Trains to go nuclear
Plans are being prepared by the German railways for an atomic locomotive powered by a gas-cooled reactor using enriched uranium.
The plans envisage a locomotive 35 metres long and 3 metres wide, which will weigh approximately 185 tonnes with an output of 5916 horsepower. The vehicle will be supported on eight axles. The gas-cooled reactor will make the locomotive much lighter than previously suggested designs because it will not require a refrigerator car and it will be able to omit a number of secondary safety devices – 50 tonnes are saved by using helium as a…
