Not just a Lionel Military & Space dream train. This one's for real:
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Although the caboose is the highlight, the article itself is a great read covering a lot of the military's use of railroads to transport nuclear material, along with photos of the assorted freight cars used in that effort.
Let me tell you, you do not want to mess around with the guys that ride those cabs! They are dedicated service men and take their job very seriously.
Odd that the Navy can operate nuclear power but we can't seem to get it right in civilian life. 
John,
Those who operate the military power plants know the consequences of a bad decision, having grown up next to the Hanford Nuclear reservation, and knowing the people who worked there, complacency, greed and laziness lead to a lack of concern.
I can't tell you how many times I heard the stories of how the hangover was so bad they didn't remember what they did during that day at work, and that was from plant operation people. The construction workers who built and maintained the equipment were often worse.
If we could get rid of the waste, fraud and abuse of government run industries, and make the people involved work under rules and held accountable like the military are, we would have many more efficiently and safely run Nuclear plants, balanced budgets and energy for all.
As to the weapons and material movements by the services, as a designated Nuclear Courier Officer, I can vouch for the tenacity and preparation that happens anytime material or waste is moved from its storage or use point, is dedicated and ready to kick *** if needed. Your neck hairs tend to tingle during the entire movement, until the material is safely delivered, signed for and the cold beer goes down.
That's a serious piece of hardware- The amount of weight was eye opening. The article was really informative as well, thanks for posting the link.
"Odd that the Navy can operate nuclear power but we can't seem to get it right in civilian life."
The Navy's reactors are built to withstand combat stress events so the level of engineering for possible failure modes is an order of magnitude higher than civilian reactors. Different reactor design and scale of power output. The economics of recouping the capital costs of generating power don't come into play. Plus, there's no feasible evacuation route if you're on a sub.
@gunrunnerjohn posted:Odd that the Navy can operate nuclear power but we can't seem to get it right in civilian life.
I served in two nuclear powered ships. The Navy constantly trains nuclear plant operators and tests their skills several times per year. Emergency drills are constant. Everything in a Navy nuclear plant is maintained at the highest level and is constantly monitored. The slightest flaw in a piece of equipment is immediately corrected.
Nuclear Navy friends of mine who joined civilian nuclear power plant programs after leaving the Navy were shocked at how lax the civilian companies were about both training and maintenance. The civilians ran their plants to make a profit at least cost instead of operating them to maximize safety. One former Navy nuclear engineer told me that the civilian companies think they can run a nuclear plant like it is a coal fired plant.
I retired from the Navy over 30 years ago. I am confident that the Navy plants are still run with the same care today as they were in the past. Admiral Rickover's policies for training, quality construction, and maintenance are just as relevant today as in the past.
I don't know of the status of today's civilian nuclear plants. NH Joe
Wait, Did'nt Homer Simpson work at a power plant? oh, wait, that was art imitating life
This is a job for Brother Love.
JM
@RootBeerRail posted:Although the caboose is the highlight, the article itself is a great read covering a lot of the military's use of railroads to transport nuclear material, along with photos of the assorted freight cars used in that effort.
I recommend The War Zone blog in general. They cover in depth modern military tech and developments around the world. They must have a lot of good sources across the planet.
Anybody remember Rio Lobo? 
Sure, watched it just the other night.
@Big Jim posted:Let me tell you, you do not want to mess around with the guys that ride those cabs! They are dedicated service men and take their job very seriously.
Indeed. Same thing for the USAF and the DoD civilians (most of whom are retired special operations servicemen/women) who move things like rocket motors, fuel rods and re-entry vehicles from ICMBs or warheads for cruise missiles.
The rules of engagement for items like this are quite simple for those trusted with their safekeeping:
Kill whoever gets between you and the weapons/rods, and we'll figure the rest out later after you've secured them.
Seriously, you'll be ventilated faster than trying to rob a Vegas casino vault.
That hack's contents are of course classified to some degree, but they'd carry an arsenal of weapons (pistols, rifles, light and heavy machine guns, grenades and probably hand-held rocket launchers), thermal and night vision gear for everyone, full sets of NBC suits and masks for all, decontamination equipment, communications (encrypted mostly), power generation, showers and toilets, and backup for everything. I bet if the caboose got derailed somewhere, the crew might even have the stuff to get themselves out of that, as well. For sure they'd have enough stuff to live just fine until someone shows up.
