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Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Lizzie_Zoom on 25 August 2009, 18:29:16

Title: British Steam Car Success
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 25 August 2009, 18:29:16
The British team in America have achieved a record speed of 139mph in their steam car 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)

(http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk247/lizziefreeman/GreatSteamCar.jpg)


Congratulations to them! :-* :-* :-* 8-) 8-) 8-) :y :y
Title: Re: British Steam Car Success
Post by: Dishevelled Den on 25 August 2009, 18:30:37
I'll second that :y :y
Title: Re: British Steam Car Success
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 25 August 2009, 18:34:32
seen that in autocar magazine..good coffee maker ;D :y
Title: Re: British Steam Car Success
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 25 August 2009, 18:35:53
Quote
seen that in autocar magazine..good coffee maker ;D :y


No tea for us British! ::) ::) ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D :y

Welcome back Cem!  Hope you had a great holiday! :y :y
Title: Re: British Steam Car Success
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 25 August 2009, 18:49:27
Quote
Quote
seen that in autocar magazine..good coffee maker ;D :y

No tea for us British! ::) ::) ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D :y

Welcome back Cem!  Hope you had a great holiday! :y :y

thanks Lizzie..Nowadays I'm a bit busy but will try to keep up with the form going with really high speeds ;D :) :y
Title: Re: British Steam Car Success
Post by: Kevin Wood on 25 August 2009, 23:00:27
Why's it got a ruddy great C.B aerial on it though? ;D

Must be worth a couple of MPH in itself.

Have they got Burt Reynolds at the wheel or something? :D

Kevin
Title: Re: British Steam Car Success
Post by: Andy H on 25 August 2009, 23:17:51
Was this a first attempt?

Mallard http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LNER_Class_A4_4468_Mallard got very close to 126mph in 1938 so it has only taken 71 years to gain another 13 mph.

Title: Re: British Steam Car Success
Post by: Kevin Wood on 25 August 2009, 23:23:38
Quote
Was this a first attempt?

Mallard http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LNER_Class_A4_4468_Mallard got very close to 126mph in 1938 so it has only taken 71 years to gain another 13 mph.


Bet it was hauling a bit more weight too. ;D

Kevin
Title: Re: British Steam Car Success
Post by: albitz on 26 August 2009, 00:33:45
Quote
Why's it got a ruddy great C.B aerial on it though? ;D

Must be worth a couple of MPH in itself.

Have they got Burt Reynolds at the wheel or something? :D

Kevin
Thats a 10-4 good buddy. :D ::) ;D ;D
Title: Re: British Steam Car Success
Post by: Vamps on 26 August 2009, 00:36:47
Quote
Quote
Why's it got a ruddy great C.B aerial on it though? ;D

Must be worth a couple of MPH in itself.

Have they got Burt Reynolds at the wheel or something? :D

Kevin
Thats a 10-4 good buddy. :D ::) ;D ;D

Keep the bugs of your bumper and the bears of your tail....... :D :D :D
Title: Re: British Steam Car Success
Post by: albitz on 26 August 2009, 00:39:35
Altogether now..........CONVOY. :D ::) ;D
Title: Re: British Steam Car Success
Post by: Dishevelled Den on 26 August 2009, 00:41:56
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwaygKjs2fI[/media]
Title: Re: British Steam Car Success
Post by: Ziad on 26 August 2009, 01:18:44
Do they have a pink edition of this  ::) ::) ::)

On a more serious note, this car looks like it's not:

1 - a family car
2. a car meant for ladies (no space for hauling shopping)  ::) ::) ::)
Title: Re: British Steam Car Success
Post by: Vamps on 26 August 2009, 01:23:52
Quote
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwaygKjs2fI[/media]

Got that on vinyl somewhere and on VHS taped from the TV, early 80's....... ;D ;D ;D

10   10  till we do it again.... :y
Title: Re: British Steam Car Success
Post by: Banjax on 26 August 2009, 07:30:06
Quote
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwaygKjs2fI[/media]


thanks Zulu - i love this!!  ;)

