France breaks world speed record for rail trains

[AJ]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11668535/

Souped-up locomotive hits 357.2 mph

That's fuck'n movin for a train.

[bluntedelvis]

Just think what kind of damage that would do if it derailed. But damn 357.2 thats moving.

[DoughtCom]

That's insane, I figured France couldn't engineer anything that cool. But then again they have that awesome bridge.

[FattyBoomBatty]

If you don't like watching fucking gay ass commercials on MSNBC, here's the youtube vid. it's hawt.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8C-pDbUcBo

the msnbc played the commercial and didn't even start the train vid for me.

[Kevin 1G Drummer]

Wow, that thing was hauling some ass! I wonder low long it took them to get it stopped?

[Thor06]

Hahaha... that damn train has been all over the news today. I am the only one that doesnt give two shits about it?

[DSM_421]

Originally Posted by Thor06

Hahaha... that damn train has been all over the news today. I am the only one that doesnt give two shits about it?

Nope, I'm with you, having a train move that fast isn't needed in my eyes.

[Matt D.]

Keep in mind that the train is completely electric as well.

[FattyBoomBatty]

you sure bout dat? why does it say 25,000hp engines? Or was it motors? I know it said they cranked up the boost to 31,000 volts, but a 25k hp electric motor would be ginormous.

[Matt D.]

Originally Posted by FattyBoomBatty

you sure bout dat? why does it say 25,000hp engines? Or was it motors? I know it said they cranked up the boost to 31,000 volts, but a 25k hp electric motor would be ginormous.

From Wikipedia...

Originally Posted by Wikipedia

TGVs are all electrified at 25 kV 50 Hz AC. Catenary wires are kept at a greater mechanical tension than normal lines because the pantograph causes oscillations in the wire, and the wave must travel faster than the train to avoid producing standing waves that would cause the wires to break. This was a problem when rail speed record attempts were made in 1990; power wire tension had to be increased further still to accommodate train speeds of over 500 km/h (310 mph). On LGVs, only the rear pantograph is raised, avoiding amplification of the oscillations created by the front pantograph. The front power car is supplied by a cable running along the roof of the train. Eurostar trains are long enough that oscillations are damped sufficiently between the front and rear power cars, so both pantographs can be raised - there is no interconnecting high-voltage cable along the 400-m length of the train. On lignes classiques slower maximum speeds prevent oscillation problems, and on DC lines both pantographs must be raised.

[FattyBoomBatty]

Why do planes need to go faster than 200 mph then? There's no need and it wastes fuel.

[polishmafia]

Originally Posted by FattyBoomBatty

Why do planes need to go faster than 200 mph then? There's no need and it wastes fuel.

why do planes need to fly faster than 200mph? have you ever flown to asia, or europe?? im not talking fuel here... you said there was no need.

from new york to paris is almost 4000 miles. would you want to be stuck on a plane for 20 hours just to fly across the atlantic?

new york to toyko is 6800 miles, or 34 hours. might as well take a fuckin boat if it would take that long.

[DSM_421]

Agreed.

[DSM_421]

lol thats awesome

[FattyBoomBatty]

25kV does not necissarily 25k hp equate. Wikipedia some info on the motors for me. It is interesting to read about the lines they use, but 50hz is super low. I wonder if there are some high frequency lines nearby to carry the power long distances and transformers for the train's power supply.

[Matt D.]

Originally Posted by FattyBoomBatty

25kV does not necissarily 25k hp equate. Wikipedia some info on the motors for me. It is interesting to read about the lines they use, but 50hz is super low. I wonder if there are some high frequency lines nearby to carry the power long distances and transformers for the train's power supply.

Are you arguing with yourself? You're the only person who has mentioned anything about what amount of power the train is making/using.

[bluntedelvis]

Ohhh I'm sure the Train has some sort of multimillion dollar electric link to where the power levels are always their.

[92EvilTalon]

Agree this is breaking news. Granted megnetic trains can go fast as proven. But to take a electric train and push it that fast. Thats amazing. Also did you see that commercial for the new Lexus? There hybrid that puts out over 300hp...thats nuts. I knew electric can be speedy but wow its down right fast now. And the lady said the engine for the train was three dubble decker bus's if I heard her right.

[Thor06]

People on the news were throwing around 25,000 hp numbers, I think thats what he was talking about.

[Swifty1638]

some planes need to fly over 200mph up in the atmosphere where the air is more sparse, and quicker flow is needed for lift.

-A. Swift