Automated Rail’s Post

Travelling by train is undergoing a Renaissance throughout the world. And it becomes extra special if you depart from one of the world’s stunning railroad stations. See more, learn more. https://shorturl.at/nxDQ6

Diving into our timeline of achievements! When did A&G Price secure their very first locomotive contract with New Zealand Railways? Share your best guess in the comments and explore our journey through the tracks of history. #AGPriceHistory #TriviaChallenge

MARITIME SHIPPING. Getting together with insiders of maritime shipping this week was a delightful experience. The get-together was marvelously hosted at one of Amsterdam's very oldest maritime trading houses. Among a select group of individuals including shipyard owners, shipbuilders, maritime brokers, and those, like myself, who are simply enamored with maritime affairs, we looked back on the progress made and the progress that lies ahead in the future in terms of maritime shipping. Fond memories of my childhood flooded back, with miniature models of real ships adorning our home—a subtle nod to those who share a similar nostalgia (if you know, you know 😉). Maritime shipping continues to be a linchpin in global trade, with ships facilitating the transport of approximately 80-90% of the world's goods. Reflecting on history, we're reminded of the pivotal role maritime trade played, particularly in the era of free trade with the Americas, in terms of consumer goods and luxury items. Personally, I hold a particular fondness for the 18th-century frigate—a nimble and sturdy three-masted vessel capable of weathering even the harshest seas. The thought of such ships crossing the Atlantic, a journey that typically took about twenty days, fills, at least myself, with awe! #MaritimeShipping #Shipping #Naval #Amsterdam #History #Trading

that's so brilliant

Delighted to be spending the day at Biggin Hill airport. This place is steeped in history, and today serves as an unqualified business aviation success story, employing 1800 today and heading for 2500 by 2030. Demand for staff today is so high that Biggin Hill is building homes for them. They’re like the Cadburys of business aviation. Don’t forget: If you want to go to Taylor Swift concerts, you need airports like Biggin Hill. If you want there to be organ transplant flights and medical flights, you need airports like Biggin Hill. If you want your region to receive foreign direct investment, you need airports like Biggin Hill. The sector is well aware of its emissions and doesn’t want to pass the buck. But it’s worth noting that the innovations it produces can help to decarbonise other aviation sectors. Winglets are a great example of this. Contrail avoidance represents the next frontier. But that’s for another post. Today it’s about having fun at Biggin Hill.

SEMI RIGID versus NONRIGID and RIGID airships? Another interesting semi rigid, about half the volume of Nobile's Norge and Italia. Notice of course the engine locations and multiple gas cells. Because of the strength imparted by the lower framing, they often used half the pressure of a nonrigid, which allowed 8 to 12 times the volume - and lift - with similar fabrics. The Zeppelin NT lost this advantage because of their single top central envelope suspension. They had nearly all the advantages of a rigid with a huge reduction in parts. Rigids were an answer to the short life span and low tensile strength of the fabric parts, but with modern fabrics that is much less of an issue. Rigid airship construction is an unnecessary luxury.

❤️ We Americans need to think BIG and build infrastructure again! Within 80 years beginning in the late 19th century, we finished: a trans-continential railroad, multiple highway systems, wireless 2 way comms network, electrical grid, re-built Europe, twice, and started human space travel… America haven’t done anything BIG infrastructure wise in the last 50 years except laying more cables where there were already cables. Really think about it! Worse still… the infrastructure companies we have left like Halliburton loves to export the worst and most expensive infrastructure to places like Iraq and other war zones started by ‘Allies’ funded by a revolving door of corruptions and ex-politicians and CEOs. The answer is we need our PUBLIC leaders to think and act BIG. The private ones talk Big about 💰 but so very small on actual infrastructure that matters to the public.

Royal Caribbean International is charting a course for the future with the Utopia of the Seas, the latest jewel in their fleet. As the sister ship to the Icon of the Seas, Utopia is making headlines as it embarks on sea trials in France, signaling a new era in the cruise industry. This DNV-classed vessel is not just about size; it’s a testament to sustainable engineering. As the first Oasis-class ship to be powered by LNG, Utopia of the Seas represents a significant leap forward in eco-friendly cruising. As we look forward to Utopia’s service commencement, let’s celebrate the blend of luxury and sustainability that Royal Caribbean continues to pioneer. Here’s to smooth sailing ahead! #RoyalCaribbean #UtopiaOfTheSeas #CruiseShip #SustainableCruising #DNVClass #SeaTrials #Summer2024

Following the debut of the lead ship, Icon of the Sea, in December 2023, the keel for the second Icon-class cruise ship, Star of the Sea, was laid the same month. The steel-cutting ceremony on January 12th marked the start of construction for the third vessel in the series. The Royal Caribbean Group inked a shipbuilding contract for three of these groundbreaking cruise ships with the Finnish shipyard Meyer Turku. The second ship, at yard number NB1401, is set for delivery in 2025, while the third is scheduled for delivery in 2026. With a tonnage of 250,800 GT each, these ships will accommodate up to 5,610 passengers, embodying Royal Caribbean and Meyer Turku's commitment to environmental sustainability in the maritime industry. The Icon-class cruise ships will boast an eco-friendly LNG propulsion system, contributing significantly to emissions reduction. #royalcaribbean #meyerturku #iconoftheseas #starofthesea #cruiseship #iconclasscruise #lngpropulsionsystem #finnishshipyard #finland