Aerotrains - The Forgotten Train Experiments

[@ohnomyhandleistaken]

Now the footage of the Schienenzeppelin pulling in that train station is amazing. The contrast between how modern that thing looks versus the contemporary surroundings and the old grainy footage really highlights how much ahead that machine was for its time. Even if the aerotrain concept didn't work out, it was super advanced in so many other ways.

[@wramsey2656]

I grew up next to a railroad in the 1970s and the diesel electrics were a sound we all grew use to. I cannot imagine jet powered trains coming by, it would have given you the sensation of living next to an airport and a rock quarry (dust and debris) at the same time lol.

[@CuriousDroid]

From what i read about the Black Beetle, you didn't really hear it until it had gone past which if you see the footage of it, it's kicking up all sorts of dust and debris. Imagine waiting at a crossing when one when past, not exactly a pleasant experience.

[@wramsey2656]

@@CuriousDroid indeed, it would have dampened public support in no time.

[@matthiasmay1977]

Please make a video about the French Aérotrain. It run on a concrete track on a air cushion and was powered by turboprops.

[@fjarle]

There were jet powered prototypes as well. In the L'AEROTRAIN, ACTE I-video one of them seems to be running with an afterburner as well. The mashup of the insane old railway project + Queen - The Show Must Go On is one of the best videos on this entire service. I keep coming back to it after 14 years. I think a few of the smallest prototype models are still being shipped around as attractions at different technical fairs and exhibitions. Otherwise it's a pretty unknown thing. So sad that the funding dried up - they really seem to have been on to something :/

[@jebise1126]

@@fjarle not really. few videos pointed out that they would have to build whole new tracks. for TGV it can run on existing tracks.

[@pg245091]

There's already a good one by Mustard

[@roryrafferty4589]

The best way to start the week is with a new curious droid video! Thanks Mr. Shillito

[@craigduncan4826]

Wait.. Mr Schillito..? I thought he was Mr Droid? Renowned for being inquisitive and curious, hence the moniker of “good old Curious Droid”. We may need some school friends or shirt tailor to confirm.

[@439sparky1]

AND starting with a pun

[@Rytis36]

Amen

[@theJellyjoker]

I'm leaving on a jet train, don't know when I'll be back again.

[@lrrrruleroftheplanetomicro6881]

Please don't return at night, caus we'll hear you from a mile away.

[@Coastfog]

First I was like "Oh that's what they were singing about!" Then I was like "Wait a minute, they didn't sing about a train"

[@carbon_no6]

Cool story, bro!

[@jpsholland]

In those days the jet engine was still a new thing. They thought it could be used for everything, planes, trains and automobiles. But also motorcycles, bicycles, and wristwatches.... It still wonders me why there is no jetpunk just like steampunk and cyberpunk.

[@djolley61]

Jay Leno has a turbine powered motorcycle.

[@903strikerunit]

Jet punk is a sideline to atompunk..

[@SneakyTravels]

..or propellerpunk

[@Joopyter724]

Like nuclear reactors when they were first invented like how Ford designed a nuclear car (imagine car crashes)

[@gabelbart]

Id like to see that wristwatch.... :D

[@sbvera13]

Puns that perfectly placed do not require excuses.

[@mpireoutdoors5274]

No permission prescribed for perfectly placed puns.

[@lepmuhangpa]

In my opinion, if you don't say "excuse the pun" the pun is hard to notice. So, for perfect delivery, it is necessary to say it.

[@askhowiknow5527]

@@mpireoutdoors5274 What about awful astringent alliteration from an absolute australopith that doesn’t know what a pun is?

[@jacquesblaque7728]

About the "continuously-welded rail" for the NYC jet-RDC, if you look at both tracks at 8:50, you'll see both tracks are jointed rail, so NO. Reportedly small sections of the route were welded rail. Turbojet efficiency is NOT determined by platform speed, but by power output: as power is reduced from permissible peak, efficiency drops much more rapidly. This project was not intended as a prototype of anything, rather an experiment to assess usability of these tracks for high speeds. Al Perlman was aboard. Facts still matter HTH.

