominate heavy lifting capability around the world, in the moving of missile systems, radars, and extra warheads, The Boeing 747-400 and the Russian Antonov An-224 were adopted and developed for both the NASA Space shuttle and the Soviet Buran to piggy back between landing and relaunching.
Most of the aircraft are capable of the movement of between 150 to 250 fully laden combat troops, with essential equipment from vehicles to artillery. Apart from Surface to Surface missiles, there is of course the need to move medium range mobile carriers for Nuclear ICBMs.
Today some of these aircraft also work with the United Nations in medical and food relief to disaster zones.
Thursday, 11 February 2016
The Snow Plough.
Roads and Rail.
Basically this is a shovel fitted to trucks and locomotives to push soft snow to one side, but these ploughs could also be employed for pushing sand after a storm. The need for this goes back at least two hundred years, with the onset of the the invention of the engine the design has not changed much!
Today the idea of blowing both snow and sand has been added to snow plough or for sand removal. Railways suffer greatly from such obstacles and from wet leaves that can be the cause of both slippage and derailment. Various forms of weed killer and spray trains have also been designed, along with the removal of dust and rubbish in Metro and underground systems world wide,
Switzerland and Italy have lead the way in these specialist type trains and the British in Metro cleaning systems.
Basically this is a shovel fitted to trucks and locomotives to push soft snow to one side, but these ploughs could also be employed for pushing sand after a storm. The need for this goes back at least two hundred years, with the onset of the the invention of the engine the design has not changed much!
Today the idea of blowing both snow and sand has been added to snow plough or for sand removal. Railways suffer greatly from such obstacles and from wet leaves that can be the cause of both slippage and derailment. Various forms of weed killer and spray trains have also been designed, along with the removal of dust and rubbish in Metro and underground systems world wide,
Switzerland and Italy have lead the way in these specialist type trains and the British in Metro cleaning systems.
Thursday, 4 February 2016
Military Transport Aircraft. Part-One.
Comparing Types.
Currently N.A.T.O. and most of the western world uses the Lockheed C-130 is one form or another, it has become the most flexible workhorse for medium military transportation over the years. Now the Europeans have introduced the A400M, which some countries have returned because it has not come up to the C-130H/J capability.
Meanwhile depending on what happen with Antonov in the Ukraine, their An-70 will be a third contender. One likes to think that the C-130 is the ultimate transport, but the British had the Shorts Belfast which was probably better.
The United States wanted no competition to its version and so the world has been bullied into accepting the type. With no alternative, military activity in the transport area has been very limited.
Many countries just converted civil aircraft types to transport troops under the United Nations, aircraft such as the BAC 1-11, DC-10-30 and Boeing 747 became limited carriers.
Currently N.A.T.O. and most of the western world uses the Lockheed C-130 is one form or another, it has become the most flexible workhorse for medium military transportation over the years. Now the Europeans have introduced the A400M, which some countries have returned because it has not come up to the C-130H/J capability.
Meanwhile depending on what happen with Antonov in the Ukraine, their An-70 will be a third contender. One likes to think that the C-130 is the ultimate transport, but the British had the Shorts Belfast which was probably better.
The United States wanted no competition to its version and so the world has been bullied into accepting the type. With no alternative, military activity in the transport area has been very limited.
Many countries just converted civil aircraft types to transport troops under the United Nations, aircraft such as the BAC 1-11, DC-10-30 and Boeing 747 became limited carriers.
Thursday, 28 January 2016
Auxiliary Ships.
Backing up and supporting the Navy.
Warships, aircraft carriers and submarines may be the front line of many of the worlds great navies, but it is the auxiliary fleet that is the key to keep them going. Even with nuclear powered vessels, we still need some support at sea!
The Internet and skype may have replaced the post, but in hostile conditions even carriers need to change equipment, aircraft and helicopters. Re-armament is another role and the evacuation of the injured, many vessels need to be refuelled at sea and the change over of crew.
Over the years with N.A.T.O. deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq and possible soon Syria, much needed armour, artillery, tanks and missile systems were brought in by transport ships.
Another role for the auxiliary fleet is training from sail ships to tenders to combat simulations and actual war games action.
Warships, aircraft carriers and submarines may be the front line of many of the worlds great navies, but it is the auxiliary fleet that is the key to keep them going. Even with nuclear powered vessels, we still need some support at sea!
The Internet and skype may have replaced the post, but in hostile conditions even carriers need to change equipment, aircraft and helicopters. Re-armament is another role and the evacuation of the injured, many vessels need to be refuelled at sea and the change over of crew.
Over the years with N.A.T.O. deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq and possible soon Syria, much needed armour, artillery, tanks and missile systems were brought in by transport ships.
Another role for the auxiliary fleet is training from sail ships to tenders to combat simulations and actual war games action.
Thursday, 21 January 2016
The Alvis Family. Part-Two.
How far a chassis can Go.
All military vehicles have the option of other uses with their chassis to be fitted with different platforms or bodies, this is perhaps the same with many commercial vehicle type too. The Alvis family is one of the largest with over ten different platforms all in their own right a new type of vehicle.
Scorpion 90 has a Belgian Cockerill 90mm Mk III gun.
Striker (FV102) ATGW (Anti-tank guided weapon) carrier. Fitted with five Swingfire missiles with a range of 4000 metre.
Spartan (FV103) APC (Armoured Personnel Carrier). 3+4 Variants have included a two man turret fitted with the Euromissle MILAN or the Hughes TOW or a turret with two 20mm cannon.
Stormer, based on components of CVR(T). APC 3+8 there are many different versions for export from 1981. UK versions air defence, guns and missiles. Engineer vehicle, recovery, ambulance, minelayer, 81mm 0r 120mm mortar carrier, and command and control vehicles.
Streaker high mobility load carrier, prototypes.
Samson (FV106), ARV (Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicle) member of the family.
Samaritan (FV104), armoured ambulance with higher roof.
Sultan (FV105), command post vehicle with higher roof.
Scimitar (FV107) similar to Scorpion, but has 30mm RARDEN cannon in two man turret.
Sabre, is Scorpion chassis with Fox turret (UK only).
All military vehicles have the option of other uses with their chassis to be fitted with different platforms or bodies, this is perhaps the same with many commercial vehicle type too. The Alvis family is one of the largest with over ten different platforms all in their own right a new type of vehicle.
Scorpion 90 has a Belgian Cockerill 90mm Mk III gun.
Striker (FV102) ATGW (Anti-tank guided weapon) carrier. Fitted with five Swingfire missiles with a range of 4000 metre.
Spartan (FV103) APC (Armoured Personnel Carrier). 3+4 Variants have included a two man turret fitted with the Euromissle MILAN or the Hughes TOW or a turret with two 20mm cannon.
Stormer, based on components of CVR(T). APC 3+8 there are many different versions for export from 1981. UK versions air defence, guns and missiles. Engineer vehicle, recovery, ambulance, minelayer, 81mm 0r 120mm mortar carrier, and command and control vehicles.
Streaker high mobility load carrier, prototypes.
Samson (FV106), ARV (Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicle) member of the family.
Samaritan (FV104), armoured ambulance with higher roof.
Sultan (FV105), command post vehicle with higher roof.
Scimitar (FV107) similar to Scorpion, but has 30mm RARDEN cannon in two man turret.
Sabre, is Scorpion chassis with Fox turret (UK only).
Thursday, 14 January 2016
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.
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.
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