 |
BusTalk
A Community Discussing Buses and Bus Operations Worldwide!
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 29766
Location: NEW JOISEY
|
 Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2011 8:03 pm Post subject: TURBOPROP "SCENICRUISER" ON THE RAILS! |
 |
|
Needless to say, I did a double-take when I came across this one!! 
It's the fourth image from the top of the page.......one look at this totally bizarre rail vehicle will, without a doubt, clue you in to where its inspiration came from!!
Have fun! 
NYO
http://www.shonner.com/aerotrain/index.htm |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 29766
Location: NEW JOISEY
|
| Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2011 11:58 pm Post subject: |
|
|
.....after looking at this highly unorthodox "coach" again, all I can say is that is one "SCENICRUISER" experimental that surely would have turned a head or two, if a full-sized mockup had ever been built!
Sure would make for one VERY unusual scale model...... 
NYO |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
HwyHaulier
Joined: 16 Dec 2007
Posts: 932
Location: Harford County, MD
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 8:18 am Post subject: |
|
|
NYO -
Recall, this from an era of pandemic National Nuttiness! Thoughts Aerospace and Defense Contractors had solutions to everything!
The example you located every bit as much a joke as the N Y C, jet powered RDC Car...
The Beatles arrived from England, shortly thereafter. The rest is history!
.....................Vern.......................... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 29766
Location: NEW JOISEY
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 9:10 am Post subject: |
|
|
Vern....
Yes, indeed!
It does not appear that such fanciful designs were products of a CONVENTIONAL "train of thought"!<G>
The long-forgotten proposed automated busway for the CTA, utilizing MU trains of FLX/TWIN COACHES seems downright pedestrian, in comparison......
NYO |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Q65A
Age: 68
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 1796
Location: Central NJ
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 9:35 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Thee drawings are the products of someone who is marching to the beat of a different drummer, to be sure! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
HwyHaulier
Joined: 16 Dec 2007
Posts: 932
Location: Harford County, MD
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 9:40 am Post subject: |
|
|
| NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 wrote: | | ...The long-forgotten proposed automated busway for the CTA, utilizing MU trains of FLX/TWIN COACHES seems downright pedestrian, in comparison...... |
NYO -
While it was a flight of fancy, of sorts, it was largely harmless. In the era, CTA was renowned in driving hard bargains,
tried to run as cheaply as it could, so that taxpayers weren't hurt in the production.
For the most part, MU of anything, short of steam railroad or subway exceptions, is a waste of time and resources...
......................Vern................. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 29766
Location: NEW JOISEY
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 10:17 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Q65A wrote: | | Thee drawings are the products of someone who is marching to the beat of a different drummer, to be sure! |
You said it, brother!
As I had stated elsewhere, the manufacturers of lithographed tin toys in Japan, back in the late 50's and 60's, were prime examples of utilizing such bizzare designs!
One tin "SCENICRUISER" featured an open rear observation platform, connected to the rear of the upper level via an open stairway!
If nothing else, imagination certainly was NOT in short supply, back then.....
NYO |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 29766
Location: NEW JOISEY
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 10:27 am Post subject: |
|
|
| HwyHaulier wrote: | | NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 wrote: | | ...The long-forgotten proposed automated busway for the CTA, utilizing MU trains of FLX/TWIN COACHES seems downright pedestrian, in comparison...... |
NYO -
While it was a flight of fancy, of sorts, it was largely harmless. In the era, CTA was renowned in driving hard bargains,
tried to run as cheaply as it could, so that taxpayers weren't hurt in the production.
For the most part, MU of anything, short of steam railroad or subway exceptions, is a waste of time and resources...
......................Vern................. |
Vern:
Exactly!
Non railroad/rapid transit use of MU operations was never truly practicle, with the exception of European tram systems, throughout the decades.
CTA's proposed "busway" was indeed at the tamer end of the scale......