[@liquidmakor6793]

I very rarely comment on KZbin, but Paul, this sort of content is really quality and hard to come by

[@nielsdebakker3283]

If only he would pronounce the word schienen correctly, it is not scheinen...

[@burningSHADOW42]

On the pronunciation of "Schienenzeppelin": The secondtime he used the word in the video was actually quite close, to the German pronunciation. "Schienen" is pronounced like "She-nan" with "she" like the female pronoun und "nan" like the colloquial term for grandma. The pronunciation of "Zeppelin" in this video ist not bad, but the "z" in German is pronounced like the "ts" in "hurts". So the closest thing in english would look something like "She-nan-tseppelin"

[@the_jcbone]

Pretty much what I just planned to write. I just don't get why english speakers can't distinguish between "IE" and "EI".

[@burningSHADOW42]

@@the_jcbone another comment gave me a clue on that. In words like "shine" the "i" is pronounced like the German "ei" so to an English speaker "Schien" probably looks like "shine"

[@the_jcbone]

@@burningSHADOW42 yeah, that may be it.

[@untruelie2640]

Also, the second "e" in "Zeppelin" is actually pronounced like the first one (some english speakers do leave it out) and the emphasis is on the first syllable ("Ze") as well as on the last one "in"). So it's actually pronounced "SHE-nan-TSE-peh-LEEN". Can this thread become more german? :D

[@harrisonbergeron9746]

nobody cares

[@PaulA-zp7hn]

Yessss, the Droid returns! Always top content.

[@92sepp]

Really nice and informative documentary. There exists another project of the same kind in France which is called "Aérotrain". There are some prototypes of it kept by an association in Versailles which I could visit a few years ago. These vehicles, developed around 50 years ago, are really fascinating. The main difference of the other Aerotrains is, that the Aérotrain hovers (like a hovercraft) on a cussion of air over a single rail. The airflow for this cussion, generated by the turbine, isblown out over a lot of tubes on the bottom side of the vehicle. I was told that this rail was mounted on a "bridge" high over the ground. Some parts of the test rail is still existing, but I don't remember where in France. The project started under president Pompidou and ended after his dead because his follower didn't appreciate this technology, I was told.

[@bearcubdaycare]

Got up to 422km/h, I read

[@threeparots1]

The CN Turbo jet train ran between Montreal and Toronto as well as a sister train set from 1970 till 1984 in Canada. With some short breaks for engineering upgrade. This had 4 St-6 engine driving the wheel directly with their power turbines. Not overly economical, but they did break some high speed records and they did run in normal service for some time.

[@OctoChad]

No mention of the french aerotrain, and the 18 km test track still visible today?

[@maxant4285]

I was surprised he skipped that one.

[@fridaycaliforniaa236]

@@maxant4285 Yup same. We have a nice piece of Railroad History with those trains =)

[@Balthorium]

Maybe because it was more monorail?

[@king40606]

I think Mustard did a video on that one

[@tobiwan001]

Probably because it was not a traditional train, but a completely new hovertrain system.

[@raoulkirner492]

As always - great video! Yet, being a native German speaker, I'd like to offer an insight in the pronounciation of "Schienenzeppelin": In German, "i" is pronounced as the "e" in english, or as in "is" or "in". If combined with an "e" before the "i", i.e. "ei", this then is pronounced as the typical english "i" as in "eye". Yet, if combined with an "e" behind the "i", i.e. "ie" as in "Schienenzeppelin", it extends the "i", like in "beer" or "meat". Other than than: pretty decent pronounciation of "Schienzeppelin" for a brit *tips hat*

[@1911doc]

Dude, the same thing here :D It hurt the ears

[@antman7673]

Ch [eat] + [M] ea [t] n+[Kar] en t+zapp[ing] a lin [en] Sch ie nen Zepp e lin Schie - nen ...pause(new Word)... Zep-pelin

[@1911doc]

@Bitterman Better to be know it all than not knowing it at all...

