Brave new world

[packers#1]

Well this would certainly be weird to model

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2022/01/moving-more-with-less-freight-startup-bets-on-autonomous-electric-rail-cars/?fbclid=IwAR2iyqHWlkhqKAW2gVHlbxtCYA-M44T6p6mW1VeEPHj7XyUH3o7F318GHuc

[Philip H]

If @Jim Starbuck can power that little crane we can do this.

Of course, the PTC will need to get way more robust to make it work.

[dem34]

All the disadvantages of a train and truck delightfully blended into one.

[C855B]

This concept would have worked, say, 30-40 years ago, before "the great dismantlement", my contrived term for the RRs yanking up network they didn't need to run coal trains on. Back then almost any town of more than a few had a rail line. Not any more. Can you imagine these things trying to coexist with the 12,000 ft. monsters on mainlines?

And how about grade crossings? Detection systems are still not reliable. F'rinstance, Amtrak is required to run 7-car trains on the CN/ex-IC line in Illlinois because crossing detection doesn't work all the time with shorter consists at speed. Train is mostly empty 'cept during college student travel peaks.

I feel badly for the development group who came up with these things - money, time and effort straight down the toity.

[packers#1]

@C855B they even mention “the great dismantlement” (great term btw) in the article. I did just have the thought that these are basically the autonomous trucks from the last Wolverine movie, but on rails instead of roads. If they made them glorified track mobiles they might have something though; use rail to get close then road the final mile instead of building the cranes.

The main thing that blows my mind with these development groups is how much money they think companies will dump into these ideas. I mean it’s 2022 and we’ve just now gotten automobile factory arms into fast food restaurants. I don’t think the money is going to make sense as quickly as they think that it will.

[Maletrain]

In the real world, those trucks on rails are just too vulnerable to mayhem.  Easy marks for thieves.  Too little power to buck much snow.  Too easy for malevolent soles to bugger up the whole track with one sabotage

Not to mention too few customers left that still have rail service, or even just railroad ROW to their locations.

[packers#1]

In the real world, those trucks on rails are just too vulnerable to mayhem.  Easy marks for thieves.  Too little power to buck much snow.  Too easy for malevolent soles to bugger up the whole track with one sabotage

Not to mention too few customers left that still have rail service, or even just railroad ROW to their locations.

Interesting point, although I will point out the one very good idea I think they have with the system. They’re not trying to have a spur to every customer; I think they want to have a crane and intermodal terminal for basically every town so trucks can take the containers to customers. So basically get rid of nearly all over the road trucking and just have them do the final delivery.

[Lenny53]

Uncle Pete is interested

https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/union-pacific-ceo-signals-interest-in-autonomous-intermodal-cars/

Minimum tare weight, minimum labour.  John G Kneiling would approve.

[John]

[draskouasshat]

Interesting point, although I will point out the one very good idea I think they have with the system. They’re not trying to have a spur to every customer; I think they want to have a crane and intermodal terminal for basically every town so trucks can take the containers to customers. So basically get rid of nearly all over the road trucking and just have them do the final delivery.

So pretty much what we do no, but get rid of the trucks.

This is a dumbass way of trying to reinvent the wheel. How about they work on the battery side of things before we start trying to take over the the industry. Battery life and longevity are not up to par yet to compete nor is this one load at a time thing even feasible when it comes to dealing with the public.