Was the dark of the moon on the sixth of June
In a Kenworth pullin' logs
Cab-over Pete with a reefer on
And a Jimmy haulin' hogs
We is headin' for bear on I-1-0
'Bout a mile outta Shaky Town
I says, "Pig Pen, this here's the Rubber Duck.
And I'm about to put the hammer down."

aah - the classics  :y



i always thought it weird he said "a Jimmy hauling logs" like the driver was called Jimmy, just found out a "Jimmy" is a GMC truck - everydays a school day as someone once said  :y
Title: Re: British Steam Car Success
Post by: Dishevelled Den on 26 August 2009, 09:10:23
Quote
Quote
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwaygKjs2fI[/media]


thanks Zulu - i love this!!  ;)

Was the dark of the moon on the sixth of June
In a Kenworth pullin' logs
Cab-over Pete with a reefer on
And a Jimmy haulin' hogs
We is headin' for bear on I-1-0
'Bout a mile outta Shaky Town
I says, "Pig Pen, this here's the Rubber Duck.
And I'm about to put the hammer down."

aah - the classics  :y



i always thought it weird he said "a Jimmy hauling logs" like the driver was called Jimmy, just found out a "Jimmy" is a GMC truck - everydays a school day as someone once said :y


...very sage words indeed bj  8-) :y :y
Title: Re: British Steam Car Success
Post by: Banjax on 26 August 2009, 09:41:21
and for a bonus 25 points, what's a Cab-over Pete with a reefer on?
Title: Re: British Steam Car Success
Post by: Dishevelled Den on 26 August 2009, 11:06:45
Quote
and for a bonus 25 points, what's a Cab-over Pete with a reefer on?


Drivers cab over the engine hauling a refrigerated box. :y


I thank you ;) ;)
Title: Re: British Steam Car Success
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 26 August 2009, 11:06:55
Quote
Was this a first attempt?

Mallard http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LNER_Class_A4_4468_Mallard got very close to 126mph in 1938 so it has only taken 71 years to gain another 13 mph.



Mallard did indeed achieve 126 mph on 3rd July1938, with the previous steam car record achieved in 1906 at 127 mph!!!

It must be recognised that A4 Pacific 4468 Mallard , with a total working weight of 165 tons, was pulling a seven coach train of 240 tons, that is all a good deal heavier than a steam car of 3 tons! 

Mallard actually suffered severe mechanical damage during this run, but the LNER publicity department made the most of the speed record achievement which with the streamline trains of the LMS and LNER fighting it out for passengers was all important in the late 1930s!! 8-) 8-) 8-)
Title: Re: British Steam Car Success
Post by: Banjax on 26 August 2009, 11:38:59
Quote
Quote
and for a bonus 25 points, what's a Cab-over Pete with a reefer on?




Drivers cab over the engine hauling a refrigerated box. :y


I thank you ;) ;)


yep! the Pete is short for Texan truck-maker "Peterbilt"

so its a Peterbilt upright truck, with a refrigerated box - isnt the internet marvellous for avoiding work?  ;D ;D
Title: Re: British Steam Car Success
Post by: LaserLance on 26 August 2009, 16:31:00
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xL-LNeXdOyM[/media]
Heres a few for you to peruse :y :y :y
Title: Re: British Steam Car Success
Post by: BigAl on 26 August 2009, 23:36:22
Quote
The British team in America have achieved a record speed of 139mph in their steam car 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)

(http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk247/lizziefreeman/GreatSteamCar.jpg)


Congratulations to them! :-* :-* :-* 8-) 8-) 8-) :y :y
I'm sorry, but why the congratulations ?
its taken  100 years to beat the record by 12%, Why? what with all the advances in technology, composite & alloy materials, this is the best we can do?
Then gets worse, the car that set the 1906 record was 'tweaked'; and would have beaten the record 2 years later by at least 15%, if not for  bad conditions, ending up in the destruction of the car, before it could complete the reverse run?
Title: Re: British Steam Car Success
Post by: Vamps on 27 August 2009, 00:31:46
Quote
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xL-LNeXdOyM[/media]
Heres a few for you to peruse :y :y :y