[@namefinder]

@Bitterman funny, considering how often Brits like to tell anyone else in the world to "speak proper English".

[@raoulkirner492]

@Bitterman why feel attacked? This is about sharing done insights into German prononciation, which is as difficult as any... And as the rest of the "Schienenzeppelin" is already very good, maybe this helps to get it to 100% :)

[@Elkatook666]

a really interesting design can be seen in The Man in the High Castle - season 4, episode 10. they have an elevated jet powered monorail. elevating the tracks negates the dust and debris from having the tracks on the ground. great video, as always

[@CuriousDroid]

Good point, George Bennie in the UK did a propeller powered monorail in the late 1920s early 30s, they built a 120 meter test track but despite a lot of interest at the time no one was prepared to back it and it became another footnote in the history books and Bennie went bankroupt developing it with his own money :-(

[@Root3264]

It's a good day when curious droid uploads

[@Isaksson9915]

This video reminds me the we humans tend to be stubborn when it comes to trying something that initially seems like a good idea, making the same mistakes over and over again. It´s probably the best quality we have as it makes us experts in what we do, and most likely the worst as it makes us repeat our greatest mistakes. Great video!

[@moskitosTR]

Hats off to great teacher

[@Fragaut]

Oh no ! You forgot to talk about the Bertin Aérotrain, riding on air cushions with two full scale prototypes built, one using linear induction motor and the other a ducted propeller. Next video, may be?

[@pjotrtje0NL]

Already covered elsewhere...

[@Fragaut]

@@pjotrtje0NL Not by Curious Droid and I think he could do a good job on it. It's an interesting story.

[@Gunstick]

I am surprised you missed out on the aeorotrain itself. The french one. Called aero because it had no wheels like a maglev, but levitating on an air cushion. Interesting that some of the hypeloop concepts also use air cushion.

[@chromaticAberration]

I was surprised too...

[@OzzProg]

I prefer your "space" content, but I still appreciate ones such as these... they're so well made, and your narration is entertaining & informative. Thanks!

[@F_L_U_X]

10:32 I'm just picturing two of those giant jet engines floating in front of the train like a Racer pod from Star Wars.

[@jpsholland]

Maybe the idea of the Star Wars racing pods came from this trains.

[@CaptainM792]

Now this is podracing.

[@greghanson5696]

The pod containing the twin General Electric J47 engines was first used on the Boeing B-47 Stratojet, then added to the Convair B-36 Peacemaker D model.

[@RogerM88]

Curious droid amazing us again with his good content and lovely colorful shirts.

[@fabiank485]

As a German, your pronunciation of Schienenzeppelin is hilarious. Absolutely brilliant 😄

[@nadirnadir7384]

He's not a native German... to be honest I can't even pronounce it right even after trained 10 minutes following Google assistant 😂

[@Pascal-uc6tr]

Schainenzeppelin ;)

[@rockyblacksmith]

@@nadirnadir7384 This one ain't complicated though, he just got the pronunciation of the "ie" wrong. The "Schie" in "Schienenzeppelin" is pronounced just like the English "she". And he got the rest of the word decently right.

[@TheZxman]

The sound of that train with a prop spinning passing must have been wild!!!

[@MarksPhoto]

I live just a few miles where the NYC jet car was tested. Absolutely flat, straight trackage with crossings only every mile or so, and towns every five miles. (Sidefact: Most of these towns only exist because they were refuel / station stops when the railroad was originally built) Plus it was surrounded by mostly fields of corn and soybeans in season.

[@pwmiles56]

Brilliant! I well remember a ride on the Shinkansen in 1979, station staff enforcing the 1 minute platform stops (Japanese style). How about a monorail video, e.g. the famous Brennan?

