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QUOTE Why build a mechanical Steam loco?
Indeed. I would have thought that a modern coal fired power station would be best able to extract the absolute maximum energy from any coal supplied and be in the best position to neutralise all the nasty combustion by products. This power is then transmitted to electric motors in the train which is also equipped with regenerative braking to minimise energy loss.
Unless.. you have very long distances to cover with a low density service so that the cost of the electric supply is completely uneconomic. Even so some kind of turbine would be better?
David
Indeed. I would have thought that a modern coal fired power station would be best able to extract the absolute maximum energy from any coal supplied and be in the best position to neutralise all the nasty combustion by products. This power is then transmitted to electric motors in the train which is also equipped with regenerative braking to minimise energy loss.
Unless.. you have very long distances to cover with a low density service so that the cost of the electric supply is completely uneconomic. Even so some kind of turbine would be better?
David
