View Single Post
Old 03-05-2009, 09:17 PM   #1 (permalink)
Cd
Ultimate Fail
 
Cd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Austin,Texas
Posts: 3,585
Thanks: 2,872
Thanked 1,121 Times in 679 Posts
Question Why are trains no longer streamlined ?

Yes - I know passenger trains such as the TGV, and Japanese bullet trains are all beautifully designed for good aerodynamics, but what about freight trains ?

You would think that they could at least do a half arsed attempt at it with the freight trains. Looking at freight trains, it almost looks as if they design the trains like a trailer house - complete with exposed ladders, wind catching roof overhangs, and exposed railing.

Even at the slower speeds that they travel, they would probably save several thousand gallons of fuel each year simply by a more 'retro' streamlined design.

So where did the old streamliner designs fail so badly that the newer trains had to throw the old designs to the wind ?

  Reply With Quote