[@arnepianocanada]

Congratulations from 🇨🇦 Canada on the fine program - your excellent voice and clarity of speech enhancing it.

[@TioDeive]

Everyday with a new Curious Droid video is a good day! Thank you!.

[@johnpsymqepdfq8492]

Good video. A note about the NYC Jet RDC car. If you look at 8m:58s in the video, you'll notice the track wasn't welded. I vaguely recall reading that the track used was "resurfaced" for the test, but was standard jointed track. I also vaguely recall reading that Al Perlman was in the car during the record test run.

[@colbeausabre8842]

New York Central's "Black Beetle" It was never intended to be a prototype, it was strictly to see how fast a conventional train could go on conventional track. "The construct was then successfully sent on test runs over the existing tracks between Butler, Indiana, and Stryker, Ohio.. The line had been chosen for its arrow-straight layout and good condition, but otherwise unmodified track. On July 23, 1966, the car reached a speed of 183.68 mph (295.6 km/h), an American rail speed record that still stands today. Even with this spectacular performance, and even though it had been built relatively cheaply, using existing parts, the project was not considered viable commercially. The railroad gathered valuable test data regarding the stresses of high-speed rail travel on conventional equipment and tracks then existing in America"

[@johnjephcote7636]

Do not forget the George Bennie 'Railplane' suspended from an (over-engineered) overhead gantry at Milngarvie above the railway line? It had a pusher airscrew and was built by Wm.Beardmore. There are some short films of the inventor and the Beardmore works and its short test runs, one above a very smoke-emitting tank engine.

[@ZemplinTemplar]

Another great video. Here's another suggestion for a future video: Man-powered aircraft experimentation and records. Aircraft like the SUMPAC, AeroVironment's Gossamer series, the MIT Light Eagle and Daedalus, and others.

[@sprint955st]

Agreed. The record for crossing the English Channel human powered flight is 42 years old, time it was broken, surely?

[@DownToNerd]

"exuse the pun" - oh your pun has been excused, traight to the upvote!

[@Tjalve70]

Probably due to a lack of wings.

[@nalstudio_official]

Usually when I come back to watch these old channels I haven't watched in years, I get disappointed, because the content is not the same, but I am happy to report that curious droid is one of the few channels that are just like I remembered them as

[@markusjuenemann]

"ie" is to be pronounced in german like "ee" in english. Think of "Sheenantsappalin". Besides that: A really good video, as always.

[@PrecisionEngineeredJank]

Sheenen-tseppaleen in my opinion but yes. Scheinenzeppelin would be something more "stealthy" haha

[@79iGEL]

@@PrecisionEngineeredJank Shining zeppelin 😉 I guess, Paul confused the pronunciation of ie with ei, in which case it would have been impressive for a none native speaker.

[@LambChopRides]

Really enjoyed that sir 👍

[@gerogyzurkov2259]

Detail tgv Gas turbine one too. Short lived was when TGV was running on gas turbines for 1-3 years before the switch to the familiar electric TGV.

[@kauske]

We had some locos and rolling stock like that in Canada too, with other odd features that made the whole thing incompatible with standard rolling stock.

[@drboze6781]

In the US, Union Pacific dabbled in gas turbine locomotives (for freight) that got nicknamed "the Big Blows". They produced up to 10,000 hp and worked well, but the Korean War drove the cost of Bunker C oil up so they were no longer viable. Apparently the noise was terrific, and non-stop, as the turbine drove a generator and were single speed.

