The New Engine

[cstaats]

Steam gave way to diesel. What will diesel give way to in the next 50-100 years? Will electrification be economially feasible? Will hydrogen become the fuel of choice? With the inevitable depletion of global oil reserves will the railroads regain the traffic from trucks?[:D]

[Anonymous]

50 - 100 years?

that's an awful long time to look ahead.

Trains might not even exist in 50 years.


More than likely eveything will be the same as it is now, only everything will be bigger and more powerful.

[Anonymous]

I see windpowered trains in the future, Loco's with sails on their roof [:D]

[Anonymous]

Diesel will still be here, but diminished for ecological and fuel reasons. Electrics will be more prevelent in some areas. Steam will make a comeback and be used in places where Electrics are not feasible and where water conservation is not a big deal.

in 50 years you'll probably see it around 40/30/30, with 40 being the pure electrics, 30 being diesels and/or alternative fuel engines, and 30 being new high-tech steamers.

In 100 years, we'll see pure electric high speed Monorails taking over all aspects of rail transportation, although there will rpobably be still other forms in use.

in 150 years monorails will probably be the sole way to transport by rail.

Jay

[DSchmitt]

Monorail has no advantage over two rail and some disadvantages. For instance monorail is not well suited for at grade and underground installations. They are also not flexible operationally. How does one train pass another if it becomes necessary? I know monorail switches have been designed, and maybe some built,, but they are massive inefficient constructions.

Most of the systems that have been called "monorail" really aren't. They just configure the rails differently.

[AltonFan]

Electric transmission is here to stay, unless superseded by maglev or a similar technology. The only question is how will that electric be generated and transmitted to the locomotive.

High-speed passenger corridors will almost certainly involve use of ovehead catenary or third rail, on lines that will either be elevated, subways, or running up the middle of interstate highways.