Travel by jet or by train? Why not both at the same time?

March 01 0 Comments Category: Cold War Tech, Obsolescence, Weird Science

In the early 1970s the Russians followed the American jet train research by sticking two Yak-40 turbo-jet engines to the lead car of an ER22 train. The SVL (high-speed laboratory car) was intended to be used on the Troika Express and during testing is was able to reach speeds of 180mph (250km/hr).. Like it’s American [...]

The great train race

February 04 0 Comments Category: Cold War Tech, Gear Head, Obsolescence, Trains, Weird Science

I love weird tech, and it’s really hard to beat the weirdness that the cold war created here and in Russia.. I grew up at the tail end of the cold war that Ronald Reagan, all praise his name, helped bring to an end while I was still in high school.. Anyway, where was I?? [...]