[@enisra_bowman]

No, it wasn't mentioned because the Video was not about such trains! Yes, a Gasturbine is the same Thing as a Jet Engine sans the large Fan in the front, but they drive the wheels, but this Video was about trains driven by the Trust from a Jet Engine or Propeller

[@zeroone8800]

The big problem with gas turbine operation is idle and low speed energy use. The only way for it to work would be a turbo-generator-battery-motor set up. When the turbine is on it is at its most efficient speed, otherwise it is off. The reason Otto and Diesel engines dominate the internal combustion engine game is that they are deep throttling without a large loss of efficiency. With series hybrids, engines that are more efficient in a narrow operational range can now be used. The only mainline manufacturer that appears to be experimenting with this is Mazda with the Wankel. The Wankel has the same problem as the gas turbine a narrow efficient operational range.

[@Dave_Sisson]

One of the pre-war British railway companies built a "Turbomotive" which ran off a steam turbine they got from a company that made turbines for ships.

[@kiggi__]

another awsome video, love these short informative technology videos

[@frankgulla2335]

Thank you for the nice and concise history of aero-jet railroads.

[@iandavidson99]

Purely from a propulsion perspective, thrust-jets simply aren't suitable for trains. Although they provide *phenomenal* power, the trust/torque they provide is comparatively low - not ideal for shifting a heavy train. If you want to use a "jet" to power a train, you use a gas-turbine, which is just a jet engine driving a gearbox, such as on a helicopter, M1 Abrams tank or the Union Pacific turbine trains

[@stephenirwin2761]

Nicely done, as usual, Paul!

[@globetlottel]

My first toy rail vehicle as a kid was the Schienenzeppelin. I’m amazed to see the real thing in videos today for the first time!

[@globetlottel]

Also, come on, Märklin, those were supposed to be single axles front and rear!

[@Night4fingers]

There was also a french prototype of another type of Aerotrain - this time, instead of using standard rail it used an inverted T-shaped monorail made of concrete and rode on a form of aircushion. Problems were numerous, and it was also fairly noisy, so it was quickly dropped.

[@radioactive9861]

Night4fingers, YES! I saw the French train you are referring to on a tv show..."What on Earth?"(I think that was the name of it). Was hoping it would be covered here on Curious Droid, but...whoops!

[@Night4fingers]

@@radioactive9861 Curious Droid covered only the air-propelled conventional rail here. The french aerotrain (that was the actual name) was not, I can see why it wouldn't be kept for the video.

[@maxant4285]

@@Night4fingers he covered all types of aerotrains but excluded the French one that was literally called "aerotrain".

[@terrypitt-brooke8367]

Loved the video, as always, but you forgot the Canadian (and American) entry: the Turbo that ran on VIA Canada's Toronto-Montreal corridor. They were powered by Pratt and Whitney Canada PT6 engines.

[@johnpsymqepdfq8492]

However, the various versions of these trains didn't use the thrust from the Jet Engine to propel the vehicle. In the Turbo Train (and similar ones) the jet’s central shaft basically drove a hydraulic transmission which then turned the wheels. The rail cars in this video were pushed by the propeller or the jet’s thrust (the wheels were just along for the ride, so to speak).

[@terrypitt-brooke8367]

@@johnpsymqepdfq8492 Very true!

[@thegalli]

Thanks for another great one Paul

[@Lucky32Luke]

I am glad I have subscribed to Magellan about a year ago to make my 9 year old to watch science and technology (instead of playing Minecraft). Without it, I feel I would just raise another Elon Musk fan. (Without our vast history in engineering and science every idea seems to be a new one until you find that it has been invented, thought out, engineered and tried and failed before.) Thanks to you and other YT technology minded people I can show that not every idea is genuinely new, in fact many of them has been stolen or redesigned old idea with a shiny new computer generated coating. Great video as always, even if I was fortunate to watch many Magellan documentary this is a really good work and many details you have been added to it giving a greater perspective. Keep up the good work!

[@Chironex_Fleckeri]

I love the creativity of these engineers. It wasn't meant to be, but it certainly is cool.

[@mr.mendez515]

one of favorites videos!! thanks

[@chrisnorman1183]

Almost 1 Million subs, lets get it done everybody!

