While reading some old National Geographic magazines today I came accross a mention of a 1957 event in the article "Lethal Legacy; Pollution in the Former U.S.S.R." by Mike Edwards in the August 1994 issue that got me wanting to know more. So, I looked up "Chelyabinsk-65" and learned about the explosion that occurred at this weapons-grade uranium processing plant east of the Urals. And in searching for photos I came accross this one:
And said to myself "Hey! That looks familiar!"
Now, I'm not saying that anyone at Lionel had access to any plans, photos or other information on a top-top-secret soviet nuclear weapons facility, but it does look similar!
Trains, trains, wonderful trains. The more you get, the more you toot!
Soviet technology...
I don't know if your old enough to remember:
those home popcorn makers that consisted of a foil pan with kernels inside, and a foil top. As the popcorn popped, the foil top would expand into a giant foil bubble...
Sounds like Jiffy Pop popcorn. It is still available.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiffy_Pop
Becky - that is just too cool!
Regards, Roy
cwburfle Sounds like Jiffy Pop popcorn. It is still available.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiffy_Pop
the name to trust in reactors....
Ever see the "mousetrap fission experiment"?
You have to break a few eggs to make an omelette.
Other than that, it's all water under the fridge...
Postwar PaulOther than that, it's all water under the fridge...
As long as it doesn't look like gulp... this:
Come and listen to my story 'bout a man named Jed
poor mountaineer barely kept his family fed
then one day he was shoot in' at some food
up through the ground came a bubbling crude..
oil, that is...
sorry not to make light of nuclear waste.
your bummin' me out, man !
And I looked at Chelbayinsk, and some of the other disaster sites in Russia. Cities that are uninhabitable, and off limits. There were many. It's a sad story, but thank you for raising awareness.
There's nothing funny about any of this, it's awful.
Postwar Paulsorry not to make light of nuclear waste. your bummin' me out, man !
That's the "Elephant's Foot" or "Elephant's Leg" depending on your source. It's what's left of the fuel pellets, zirconium cladding, graphite control rods, some steel and the concrete of the containment at Unit #4 of the Chernobyl plant. The question is WHY for the love of God would ANYBODY be stupid enough to be poking around with that stuff!
I don't like to be a Debbie Downer or anything, it's just that around July 16th (Trinity test) and even more so between August 6th (Hiroshima) and 9th (Nagasaki) I can't help but think about human stupidity. And this stuff is #1 on the list.
Anyhoo. Can you imagine Lionel sending Frank Petit into a secret Soviet weapons site to get design ideas for a Lionel accessory?
Sending Frank Petit on a spy mission? Nah, I think ol' J.L. Cowan would have gone himself, the Old Man was just gungi enough to try it if he thought he could get away with it!
Penny Trains Postwar Paul sorry not to make light of nuclear waste. your bummin' me out, man ! That's the "Elephant's Foot" or "Elephant's Leg" depending on your source. It's what's left of the fuel pellets, zirconium cladding, graphite control rods, some steel and the concrete of the containment at Unit #4 of the Chernobyl plant. The question is WHY for the love of God would ANYBODY be stupid enough to be poking around with that stuff! I don't like to be a Debbie Downer or anything, it's just that around July 16th (Trinity test) and even more so between August 6th (Hiroshima) and 9th (Nagasaki) I can't help but think about human stupidity. And this stuff is #1 on the list. Anyhoo. Can you imagine Lionel sending Frank Petit into a secret Soviet weapons site to get design ideas for a Lionel accessory? O.k. Fair enough. I'm with you, by the way...
Postwar Paul sorry not to make light of nuclear waste. your bummin' me out, man !
Firelock76Frank Petit on a spy mission
Petit. Frank Petit. Shaken, not stirred.
Frank Petit: International Man of Mystery...
Groovey Bay Bay...
Years ago I read an interview that made mention of a little industrial esponiage that occurred between Lionel and Gilbert. From time to time I have tried to find the piece. So far, no luck.
cwburfle Years ago I read an interview that made mention of a little industrial esponiage that occurred between Lionel and Gilbert. From time to time I have tried to find the piece. So far, no luck.
I would like to think they inspired each other, but there may be more to the story. I can't help but noticing similarities in box art from 1960's Tyco, and Lionel catalogue pictures.
There was a lot of " borrowing" going on...
Gee, ya think?
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