I think even the best HGV driver might struggle driving those tractor units round our roads/towns, let alone with a trailer on..... :) :)
Title: Re: British Steam Car Success
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 27 August 2009, 10:12:06
Ok if you guys insist on talking about internal combustion engined lorries on my staem thread ::) ::) ::) ;D ;D, then I will join you with a STEAM lorry:

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnML41wy8OI[/media]

Now imagine seeing those on our motorways!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;)
Title: Re: British Steam Car Success
Post by: Dishevelled Den on 27 August 2009, 10:50:17
Let's see an ICE do this trick Ms Z ;) ;) ;)

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0ShZs4iilQ[/media]
Title: Re: British Steam Car Success
Post by: Dishevelled Den on 27 August 2009, 10:53:06
Is this not cute?


[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrN-iKqzefs[/media]
Title: Re: British Steam Car Success
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 27 August 2009, 11:34:49
Quote
Is this not cute?


[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrN-iKqzefs[/media]

It is! 8-) 8-)  Every family should have one! :D :D :D ;)

Steam rules Zulu! :D :D ;) ;)
Title: Re: British Steam Car Success
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 27 August 2009, 12:52:01
Quote
Quote
The British team in America have achieved a record speed of 139mph in their steam car 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)

(http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk247/lizziefreeman/GreatSteamCar.jpg)


Congratulations to them! :-* :-* :-* 8-) 8-) 8-) :y :y
I'm sorry, but why the congratulations ?
its taken  100 years to beat the record by 12%, Why? what with all the advances in technology, composite & alloy materials, this is the best we can do?
Then gets worse, the car that set the 1906 record was 'tweaked'; and would have beaten the record 2 years later by at least 15%, if not for  bad conditions, ending up in the destruction of the car, before it could complete the reverse run?

Steam technology is limited and has not advanced greatly since the early days of steam railway development.  It was slowly advanced during the 'great days of steam', but due to engineering limitations with essential items such as  wheel bearings, lubrication of motion, and critically the ability of the boiler to generate the steam required, saturated initially, then superheated, the development took time. Indeed it was only in 1904 that 4-4-0 3440 City of Truro is reputed to have achieved 102.3 mph, which was not officially equalled until 1934 when Gresley A3 4-6-2 4472 Flying Scotsman held over 100 mph. Another A3 2750, Papyrus, achieved officially 108 mph for 12.3 miles in March 1935.  Then finally the steamlined (streak) Gresley A4 4-6-2 4468 Mallard hit and officially held 126 mph in 1938, but causing severe mechanical damage.

Roller bearings, advances in boiler and flue technology, and even mechanical stoking (try firing a hungry boiler with sufficient coal to maintain steam for even a prolonged 100 mph run, let alone 126 mph!!) all helped to raise the average speed of a steam locomotive, but in essence the technology then had severe limits even with much experimentation, and in came the (eventually) super efficient diesels then electrics!  Investment in steam development effectively ceased in the 1950s, with just a few later attempts at using later technologies to advance its cause, but to no avail.

So we come to a steam car which is working on the  technological theory of the 19th century (heat water to produce steam and create motive power through mechanical means), but as a university student project of using an advanced turbine with 21st c. fuels, on a limited budget, trying to attempt pushing the limits of the land speed record from 127 mph to..........well they achieved 139 mph!! All with the inherant limitations of steam technology with albeit a 21st c. flavour!

I personally think they have done a fantastic job, and actually proved to me that "steam" could still be developed to provide motive power around the land if blessed with the latest technology.  But the will and money must be provided, far more than just a uni with a few sponsors can give! That is why it has taken 103 years to break the old record, due to a lack of will, money and technology in those years to do it.  But even so the British Steam Car Challenge (only founded in 1999) is still aiming for a speed of 170 mph!!

