[ale] OT: Maglev funding?

[Robert Reese~]

> Robert Reese~ wrote:
>
>> And FWIW, there's no need to turn a monorail around.  It is
>> bidirectional. ;c)
>>
>
> Heavy-rail locomotives typically are, also, yes?


Yes and no.  Diesel locomotives, obviously go just as well backward as they do 
forward.  However, it is better to pull than to push.  Yes, occasionally trains 
have helper engines to push from the rear, but rarely will you find a locomotive 
on the rear of a train for an extended trip.  Typically you'll find that they 
will uncouple the engines from their load and put them onto a side line.  Then 
the cars and/or the engines make their way in reverse, making what was 
previously the rear of the train into the front of the train.

Look closely at the locomotive positions on the train the next time you one.  
You'll find that the rear-most locomotive typically is facing toward the rear.  
That makes it easy for them to simply decouple and move to the other end of the 
cars and make the return trip without having to turn any engines around. ;c)

Monorails and other light-rail systems typically have a cockpit on each end of 
the train.  The other reason heavy rail trains don't push outside yards is the 
engineer needs to have a clear as possible view of the line.  B-)

R~