BaltACD Despite the political issues - that at present are beyond solving. The reality is that one is trying to tunnel between both sides of the 'Ring of Fire'. Both sides of the Pacific are seismicly active as various continental plates keep moving against one another with their earthquakes and volcanoes.
Despite the political issues - that at present are beyond solving. The reality is that one is trying to tunnel between both sides of the 'Ring of Fire'. Both sides of the Pacific are seismicly active as various continental plates keep moving against one another with their earthquakes and volcanoes.
The Bering Strait is located well within the North American plate. Plate tectonics wouldn't be an issue. Geopolitical "tectonics" certainly would.
We seem to be having a series of posts concerning highly improbable future occurrences: this one, one about transporting water by rail and the revival of cattle transport by rail. What's next, a rail tunnel to Newfoundland? To Cuba?
The nice part about a theoretical discussion is that virtually no one can be right or wrong... One idea is as good (or bad) as any other.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
charlie hebdo We seem to be having a series of posts concerning highly improbable future occurrences: this one, one about transporting water by rail and the revival of cattle transport by rail. What's next, a rail tunnel to Newfoundland? To Cuba?
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
Murphy Siding charlie hebdo We seem to be having a series of posts concerning highly improbable future occurrences: this one, one about transporting water by rail and the revival of cattle transport by rail. What's next, a rail tunnel to Newfoundland? To Cuba? Can this new rail line connect to a revitalized Milwaukee Road PCE?
Can this new rail line connect to a revitalized Milwaukee Road PCE?
I see no problem there..... Call it the Moscow & Milwaukee. Bring over some of that sanctioned Russian barley for Milwaukee's Best..
Aside from the sarcasm Russia is the #1 producer of barley.
SD60MAC9500 Murphy Siding charlie hebdo We seem to be having a series of posts concerning highly improbable future occurrences: this one, one about transporting water by rail and the revival of cattle transport by rail. What's next, a rail tunnel to Newfoundland? To Cuba? Can this new rail line connect to a revitalized Milwaukee Road PCE? I see no problem there..... Call it the Moscow & Milwaukee. Bring over some of that sanctioned Russian barley for Milwaukee's Best.. Aside from the sarcasm Russia is the #1 producer of barley.
A Montana YouTube farm channel I watch had a less than desired barley harvest because of drought and hail damage to the crop.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
THe "Chunnel" was also once thought to be impractle and improbable.
And a rail line from China to Tibet.
If the Russians do get smart, get fed-up with useless dreams of empire, and resolve to live peacefully among the nations, they would probably be a very major trade partner with both the USA and Canada.
The tunnel or bridge just might make econiomic sense.
Back when the USSR first collapsed, there was a guy proposing that the US should buy or long-term lease Siberia from Russia. The idea was the US could invest in the area to set up infrastructure (roads, railroads) to exploit Siberia's vast natural resources, and the US and Russia would split the profits.
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-07-26-op-5233-story.html
wjstixBack when the USSR first collapsed, there was a guy proposing that the US should buy or long-term lease Siberia from Russia. The idea was the US could invest in the area to set up infrastructure (roads, railroads) to exploit Siberia's vast natural resources, and the US and Russia would split the profits. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-07-26-op-5233-story.html
Considering who is running Russia these days, I am surprised he didn't want to repatriate Alaska instead of Ukraine.
Some of the wilder wackjobs have called for the "liberation" of Alaska and its return to da Rodina.
BEAUSABRE Some of the wilder wackjobs have called for the "liberation" of Alaska and its return to da Rodina.
While we're at it let's reopen the FEC Key West Extension. :) That would be awesome to see.
daveklepper THe "Chunnel" was also once thought to be impractle and improbable. And a rail line from China to Tibet. If the Russians do get smart, get fed-up with useless dreams of empire, and resolve to live peacefully among the nations, they would probably be a very major trade partner with both the USA and Canada. The tunnel or bridge just might make econiomic sense.
Not in our lifetimes but someday, maybe. It would be interesting to see an analysis of water v. rail transport from that region. I bet water still wins in most cases. Unless that area of the globe becomes super populated like W. Europe is currently.
daveklepperTHe "Chunnel" was also once thought to be impractle and improbable. And a rail line from China to Tibet.
The question, as always, boils down in the end to 'do the advantages outweigh the risks, and can it be made to support itself net of 'government' assistance.
Neither of which really applies to a railroad up through the Yukon, connecting across a bridge-tunnel, to a railroad through that portion of Siberia. The premise was probably capturing that lucrative Chinese maritime traffic for an 'all-railroad' move, and considering the route as a great circle the mileage of the alternative is not as ridiculous as it looks on a Mercator projection...
...but something as simple as the Mexicans finally getting the finger out and rail-bridging the Isthmus of Tehuantepec solves many of the potential concerns a Siberian bridge would be addressing... at orders of magnitude less construction and operating cost, let alone end-to-end reliability.
Murphy SidingThat train left the station a long, long time ago.
[Note that this post contains the obligatory word 'train'. Discussion should now return to more siderohippological pursuits. Steve Brother is watching, and he needs no telescreen to be watching us, right now.]
The only way it could happen politically is if Russia took the lead over China on developing a line leading from Moscow. Russia would never allow China to lead on this. The current borders in Manchuria are testament to the power of railway building and came at the expense of China. Russia and China are historic enemies and their present thaw is temporary. Russia would be okay with developing its Far East but only if that doesn't involve China.
MJ4562 The only way it could happen politically is if Russia took the lead over China on developing a line leading from Moscow. Russia would never allow China to lead on this. The current borders in Manchuria are testament to the power of railway building and came at the expense of China. Russia and China are historic enemies and their present thaw is temporary. Russia would be okay with developing its Far East but only if that doesn't involve China.
Both may be weaker than previously thought though China has better trains.
China already claims parts of Russia and the two have been at war with each other over it, but the territory just isn't valuable enough for the geopolitical cost of reigniting that fight over it. Rail networks and industrial development could change that.
charlie hebdoBoth may be weaker than previously thought though China has better trains.
Russia is much weaker and more inept than we thought last Groundhog Day.
MJ4562 While we're at it let's reopen the FEC Key West Extension. :) That would be awesome to see. Not in our lifetimes but someday, maybe. It would be interesting to see an analysis of water v. rail transport from that region. I bet water still wins in most cases. Unless that area of the globe becomes super populated like W. Europe is currently.
Probably nearly same operating costs to just run a marine ferry operation carrying freight cars and maybe even passengers from FLL / MIA to Carcardenas / Matanzas Cuba. About 200 N Miles just about 10 hours at 20 knots. 8 hours @25 knots. Works out of Alabama to Mexico and several in northern Europe.
Just one ferry needed to make a daily round trip ( except during hurricanes.)
blue streak 1...Probably nearly same operating costs to just run a marine ferry operation carrying freight cars and maybe even passengers from FLL / MIA to Carcardenas / Matanzas Cuba. About 200 N Miles just about 10 hours at 20 knots. 8 hours @25 knots. Works out of Alabama to Mexico and several in northern Europe. Just one ferry needed to make a daily round trip ( except during hurricanes.)
Suspect the loading-unloading times at ferry destinations would not allow a daily round trip of the vessel.
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