[@barry-cq4xg]

Really interesting video - well explained and succinct.

[@fensoxx]

That was awesome thanks! Seen a lot of that but none of the Russian projects. So cool.

[@Mishn0]

The engine pod used on the "Black Beetle" was also the same as the inboard engine pods on the B-47. That's where the B-36s got them from.

[@tingewickmax]

Excellent informative video. It begs the question - When will you make a video of those other locos that made use of gas turbine technology, not for thrust propulsion but to drive generators that powered electric motors to provide traction ? Like the GWR/BR commissioned 1800 and 18100 respectively, the SNCF/Amtrrak Turbotrain and original TGV 001 and the Union Pacific gas turbine loco fleet.

[@DC4260Productions]

I certainly did enjoy the video. It reminded me of a funny add-on from Train Simulator. Said add-on was a 'jet train'. This was just a freight wagon frame with an enormous Boeing 777 engine on the back. It was as funny as it was unstable.

[@lundimardi1975]

Arrgggghhh!! An entire video where Schienenzeppelin is ruinously pronounced! It's like nails down a blackboard for German speakers every single time you hear it!

[@MikkelMadsen]

Interesting piece of "what if"-technology. fashinating concepts - but the drawbacks with especially the jet trains did indeed seem quite huge...:-)

[@colbeausabre8842]

New York Central's "Black Beetle" It was never intended to be a prototype, it was strictly to see how fast a conventional train could go on conventional track. "The construct was then successfully sent on test runs over the existing tracks between Butler, Indiana, and Stryker, Ohio.. The line had been chosen for its arrow-straight layout and good condition, but otherwise unmodified track. On July 23, 1966, the car reached a speed of 183.68 mph (295.6 km/h), an American rail speed record that still stands today. Even with this spectacular performance, and even though it had been built relatively cheaply, using existing parts, the project was not considered viable commercially. The railroad gathered valuable test data regarding the stresses of high-speed rail travel on conventional equipment and tracks then existing in America"

[@NPJGlobal]

Paul, please make a video about the legendary french aerotrain!

[@colbeausabre8842]

It sucked

[@marcfreimann9270]

Allways very interesting! Thx

[@gabrielleraul]

Came here for the shirt, not disappointed! ❤️

[@charleshetrick3152]

Love the info and videos, but for real mostly here for the awesome shirts; no joke, love the shirts.

[@sorenweisshartmann]

Really interesting video. Thanks

[@samuraijaydee]

Love your work sir. Thank you. Also, Shinkansen (Shin-Can-Sen) 'New Trunk Line' isn't as sexy as 'The Bullet Train' ne?

[@sparty94]

very cool vid. i didn't know about any of these trains.

[@ODBZapper]

I'm hoping this leads to a followup video on the Aerotrain concepts icluding the TACRV, LIMRV and UTACV

[@MoatenGat]

Getting close to that magic million. Great video.

[@papabits5721]

Canadian National Railway played around with a turbine powered engine, I remember my dad taking us to see it.

[@bradleyokane]

Always educational to watch your content Paul, thank you 👍

[@CuriousDroid]

Much appreciated

[@joshuasims5421]

Bullet trains with giant propellers should be their own aesthetic. Is it steampunk? Gearpunk? Dieselpunk? Propellerpunk? Anyway, watch out for low-flying aircraft!

[@handyandyaus]

More train videos please Paul!

[@some_haqr]

I clicked this expecting to hear Simon bloody whistler again Thanks for an awesome chunk of history dude!

[@kingnotail3838]

You know you're an uber-nerd when you recognise the engines from the B-36 bomber ;D

[@WestCoastWheelman]

Six turning four burning!

[@josephroberts7597]

I'd say you were well read....

