Building a Giant Train Set in a Vineyard: The Vector System
Summary
In this article, we explore the Vector system, a modern spin on the Atmospheric Railway idea from Victorian England. The Vector system is a model train that uses magnets and vacuum pressure to move along the track. It is designed to climb steep grades and use atmospheric braking to safely descend. While the system has potential, it requires a significant amount of funding and political support to become a reality.
Table of Contents
- A Train-Loving Retired Engineer
- The Atmospheric Railway Idea
- How the Vector System Works
- Advantages of the Vector System
- Why the Vector System is Not More Common
- The Future of the Vector System
A Train-Loving Retired Engineer
Max Schlinger, an 89-year-old retired engineer who has been obsessed with trains all his life, built a giant train set in his Mendocino, California vineyard. The train set, called the Vector system, is not just a big toy, but a working concept that uses magnets and vacuum pressure to move along the track.
The Atmospheric Railway Idea
The inspiration for the Vector system comes from the Atmospheric Railway idea that engineers like Isambard Kingdom Brunel had in the early days of the railroad. The idea was to use vacuum pressure to move the train instead of a heavy locomotive. However, the Atmospheric Railway never worked out as well as they had hoped.
How the Vector System Works
The Vector system consists of two parts: the interior part inside the power tub and the exterior part consisting of a thrust carriage and a passenger car. The thrust carriage is coupled to the passenger car via permanent magnets and inserted within the thrust tub. As the thrust carriage moves, so does the passenger carriage. The train moves down the track by applying pressure behind or vacuum in front of the thrust carriage.
Advantages of the Vector System
The Vector system has several advantages over traditional trains. It can climb steep grades, even in excess of 10 percent, and use atmospheric braking to safely descend. The use of vacuum power instead of an engine keeps the train light enough to tackle hills that normal trains could not ascend. It also has the potential to be powered by renewable energy.
Why the Vector System is Not More Common
While the Vector system has potential, it is not more common because most people are tied into the standard gauge railroad trains that we have today. Even high-speed trains are standard. The Vector system requires a significant amount of funding and political support to become a reality.
The Future of the Vector System
Schlinger, who has no intention of slowing down, believes that the Vector system will become a reality someday, even if not in his lifetime. He sees the world through the eyes of an engineer and holds faith that the better solution will win out. However, bringing the Vector system to life will take a serious pile of cash and years of political wrangling.
