Quote:
Originally Posted by Piwoslaw
True. I forgot about the batteries.
And it's a shame that trains don't have a means to store braking energy. Of course, I mean commuter trains and such, not long distance freight trains.
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That drives me crazy. The local commuter service (Metrolink) has 12 stops between San Bernardino and Los Angeles (averaging about 5 miles between stops.) At every stop, they accelerate full-bore to track speed, and then when coming into the next station, apply full dynamic braking (turning useful momentum into electricity, and then wasted heat.) Meanwhile, there's a head-end power unit that's continuously burning diesel to heat, cool and light the passenger cars.