John57sharp
Western Thunderer
My “job” these days is to write articles about rockets for NASAspaceflight - an independent news organisation - but today we covered a rollout of the new Vulcan rocket to its launchpad, by rail! Two locomotives on parallel tracks push the train which consists the launch platform, with rocket and tower mounted vertically, and several wagons of “air conditioning” and so on to keep the rocket pressurised and the various components stress-free.
Amazingly, the two trains join two parallel mainlines via switches, and then proceed uphill to the launch site. It is not unknown for the consist to have insufficient momentum for the incline, and the whole lot back up for another run at it.
There's a video in the link to X showing the assembly rolling by.
Amazingly, the two trains join two parallel mainlines via switches, and then proceed uphill to the launch site. It is not unknown for the consist to have insufficient momentum for the incline, and the whole lot back up for another run at it.
There's a video in the link to X showing the assembly rolling by.