Sheffield, the largest city in Europe..

[hicksy3 10]

It would be good to get back to the situation 50 years ago when Sheffield had an electric railway to Manchester.

[truman 10]

It would be good to get back to the situation 50 years ago when Sheffield had an electric railway to Manchester.

 

What difference would being electric make?

[hicksy3 10]

Electric trains just pull/push the train along.

 

Diesel trains are far more complex. The diesel motor doesn't push/pull the train. It either powers a generator to power electric motors to push/pull the train along. Or drives a hydraulic transmission to push/pull the train along. Complexity causes loss of efficiency and higher maintenance costs.

 

Rail is different to road in terms of electric/internal combustion being optimum. The electricity gets delivered 'fresh' to the train by OLE or third/fourth rail. Electric trains don't need batteries like electric cars, so their economic, environmental and social benefit (DEFRA reckon poor air quality cost the UK £9-19Bn last year, diesel trains played their part) is clear.

[Happ Hazzard 10]

Sheffield needs a monorail if it wants to come into the 21st century. A monorail and some skyscrapers of at least 100 storeys.

[JFKvsNixon 11]

Sheffield needs a monorail if it wants to come into the 21st century. A monorail and some skyscrapers of at least 100 storeys.

 

Who'd going to fund your grand scheme?

[mattleonard 10]

Sheffield needs a monorail if it wants to come into the 21st century. A monorail and some skyscrapers of at least 100 storeys.

 

And flying cars.

[Happ Hazzard 10]

Sheffield needs to become the city of the future instead of being stuck in the 19th century.

[mattleonard 10]

Sheffield needs to become the city of the future instead of being stuck in the 19th century.

 

I guess that you could class not having a monorail as accurately reflecting the 19th century; but it generally reflects the 20th century and most places in the 21st century so far - and I suspect (based on predictions of what the year 2000 was apparently going to be like) may well reflect the 22nd century too.

 

How about Sheffield embraces its current strengths and seeks to evolve those, rather than focus on theme park gimmicks, or building towers (which experience shows often turn into bitter rows about cheap cladding)?

[JFKvsNixon 11]

Sheffield needs to become the city of the future instead of being stuck in the 19th century.

 

You need to stand as a councillor, this city needs someone with your special vision.

[Onthetyne 10]

What difference would being electric make?

 

For one they are faster

[alchresearch 215]

Monorail plans here (discussed on this thread.)

 

http://www.welovesheffield.uk/magazine/history-nostalgia/6-sheffields-aborted-monorail-plans.html

[Obelix 11]

Electric trains just pull/push the train along.

 

Diesel trains are far more complex. The diesel motor doesn't push/pull the train. It either powers a generator to power electric motors to push/pull the train along. Or drives a hydraulic transmission to push/pull the train along. Complexity causes loss of efficiency and higher maintenance costs.

 

Rail is different to road in terms of electric/internal combustion being optimum. The electricity gets delivered 'fresh' to the train by OLE or third/fourth rail. Electric trains don't need batteries like electric cars, so their economic, environmental and social benefit (DEFRA reckon poor air quality cost the UK £9-19Bn last year, diesel trains played their part) is clear.

 

Er no...

 

There are both diesel and electrical multiple units on the UK rails today, as well as diesel and electric loco hauled units.

 

Efficiency is not necessarily any higher in an electric train either - you still have to generate the power and a diesel prime mover can be more efficient than a power station in generation...