NYO |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
HwyHaulier
Joined: 16 Dec 2007
Posts: 932
Location: Harford County, MD
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 10:49 am Post subject: |
|
|
| NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 wrote: | | ...Non railroad/rapid transit use of MU operations was never truly practicle, with the exception of European tram systems, throughout the decades..." |
NYO -
Recall, the EURO trams being the endless fascination with power cars pulling trailers. With the fairly small cars,
by US standards, it was long running silliness?
Comparable US practice would have required minimum three man "platform" staffing. It is de facto absurd...
...........................Vern..................... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 29766
Location: NEW JOISEY
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 2:52 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| HwyHaulier wrote: | | NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 wrote: | | ...Non railroad/rapid transit use of MU operations was never truly practicle, with the exception of European tram systems, throughout the decades..." |
NYO -
Recall, the EURO trams being the endless fascination with power cars pulling trailers. With the fairly small cars,
by US standards, it was long running silliness?
Comparable US practice would have required minimum three man "platform" staffing. It is de facto absurd...
...........................Vern..................... |
Vern......
Recall, too, that, from an economical standpoint, street railway trailers were far from successful in the US, even though they did swallow rush hour crowds with little effort.
Recall that the 60's were indeed a time of experimation involving the Mass Transit industry, a futile, feeble attempt to bring new life into a dying industry.
There was "TOMORROW" (ex-DC Transit PCC #1304), fitted out with a plethora of new electronic hardware, so that GE could test a "driverless" transit vehicle.
Recalling the CTA "Busway" I mentioned earlier, this would have had individual CTA buses on outer suburban routes, assemble at the Southwest Expressway, and coupled together for the journey into the city.
The reverse would have, of course, applied to outbound trips.
The original idea was of fitting the median strip of the Expressway with a guide rail, to ensure a correct path for the trailing vehicles, but, it was later considered to guide the "bus trains" electronically, and also to stop and start them through the buses picking up signals from underground cables.
Of course, this plan never got beyond the planning stages.
An artist's rendition of this operation is featured in "BUSES, TROLLEYS, & TRAMS", by Chas. S. Dunbar (1967)
NYO |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 29766
Location: NEW JOISEY
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Q65A
Age: 68
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 1796
Location: Central NJ
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 4:49 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| These are "rubber-tired els". |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 29766
Location: NEW JOISEY
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 5:42 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Q65A wrote: | | These are "rubber-tired els". |
Naaahhh, those are just mini-buses with an "el" of an attitude! 
I always found it strange that this operation was called "SkyBUS".....really more of a rail operation........but, hey, it was the 60's, after all!
FAR, OUT, MAN! LIKE, TOTALLY GRROOOOVY!!
NYO |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 29766
Location: NEW JOISEY
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 9:43 pm Post subject: |
|
|
All:
Speaking of experimental buses, there's a photo of an experimental TDH-4512, which was exhibited at the GM "PANORAMA" exhibit in Chicago, back in 1955, in William A. Luke's "OLD LOOK BUSES".
This bus was the "TURBOCRUISER", which featured an experimental gas turbine engine, then being tested by GM.
Following exhaustive tests, it was found that the engine consumed far too much fuel; it also ran too hot and was difficult to control.
However, it ran very quietly.
Following the tests, this handsome blue and white coach had a diesel engine installed, and was then sold "MARTIN LINES", of Royal Oak, Michigan, where it ran for many years.
During testing, "GENERAL MOTORS RESEARCH" was displayed where the front roller curtain would have normally been.
NYO |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
HwyHaulier
Joined: 16 Dec 2007
Posts: 932
Location: Harford County, MD
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 6:01 am Post subject: |
|
|
NYO -
Oh, the "gas turbine" fad outburst! It was tried, quite briefly, on "Class 8" highway trucks, too.
It didn't work in that application, either...
CTA and "MU" transit busses? What on Earth was that all about? Some retained consulting firm,
making a play why they were worth every penny of their billed fees? It forgot the part the following
coach mandated a CTA employee on board. The Chicago Local would never have it any other way.
That being the case, what was the point? Today, it would be called a, "...dumb computer trick...".
Demonstrates it can be done, but what's the point beyond time wasting?
........................Vern.................... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You can attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum
|
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group
|
BusTalk Main
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
BusTalk Galleries
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