On road convoys, nukes have plenty of supporting vehicles, but of course on the high iron that is often not an option. If you ever see a train with this and chopper flying overhead, don't get anywhere near the thing.
I saw a rocket motor train heading to Bremerton/Bangor WA a few years ago and I stood on a berm looking down on it with a camera. I got a good photo of a set of hands inside a caboose window, with a screen hiding the person, taking a photo of me with a cell phone!
@gunrunnerjohn posted:Odd that the Navy can operate nuclear power but we can't seem to get it right in civilian life.
Admiral Rickover wrote the first how to book for dummies. Our Navy continues to follow the plan he laid out. Thank God. j
@JohnActon posted:Admiral Rickover wrote the first how to book for dummies. Our Navy continues to follow the plan he laid out. Thank God. j
Obviously, it was the "good book". 
@gunrunnerjohn posted:Obviously, it was the "good book".
Close, Hyman's Hymnal.
j
Wow, forget Conrail--this thing's the real "Big Blue"!
@Tuscan Jim posted:Wow, forget Conrail--this thing's the real "Big Blue"!
I was thinking Big Blue also, but I need to add, it's on the plain side of ugly. I think it could have looked a little more to have blended in with a railroad caboose look and not look like it is looking for a fight. D.
Yep, agreed on all fronts!
@Hartman posted:I was thinking Big Blue also, but I need to add, it's on the plain side of ugly. I think it could have looked a little more to have blended in with a railroad caboose look and not look like it is looking for a fight.
Daaahhh, it's supposed to look like its looking for a fight.
I, too, was wondering who would send the first order for one in to Brother Love? Too late for 1940, which was a few years too early to need nuclear transportation support.
Somehow, the idea of Malcolm building that monster strikes me as very funny. I love it. (Pun) It would be an interesting exercise for him, I'm sure. 
Dan Weinhold
Actually that is the fourth generation car. Earlier versions came in white for the white trains that transported SLBM warheads and blue that accompanied other sensitive nuclear components such as reactor cores and tactical weapons. All personnel accompanying the shipments were highly trained civilian AEC/DOE(NNSA) employees. Deadly serious operators, to say the least.
That is one serious caboose at 175,000 lbs. unloaded and 185,000 lbs. loaded and 69 feet long. The armor plating must be at least be 30% of the total weight. Lord only knows what's on the inside. Truly incredible.
What would happen if it tipped on its side/ derailed?
Only 10,000 pounds for the load, (people, food, water and weapons plus ammo). 5 to 10 people, food and water for 7days and ammo to "Hold down the Fort" for a few hours till the Calvary shows up. One of these cabooses cost the taxpayers millions, most likely more the cost of a new GE or EMD engine or two.
@Miggy posted:What would happen if it tipped on its side/ derailed?
Just what would cause THAT? Plus, why ask such a question?
"One of these cabooses cost the taxpayers millions, most likely more the cost of a new GE or EMD engine or two". So, these shipments should just be transported without any kind of security detail with it? Alrighty then.
@Hot Water posted:Just what would cause THAT? Plus, why ask such a question?
I watch too many old cowboy movies where they rob trains. And, Addams Family Crash Trains, And, Mystery Science theater. I did not mean to dis-respect.
That is not a disrespectful question. If anybody ever attacked that train, they would not be polite and knock on the door. I would think that the guys that designed that caboose took that into account. The easiest way to attack that train would be to mine the rails and separate out the caboose, then try to get into the car with the nuclear bombs. The designers of this car have to consider all sorts of scenarios. The more far fetched the attack, the harder to defend against.
Just to clarify, nuclear weapons are not transported by rail and haven't been since the mid-1980's. That courier car accompanies naval reactor- related shipments dealing with classified components or strategic quantities of special nuclear material. Cars carrying the aforementioned cargoes are armored and incorporate significant independent internal defensive/render safe technologies.
Remember the recent topic " Things MTH should make on it's way out?" Well there you go!
@ConrailFan posted:Remember the recent topic " Things MTH should make on it's way out?" Well there you go!
Unlikely to occur, but still I second this!