[@jerrysinclair3771]

Paul, railfans all across the globe learned something tonight. Thank you for and excellent and informative video. I loved your opening pun, "They never got off the ground''! :)

[@colbeausabre8842]

I didn't. He was TOTALLY wrong on New York Central's "Black Beetle" It was never intended to be a prototype, it was strictly to see how fast a conventional train could go on conventional track. "The construct was then successfully sent on test runs over the existing tracks between Butler, Indiana, and Stryker, Ohio.. The line had been chosen for its arrow-straight layout and good condition, but otherwise unmodified track. On July 23, 1966, the car reached a speed of 183.68 mph (295.6 km/h), an American rail speed record that still stands today. Even with this spectacular performance, and even though it had been built relatively cheaply, using existing parts, the project was not considered viable commercially. The railroad gathered valuable test data regarding the stresses of high-speed rail travel on conventional equipment and tracks then existing in America"

[@jock364]

Have you forgotten the Bennie Railplane in Milngavie, Scotland?

[@francisboyle1739]

Not only propeller driven but a monorail to boot!

[@creepingjesus5106]

I used to work nearby the site of it, I'd have loved to see it in action. Even the (early 90s) some of the concrete footings for the pylons were hiding in the grass by the Allander Sports Centre!

[@RaimoKangasniemi]

Abakovsky, dying in 1921, was not - if I pathetically nitpick - a Soviet, as Soviet Union was established in 1922. Very interesting video!

[@steveshoemaker6347]

Excellent...Thanks Paul...

[@Billhatestheinternet]

Union Pacific did in fact use a locomotive for a few years (mainline use) powered by a gas/jet turbine. It was done mainly due in desperation to the sudden loss in sheer power to the super steam locomotives UP was known for (and general retirement nationwide of steam) such as the 4-6-6-4 Challenger and 4-8-8-4 Big Boy. Again, due to noise (747-100 takeoff equivalent), fuel usage, and sheer heat produced (it exhausted through the top; resulting in a bridge superstructure being compromised), it was retired (unknown if any survive).

[@Dzaen2]

great video man, thank you

[@kenhelmers2603]

Very cool! Thank you

[@warhead_beast7661]

We still have a Schienenzeppelin in the Dresdener Verkehrsmusem in Dresden, Saxony. It is in not a good shape tho but it still exists

[@CuriousDroid]

Maybe its second prototype but good to know that something may have survived.

[@warhead_beast7661]

@@CuriousDroid sadly i mixed something up, it is the DR 137 155 also made by Kruckenberg but its not the Schienenzeppelin

[@BOLL7708]

Super interesting history, well put together, thanks 😁 I'm kind of happy it did not actually become a thing to use jet engines on trains, the noise would indeed be insane, and not just at stations but asking the track! 😅💦

[@Nebarus]

Now a video please about the tries to power planes with ship paddle wheels :)

[@A.Lifecraft]

What could have been mentioned here is the german Trans Europa Express (TEE) type 601 . Directly deriving from Kruckenberg principles, some trains where later converted to type 602, which, allowing for additional carts, where equipped with turboshaft engines, doubling overall power from 1620kW to 3234kW. Gasturbine engines where considered unreliable and did never receive as much research and development as diesel engines did in germany. When type 602 went out of service in 1979, the ICE, Germanys competitor to Frances TGV and Japans Shinkansen was already in development using asynchronous electric motors.

[@grandicellichannel]

Great Paul, I always love them! But what about the french Paris-Orleans Aerotrain?

[@thirstyhorse7803]

Just a question about the Schienenzeppelin. Wouldn't the bladed prop be tilted upwards to provide downforce and not downwards as you said?

[@colbeausabre8842]

No, it would tend to lift the nose, using the rear wheels as a fulcrum

[@paulhaynes8045]

Excellent! More trains please.

[@Pedritox0953]

Love your videos!!

[@DaveNarn]

Jet + Train is awesome. Wile E Coyote couldn't have come up with a better idea.

