Ross Mansell said:
When the French decided to build a new hi speed line Paris-Lyon…they drew a straight line between the cities and demolished anything in the way (farms and villages). Try that anywhere else and you would be blasted out of existence!!
Ever here of “eminent domain”.
If the government says they need to build a HSR through your living room, you best believe they will do so. With or without your blessing. LOL
Stacy, that isn’t nice. My aunt could have lost her farm to the Mon Fayette Expressway, a farm she has worked very hard to keep up and hold onto. Fortunately they located that part of the expressway further east of her farm and she was able to keep her farm.
I have mixed feelings about the whole Imminent Domain thing. I agree that we need the infrastructure, but to take someones property is a violation of the 4th amendment to the constitution. And when compensation for “taken” property is about 60-65% of market value, then that’s unreasonable seizure.
David, France doesn’t have the same 4th amendment
Mark, yes I know that. But we were talking about building the HSR in this country, and Stacy asked if we ever hered of “eminent domain”. I have hered of it, but I have also hered of it being abused, in this country.
David Maynard said:
Stacy, that isn’t nice. My aunt could have lost her farm to the Mon Fayette Expressway, a farm she has worked very hard to keep up and hold onto. Fortunately they located that part of the expressway further east of her farm and she was able to keep her farm.
I have mixed feelings about the whole Imminent Domain thing. I agree that we need the infrastructure, but to take someones property is a violation of the 4th amendment to the constitution. And when compensation for “taken” property is about 60-65% of market value, then that’s unreasonable seizure.
You don’t need to take it personally. I was merely pointing out that the federal government can take property if the need for that property is shown to be greater than the needs of the property owner.
The 4th Amendment does not prevent eminent domain. As the needs of the many may indeed outweigh the needs of the few or the one.
David Maynard said:
Mark, yes I know that. But we were talking about building the HSR in this country, and Stacy asked if we ever hered of “eminent domain”. I have hered of it, but I have also hered of it being abused, in this country.
I have no doubt there is abuse, but lets be practical here. If the federal government can show that the need for your land is so great that it must have it, then they can, by eminent domain, remove you and your property period. The 4th Amendment does not prohibit the government from exercising its right to seize property if it becomes necessary.
I might add that, many “right away” already exist. The railroads already own enough property in this country that it may not be necessary to utilize eminent domain.
True, the railroad does have property, but it may not be suitable for high speed rail. The railroad runs alongside my aunts property. The railroad actually doesn’t “own” the land, they signed a “lease” for it with a previous land owner. So, technically, in this case, my aunt “owns” the railroad right of way, but its “leased” to the railroad in a very long term lease. No, she doesn’t get any money form the railroad.
I know that the government can take someone’s land if they can show they have a justifiable need for it. The land owner should be properly compensated for that. When I was very young, folks were moved out of their homes to make way for a skybus terminus. The homes were demolished, and the land sat fallow for decades. Its now an LRV terminus.
E. Paul Austin said:
It’s not so much that the CAR is convenient, but more that the RR doesn’t go the places you need to go! i.e. the market, the doctor, the Mall, etc. If I were use public transportation to get to a run day at TOC’s I would need to leave on Wed. to get there by Fri.! We all don’t live all packed together as they do in Europe, nor do I want too! The to Southern California and then you need a car to get around. If they (Government and Tree Huggers) want us to use the RR, then transport the car as well!
So few Trains go to places that I want to go, yes they do operate between the major cities which is nice, but mostly east to west! I want to go to Cheyenne and then south to El Paso to come back to LA and then north. You can but on a BUS!!
The Europeans still have car problems - they try to drive to the RR station or the airport. They don’t have enough parking space on those little roads between all the squashed-together houses. There is a problem with water run-off as everyone is paving over the front garden to make space to put the second car. Some folk charge fees for parking on their driveway near the commuter stations.
Over here, the wide-open spaces make cars essential.
David Maynard said:
True, the railroad does have property, but it may not be suitable for high speed rail. The railroad runs alongside my aunts property. The railroad actually doesn’t “own” the land, they signed a “lease” for it with a previous land owner. So, technically, in this case, my aunt “owns” the railroad right of way, but its “leased” to the railroad in a very long term lease. No, she doesn’t get any money form the railroad.
I know that the government can take someone’s land if they can show they have a justifiable need for it. The land owner should be properly compensated for that. When I was very young, folks were moved out of their homes to make way for a skybus terminus. The homes were demolished, and the land sat fallow for decades. Its now an LRV terminus.
I never ever meant to offend anyone. I realize that eminent domain is a very sad and trying deal for people that have property that just happens to be right where the feds need something built or constructed.
Personally, I think the feds can pound salt, but I am a real staunch advocate of HSR and this country needs the jobs and needs the up grade in how we travel. As well as infrastructure in general. After all, even Ancient Rome had to evolve at some point. Much to the alienation of its many diverse inhabitants.
HSR serves a purpose and the fact that other countries have such service and we don’t indicates too me that we are either lagging or we simply don’t care about moving forward.
If it cost people their lands or homes, that part is despicable and very sad.
Pete Thornton said:
E. Paul Austin said:
It’s not so much that the CAR is convenient, but more that the RR doesn’t go the places you need to go! i.e. the market, the doctor, the Mall, etc. If I were use public transportation to get to a run day at TOC’s I would need to leave on Wed. to get there by Fri.! We all don’t live all packed together as they do in Europe, nor do I want too! The to Southern California and then you need a car to get around. If they (Government and Tree Huggers) want us to use the RR, then transport the car as well!
So few Trains go to places that I want to go, yes they do operate between the major cities which is nice, but mostly east to west! I want to go to Cheyenne and then south to El Paso to come back to LA and then north. You can but on a BUS!!
