[zimmemr]

This is coming. https://jalopnik.com/harleys-next-bike-is-worth-getting-excited-over-1847160715

It will be pricey. And people will buy it. Just not those who regularly post on Royal Enfield forums....

As I've stated repeatedly I'm not a big fan of the Motor Company, but that doesn't mean I don't respect what they can do what they put their minds and dollars into something. When it comes to HD's engineering to many people confuse won't with can't. The fact that stuck with an antiquated design for so long doesn't mean they were incapable of building state of the art motorcycles, only that for too many reasons to list to here that they preferred not to. It's my opinion that now they have no choice so I expect we'll be seeing a lot (relatively speaking) of innovative work from them.

[mwmosser]

As I've stated repeatedly I'm not a big fan of the Motor Company, but that doesn't mean I don't respect what they can do what they put their minds and dollars into something. When it comes to HD's engineering to many people confuse won't with can't. The fact that stuck with an antiquated design for so long doesn't mean they were incapable of building state of the art motorcycles, only that for too many reasons to list to here that they preferred not to. It's my opinion that now they have no choice so I expect we'll be seeing a lot (relatively speaking) of innovative work from them.

Well said and a sober analysis. Not a fan either, but interested to see what comes next. More competition and innovation is never a bad thing.

[zimmemr]

Well said and a sober analysis. Not a fan either, but interested to see what comes next. More competition and innovation is never a bad thing.

Right back atcha. The more the merrier!

[Adrian II]

@ #5: Apparently I was "bum-doped" in the wayback by a pro-Amurrican rail enthusiast!
Some tie(sleeper) research produced this jewel - who knew there were steel & plastic ties used.
If we(USA) have some of the heaviest engines in the world, although China & India apparently have the nod here, and we use wood ties, that rather puts the screws to the "too heavy engine" argument. I was convinced that all British rails were stone or concrete, not the case at all.
Thanks for the lesson! - ACR -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railroad_tie#Stone_block

The UK actually did build quite large locomotives, but usually for export, and probably nothing quite on the same scale as the the Union Pacific Big Boys - I gather UP has restored one of the surviving examples to working condition. The Beyer-Garratts were probably the largest built in the UK, though as an aficionado of classic engineering, you might enjoy this glimpse into a lost world...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i022ZVjnBe4

(Note: the Vulcan Foundry in the UK is not to be confused with the Vulcan Iron Works in the USA)

Thread hijack over!

A.

[Bilgemaster]

Going back "off-the-tracks" a bit, I'd read somewhere that the rather oddly-measured Standard Gauge or width between the rails of 4 feet 8½ inches (1,435 mm) was based on the wheel spacing of ancient Roman chariots. Apparently, although not entirely the case, it is sort of true: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/railroad-gauge-chariots/

[Arschloch]

Going back "off-the-tracks" a bit, I'd read somewhere that the rather oddly-measured Standard Gauge or width between the rails of 4 feet 8½ inches (1,435 mm) was based on the wheel spacing of ancient Roman chariots. Apparently, although not entirely the case, it is sort of true: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/railroad-gauge-chariots/

Interesting. 

....maybe that needs little adjustment, so that we don't run out of work again for the green crowd.

[GlennF]

The UK actually did build quite large locomotives, but usually for export, and probably nothing quite on the same scale as the the Union Pacific Big Boys - I gather UP has restored one of the surviving examples to working condition. The Beyer-Garratts were probably the largest built in the UK, though as an aficionado of classic engineering, you might enjoy this glimpse into a lost world...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i022ZVjnBe4

(Note: the Vulcan Foundry in the UK is not to be confused with the Vulcan Iron Works in the USA)

Thread hijack over!

A.

The AD60 class 275 ton Beyer-Garrets were the work horses that did most of the heavy lifting for the NSW Railways back in the 60's.

This spectacular clip of a pair of Beyer-Garret double heading a load of coal up the 1 in 40 grade at Fassifern Bank is a sight we are never going to see again.

https://youtu.be/-1EWpCQP7eE?t=150

More Garrets at Fassifern Bank:

https://youtu.be/52mlwuPkbVI?t=87

[zimmemr]

The AD60 class 275 ton Beyer-Garrets were the work horses that did most of the heavy lifting for the NSW Railways back in the 60's.

This spectacular clip of a pair of Beyer-Garret double heading a load of coal up the 1 in 40 grade at Fassifern Bank is a sight we are never going to see again.

https://youtu.be/-1EWpCQP7eE?t=150

More Garrets at Fassifern Bank:




https://youtu.be/52mlwuPkbVI?t=87

Very cool Glenn thanks for posting it.

[Richard230]

That is one hell of a steam engine. What a monster. I bet running and maintaining that thing kept a bunch of people busy.

[Arschloch]

That is one hell of a steam engine. What a monster. I bet running and maintaining that thing kept a bunch of people busy.

Most of locomotives are electric in the EU and most electric power is made from cole still, at a higher efficiency than burning it in the steam engine. The bunch of people moved to power plant's.

[AzCal Retred]

@ #23: Old timers said that it about 250 folks were employed at the roundhouse to service & maintain the old steam locomotives operating out of Barstow, California in the 1930's. After Diesel-Electrics took over, that number dropped to 12. I know that my Electric company never had a problem spending millions to eliminate a Bargaining unit job.

[GlennF]

@ #23: Old timers said that it about 250 folks were employed at the roundhouse to service & maintain the old steam locomotives operating out of Barstow, California in the 1930's. After Diesel-Electrics took over, that number dropped to 12. I know that my Electric company never had a problem spending millions to eliminate a Bargaining unit job.

Even driving the engines a double headed Beyer-Garret combo probably had two crew on each engine, 4 people total,  versus one guy driving the equivalent Diesel Electric.

However while Diesel and Electric trains may be more practical and efficient - they lack that fascination that Steam held for generations of boys and men.

It is the same with radial aircraft like the DC6 and Super Constellation versus turbo props and jets. This video says it all:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkcX0KGIBwk

[Arschloch]

Even driving the engines a double headed Beyer-Garret combo probably had two crew on each engine, 4 people total,  versus one guy driving the equivalent Diesel Electric.

However while Diesel and Electric trains may be more practical and efficient - they lack that fascination that Steam held for generations of boys and men.

It is the same with radial aircraft like the DC6 and Super Constellation versus turbo props and jets. This video says it all:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkcX0KGIBwk

Well once there are only electric cars and motorbikes someone will have an issue with that too...... most people seem to look forward to the live in the matrix.

[GlennF]

Well once there are only electric cars and motorbikes someone will have an issue with that too...... most people seem to look forward to the live in the matrix.

Well things like the Reverb G2 and Pimax 8K actually are pretty cool.  Bit out of my budget though.

[viczena]

Well once there are only electric cars and motorbikes someone will have an issue with that too...... most people seem to look forward to the live in the matrix.

The matrix has no problem to emulate any ICE vehicle. Even with a shitty carb. If you fear to live in  the matrix, stop using internet, cellphones, Google, Facebook, Netflix. And of course RE Forums.