I have seen the future, and it is the past

For those who know me well, they know I am a huge fan of steam locomotives. And they also know that I am a firm believer that the age of steam locomotives may yet return in a big way.

Why? Well, let's look at some of the facts.

First and foremost, our technology available today would allow for a much more well designed and constructed steam locomotive. Parts will be tighter, stronger, with higher tolerances. All of this would allow for higher steam psi and greater torque, all leading to greater horsepower.

And steam engines, unlike other methods of motive power, have no theoretical top speed. A steam engine's top speed is regulated not by the output of power but the point at which the locomotive will break itself apart.

Second - fuel. I need to do some research, but I have a feeling that burning coal, especially with the air filters and scrubbers we have developed, puts out less harmful gasses than burning gasoline or diesel. The majority of that black smoke you see coming off a coal fire is just harmless carbon, and a good engineer can make a classic steam locomotive put out very little smoke - imagine what a modern locomotive could do.

On top of all of that, the United States is to coal like the middle east is to oil. The United States is sitting on the majority of the world's coal supply, and if the world converted large equipment to being coal fired, the US would become a powerhouse of fuel production.

But even if they didn't use coal, a steam engine can be run on anything that burns or gets hot - coal, oil, natural gas, even nuclear reactions. What do the most techological advanced submarines and battleships run on? What does a Nuclear Reactor use to create electricity? That's right, steam power! A nuclear reactor is nothing more than a big, fancy steam engine. Nuclear material is allowed to react by removing the carbon rods that keep the reactions in check, which in turn generates a lot of heat. This heat is then transfered to water which turns to steam, spins a turbine, which in turn creates electricity.

And the other ingrediant to run a steam engine, water, is the most abundant substance on the planet, and running it in a steam engine does not consume it (turned into something else or tainted (read sewage)), it just gets heated up and moved around. And towards the end of the steam era, condensers were starting to be developed that allowed a steam engine to reclaim most of the water it used.

Yes, I firmly believe that we will see steam engines on the rails again in a big way. I have seen the future, and it is the past.

Reunions

I recently received in the mail an invitation to attend my ten year high school reunion. I will not be attending, however. Why?

Well, what are the possible reasons to go to a high school reunion? As far as I can tell there are only three: to find out what happened to those you once knew, impress others with your success (real or imaginary), and to meet Mr. or Mrs. Right-Now.

Well, I happen to be happily married, so there's no reason for me to go looking for a prospective mate.

As far as catching up with friends and aquaintences - I was a social outcast in school. I could count my friends on one hand and have fingers left over. My one, good friend since elementary school I'm still friends with, and we hang out twice or more a month. He was also a grade behind me as he is also a year younger.

Actually I did a lot of hanging out with the younger crowd, mainly because my own grade-level peers ostrasized me daily. The people I went to Elementary school with forgot who I was, and the rest either ignored me or tried to see how much pain they could cause before I started crying. For me, High School was a daily hell that I did my best to survive. Why would I want to find out what happened to those people?

And then there would be the chance to impress. Who do I have to impress? I'm happy where I am, I don't need to lord my modest successes over anyone. One of the greatest nuggets of wisdom my father ever gave me was that there are only two opinions that matter in this world - yours and the opinion of the ones you love.

And I will find no love at that reunion.