 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)

Title: Re: British Steam Car Success
Post by: Auto Addict on 27 August 2009, 15:02:45
Quote
Quote
Quote
The British team in America have achieved a record speed of 139mph in their steam car 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)

(http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk247/lizziefreeman/GreatSteamCar.jpg)


Congratulations to them! :-* :-* :-* 8-) 8-) 8-) :y :y
I'm sorry, but why the congratulations ?
its taken  100 years to beat the record by 12%, Why? what with all the advances in technology, composite & alloy materials, this is the best we can do?
Then gets worse, the car that set the 1906 record was 'tweaked'; and would have beaten the record 2 years later by at least 15%, if not for  bad conditions, ending up in the destruction of the car, before it could complete the reverse run?

Steam technology is limited and has not advanced greatly since the early days of steam railway development.  It was slowly advanced during the 'great days of steam', but due to engineering limitations with essential items such as  wheel bearings, lubrication of motion, and critically the ability of the boiler to generate the steam required, saturated initially, then superheated, the development took time. Indeed it was only in 1904 that 4-4-0 3440 City of Truro is reputed to have achieved 102.3 mph, which was not officially equalled until 1934 when Gresley A3 4-6-2 4472 Flying Scotsman held over 100 mph. Another A3 2750, Papyrus, achieved officially 108 mph for 12.3 miles in March 1935.  Then finally the steamlined (streak) Gresley A4 4-6-2 4468 Mallard hit and officially held 126 mph in 1938, but causing severe mechanical damage.

Roller bearings, advances in boiler and flue technology, and even mechanical stoking (try firing a hungry boiler with sufficient coal to maintain steam for even a prolonged 100 mph run, let alone 126 mph!!) all helped to raise the average speed of a steam locomotive, but in essence the technology then had severe limits even with much experimentation, and in came the (eventually) super efficient diesels then electrics!  Investment in steam development effectively ceased in the 1950s, with just a few later attempts at using later technologies to advance its cause, but to no avail.

So we come to a steam car which is working on the  technological theory of the 19th century (heat water to produce steam and create motive power through mechanical means), but as a university student project of using an advanced turbine with 21st c. fuels, on a limited budget, trying to attempt pushing the limits of the land speed record from 127 mph to..........well they achieved 139 mph!! All with the inherant limitations of steam technology with albeit a 21st c. flavour!

I personally think they have done a fantastic job, and actually proved to me that "steam" could still be developed to provide motive power around the land if blessed with the latest technology.  But the will and money must be provided, far more than just a uni with a few sponsors can give! That is why it has taken 103 years to break the old record, due to a lack of will, money and technology in those years to do it.  But even so the British Steam Car Challenge (only founded in 1999) is still aiming for a speed of 170 mph!!

 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)


Let off a bit of steam there, LZ :-*
Title: Re: British Steam Car Success
Post by: STMO999 on 27 August 2009, 16:12:54
Should've just stuck some big wheels and tyres on an old steam loco.
Title: Re: British Steam Car Success
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 27 August 2009, 19:25:17
Quote
Should've just stuck some big wheels and tyres on an old steam loco.


.........and watch it sink into the tarmac or dry lake bed with an axle weight of up to 21 tons! :D :D :D ;)
Title: Re: British Steam Car Success
Post by: STMO999 on 27 August 2009, 19:33:50
Quote
Quote
Should've just stuck some big wheels and tyres on an old steam loco.




.........and watch it sink into the tarmac or dry lake bed with an axle weight of up to 21 tons! :D :D :D ;)

Dont be stupid. Run it down the M1.
Title: Re: British Steam Car Success
Post by: Martin_1962 on 27 August 2009, 20:10:21
The NRM have already stated that if the steam rail record ever went abroad they would restore one of their most well known exhibits and get it back.
Title: Re: British Steam Car Success
Post by: STMO999 on 27 August 2009, 20:11:07
Quote
The NRM have already stated that if the steam rail record ever went abroad they would restore one of their most well known exhibits and get it back.

The Flying Welshman :y
Title: Re: British Steam Car Success
Post by: Vamps on 28 August 2009, 00:17:56
Quote
Quote
The NRM have already stated that if the steam rail record ever went abroad they would restore one of their most well known exhibits and get it back.

The Flying Welshman :y


That's the one, they just put a few sheep on the line for encouragement...... :D :D :D