Mag Lev -wave of the future in o-scale

That's pretty cool. I can see Alan Arnold jumping right on this getting a Liquid Nitrogen distributor to become a "OGR Sponsor."

Thanks for posting.

That company (Or was it a school?) has a series of videos with various mag lev "trains" covering different ideas concerning them. "Cool" stuff

I still liked Dale M.'s Manco trains with super magnetic upside down running better

Try a YT search for "upside down shelf layout" or even "Manco" if you haven't seen it before. I think they are still there too. 

Ah, here is one https://youtu.be/QVMUj7SHHgI

I'm sorry, but this isn't natural.  Under some circumstances during my life, I went with only two rails on my model railroads, but no rails at all?  No way!  Technology can pass me by.  I'm sticking with three for now. 

Pretty COOL stuff, and I'm not talking about the liquid nitrogen.   

Amazing! I keep getting surprised again and again....

I saw this demonstration some time ago. Interesting, but that's about it.

This is old,messy news.

Japanese toymaker/trainmaker Tomy(Tomix)already has a Maglev Trainset that will be available in September.

http://akihabaranews.com/2015/...s-and-runs-259599516

Just to skew the subject a bit here, I have always felt that "mag-lev", except -possibly- in some passenger applications, is one of the dumbest ideas to come along in a while. I have actually seen "experts" recommend that we use it to haul coal. Haul coal! Take who knows how many squillion megawatts (by burning coal?) to lift freight when perfectly good flanged steel wheels do it, by comparison, practically free. (If you're gonna burn all that extra coal, I can think of a type of railroad machine that burns coal, and is much more interesting doing it.)

Anyway, in most applications, I consign "mag-lev" to the same technological silliness as the flying automobile.

Really? Cars falling from the sky after a fender-bender? This is a rational idea? Like jet-packs?

Now back to your regularly scheduled broadcast. 

Exactly.  Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should.

Like repainting a J-class locomotive in UP 49er colors?  

we are just not far enough technically to maintain the Nitrogen in a liquid state by an electrical current under the train to levitate it. the Nitrogen cools and the magnetic properties fail to gravity.

cancellation of gravity, now that would be a way to flying cars!

Steve,

Pretty cool , but I the clicky clack of the wheels hitting the rail joints !!! lol

Alex

Here's another Magleve video from 2008 in test application:

One has to wonder what happens when snow piles up on the guide ways...

Rusty

Yes interesting and not practical. I would not want to use liquid nitrogen as it can be dangerous to use unless you have protective equipment and it must be stored properly. Storage life of liquid nitrogen is very limited too.

Its an interesting technology likely to be advanced faster with use.

 If you would look deep into the production aspects, beginning to end life, carbon footprints of hybrids and electric cars, you would find they are not the answer....yet. 

 But without more regular use, we will wait much longer for that technology to advance to the point it does work out for the best. (and we are very close). My "source" is an engineer that does design on these types of drivetrains. His personal environmental chose is still gasoline, but we don't have LA smog. In Cali. he drives a hybrid or electric. 

interesting. thought I would embed the video/