[@MrCoolprax]

I can go on watching your videos Love them sincerely

[@Grasomat]

Shynen = Scheinen Sheenen = Schienen

[@PanPuchacki]

As always very interesting subject.

[@NICEFINENEWROBOT]

Psst! It's pronounced "Sheenan-Tsappelene". ?:o)

[@eSKAone-]

His pronunciation is horrible 🙈

[@douglasparkinson4123]

@@eSKAone- you cant blame him. hes a brit.

[@ribbitgoesthedoglastnamehe4681]

@@ossory9015 Scheissezeppelin?

[@markusjuenemann]

@@douglasparkinson4123 I´m a German and I´d be proud if my english pronunciation would be as good as his german pronunciation... But, to be honest: Google could have told him how to pronounce it...

[@douglasparkinson4123]

@Bitterman name doesnt lie huh. you sound real bitter

[@BilgePump]

I like the propeller driven one. It’s by far the coolest idea. Yea baby Yea! 🇩🇪

[@colbeausabre8842]

It sucks for oh, so many reasons

[@maxart3392]

It surprises me a bit that you haven't even mentioned the French "Turbotrain", which was developed in the 1960s and powered by helicopter turbo engines. Apart from the fact that it paved the way for the TGV project, it was actually a successful design and those trains were in service for years, actually until recently, mainly on the non electirfied lines, such as Paris - Cherbourg or Lyon - Bordeaux. I remember travelling on one back in 1977 from Caen to Paris. And it was fast, certainly faster than diesel powered trains.

[@ABaumstumpf]

i still don't understand why. Was the transmission that inefficient or the tires and axels not up to the task of delivering the power? Cause sure using the motor to drive a propeller to push back on air is not as efficient as driving the tires directly.

[@colbeausabre8842]

Precisely. Hook the engine to a generator, hook that to motors powering the axles. GM's EMD subsidiary was offering diesel electrics good for 117 mph by the end of the Thirties

[@railfanningstuff8333]

That opening line was an awesome movie

[@lukeearthcrawler896]

Unacceptable noise levels seems to be one of those problems we somehow need to rediscover every decade or so. Today, the issue is with drone delivery of mail packages. Imagine having thousands or tens of thousands of these whizzing around neighborhoods. But hey.. I'm sure this time beating the air into submission like a helicopter does will turn out differently.

[@ironcito1101]

We do have billions of explosion-powered vehicles that make it very noisy near a highway or busy street, so sometimes we tolerate the noise. As far as the future of deliveries, though, I see something like electric self-driving scooters being better than flying drones, at least in the vast majority of situations.

[@lukeearthcrawler896]

@@ironcito1101 Yes, we do... and all these billion vehicles have mufflers. Imagine NYC streets with cars w/o mufflers. Have you seen a helicopter with a muffler? Yeah... me neither. As someone said: Helicopters do not fly. They beat the air into submission". Guess what? So are drones... especially if they have to lift heavy packages and a a hefty battery pack. But I agree with you regarding scooters. These are the way to go: they're actually quiet, reliable and if they make them with swappable battery packs like our 40V Ryobi power tools, that would definitely work.

[@ironcito1101]

@@lukeearthcrawler896 If it came down to cheap, fast, noisy drones or expensive, slow, inconvenient (but quiet) deliveries, we'd tolerate the noise. Noise is not the only factor, is what I'm saying. That's why we tolerate noisy cars, aircraft, sledgehammers and whatnot, and we'd tolerate drones if they were the best option, altough I don't think they will.

[@jackmunday7602]

When curious droid releases a new video. You know life is good.

[@lemdixon01]

I've also seen prototype trains with jet engines not for population, but the turbine to generate electricity to power the electric motors on the wheels.

[@johnpsymqepdfq8492]

The French TGV001 was turbine powered:, search for "turbine tgv" if the link doesn't show up. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TGV_001#:~:text=The%20TGV%20001%20was%20an,program%20on%20high%20rail%20speeds.