The Europeans still have car problems - they try to drive to the RR station or the airport. They don’t have enough parking space on those little roads between all the squashed-together houses. There is a problem with water run-off as everyone is paving over the front garden to make space to put the second car. Some folk charge fees for parking on their driveway near the commuter stations.
Over here, the wide-open spaces make cars essential.
When I rode on a OBB Taurus out of Germany, ( Hamburg ), I was impressed with how efficient the German’s were with train operations. I grant you, Europeans still use their cars to get to all the stations, but it is the railroads which command much of the attention of the masses. Cars take forever to get from one location to the next. Especially in such rural mountainous settings. Trains make travel possible for many that do not have a personal vehicle and I might add that operating cost of a vehicle in Europe versus the US is quite different.
Here, in the States, wide open spaces are still quite prevalent. So, I agree, people do need their cars, but this is not to say that HSR cannot work. It can, but in order for it to work, it requires people to ride on the train.
The Acela, in many ways, is a great example of what happens when technology is confronted by the overall demands of individuals whose desires to go when they want to go and get there when they want to get there, dominate their thoughts. Trains simply move massive amounts of people in reasonable comfort and with little fanfare hopefully one can arrive safely to their destination. Cars are still a greater risk in my opinion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYOmZlTjsQ0&feature=share Check this out, it gives you something to think about.
The worlds first commercial MAGLEV train was installed at Birmingham Airport (UK) in 1984 as a shuttle between the railway station and the terminal. The Maglev travelled along its 600-metre track at the impressive altitude of fifteen millimetres above the track.
Top speed was 26 mph, propulsion was with linear induction motor, and magnetic lift.
It operated for nearly eleven years, but it was unreliable and closed in 1995. It has been replaced by a cable tram.
One of the MAGLEV cars is preserved at Railway World in Peterborough.
Well, I’ll be darned! I live 20 minutes away from Peterborough and have never heard of it!
Just shows what a lack of publicity can do for you.
Isn’t it a pity that so many great inventions that promise so much - especially here in UK - turn to ashes…21st century technology replaced by a few bits of string and a winding drum - just like San Francisco and their cable cars…or the Great Orme cable railway in North Wales.
Who invented the high speed tilting train?
British railway engineers.
Who has this technology in their trains these days?
Most everybody except the British.
The hovercraft?
British - remember SRN-1?
I guess not.
Anyhow, we must make a trip up there soon.
tac
Ottawa Valley GRS
Here is the new Birminham Airport (BHX) system.
The old Maglev was ditched because spares were hard to obtain and it became electronically unreliable.
One problem was, if it was moving along at its top speed and the power failed, it dropped onto the track and slid a few yards! HM Queen travelled on it on a visit
Most of us stayed home that day just in case…
(LOL)
The car at Peterbro’ is I believe, a static exhibit.
http://gondolaproject.com/2013/02/13/airrail-link-birmingham-international-airport/
Not that I do a lot of travelling these days but I have to say that, as far as I am concerned, the UK railways are good and fast. Admittedly there are some issues, overcrowding and certain infrastructure failures, but it seems that the UK’s railways have the highest passenger number increases in most of the world. All this is happening on an existing infrastructure. This is one of the reasons fro the proposed newer HST.
I have a good choice of services. Living on the edge of a large conurbation has it advantages. Being surrounded by sea of three sides does not allow much development.
A five mile journey, by frequent bus or car gives me a quick journey to London and the SE of England pus some trains go to the Midlands, Wales and the North.
Eight miles away is another railhead giving good access to other parts of the SW of England and again central, northern England and Scotland.
Terry;
You might be interested to know that all the VIA RAIL LRC equipment has had the tilting gear removed or de-activated…due to high maintenance. Of course, VIA RAIL doesn’t run at over 95MPH anywhere on its system, and the latest locomotives were never equipped with the tilting gear…only the original MLW LRC locomotives had it, and they are long gone…at least one of them…or maybe two, have been preserved. I think RailExpo in Montreal has one, and the Toronto CRHS has the other, and have just recently fired it up, at the VIA RAIL TMC.
Ross Mansell said: The car at Peterbro’ is I believe, a static exhibit.
http://gondolaproject.com/2013/02/13/airrail-link-birmingham-international-airport/
Hah! Cheapskates.
I just looked on Ergle Gooth to see where it was. I realise now that I never saw the signs since they are positioned on a very busy intersection where you need all your wits to avoid getting taken off the road by uninsured Polish or Albanian drivers.
Definitely need a trip there now I know where it is, in spite of the awful-looking L*B layout…
tac
Ottawa Valley GRS
Ross Mansell said:
The old Maglev was ditched because spares were hard to obtain and it became electronically unreliable.
Prolly made by nearby Joseph Lucas, inventor of the short circuit and prince of darkness.
tac
Ottawa Valley GRS
tac Foley said:
Ross Mansell said:
The old Maglev was ditched because spares were hard to obtain and it became electronically unreliable.Prolly made by nearby Joseph Lucas, inventor of the short circuit and prince of darkness.
tac
Ottawa Valley GRS
Don’t mention Lucas…I have just found my spare 12v 20amp battery has given up the ghost!
tac Foley said:
Ross Mansell said:
The old Maglev was ditched because spares were hard to obtain and it became electronically unreliable.Prolly made by nearby Joseph Lucas, inventor of the short circuit and prince of darkness.
tac
Ottawa Valley GRS
Isn’t Uncle Joe Lucas the reason that the Brits drink warm beer? Didn’t Uncle Joe have the local franchise for manufacturing refrigerators? 