Heavy Metal
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67newport
Old Man with a Hat
67newport
Old Man with a Hat
Union Pacific Snow Plow Owned by and Displayed at The National Museum of Transportation
On a hot summer day, we thought it would be cool to feature the Union Pacific Snow Plow. Designed and built by the Union Pacific Railroad in its Omaha Shop, the Museum rotary snow plow is the heaviest ever built weighing 367,400 pounds. (That’s the same as 62 African Elephants!)
Its cutting wheel could throw snow far to either side of the track as it was pushed forward at four to six mph. It is not self propelled and must be pushed by three or four locomotives.
A steam generator heats the carburetor, prevents the fuel and water pipes from freezing and thaws out the cutting wheel if it gets stuck. The plow engineer controls both the plow and the trailing locomotives. The circular windows in the front of this plow revolve to keep them clear from snow.
67newport
Old Man with a Hat
67newport
Old Man with a Hat
67newport
Old Man with a Hat
LeTourneau Over Land Train
The biggest single piece of metal ever? Not a ship, or a statue .. those things are many pieces of metal, different kinds, etc. There must be bigger single castings in the 130 years since this thing below was done.
With the definition as follows - "an object that is formed out of solid metal and is one contiguous piece of homogeneous metal", the largest single piece of metal was made in 1893.
Before you read on, thoughts about what it is?
sources: Ferris Wheel (1893) - Wikipedia, The biggest piece of metal in the world | C Marshall Fabrication Machinery, Inc.
Again, biggest single casting ever? I have doubts, but it IS a big ole hunk of steel.
Above is the axle for the "Chicago Wheel", made for the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago. The axle alone weighed 90,000 lbs (45 tones), plus the "spiders" for the wheel spokes (16ft in diameter, one on each end) added 54,000 lbs.
Every "Ferris Wheel" since, was patterned after this behemoth from 130 years ago
The Ferris Wheel (designed by a bridge builder, George Washington Gale Ferris) was over 260 feet tall, and towered over the midway and mostly everything else in the city of Chicago. It weighed over 2 million lbs., cost $400,000 in 1893 dollars ($14 Million 2023 dollars).
After appearing and the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, the Ferris Wheel was dynamited and scrapped.
With the definition as follows - "an object that is formed out of solid metal and is one contiguous piece of homogeneous metal", the largest single piece of metal was made in 1893.
Before you read on, thoughts about what it is?
sources: Ferris Wheel (1893) - Wikipedia, The biggest piece of metal in the world | C Marshall Fabrication Machinery, Inc.
Again, biggest single casting ever? I have doubts, but it IS a big ole hunk of steel.
Above is the axle for the "Chicago Wheel", made for the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago. The axle alone weighed 90,000 lbs (45 tones), plus the "spiders" for the wheel spokes (16ft in diameter, one on each end) added 54,000 lbs.
Every "Ferris Wheel" since, was patterned after this behemoth from 130 years ago
The Ferris Wheel (designed by a bridge builder, George Washington Gale Ferris) was over 260 feet tall, and towered over the midway and mostly everything else in the city of Chicago. It weighed over 2 million lbs., cost $400,000 in 1893 dollars ($14 Million 2023 dollars).
After appearing and the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, the Ferris Wheel was dynamited and scrapped.
Time for one of these if you have 15 minutes to kill to see some junkers start to get recycled.
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65sporty
Old Man with a Hat
I thought maybe I saw this in person, but couldn't remember for sure. Turns out it was the baby brother, the AN-124. We hosted the AN-124 and 2 TU-95 Bear Bombers in May of 92 while I was stationed at Barksdale AFB
Well, the Chinese Academy of Science, three years ago, seems to have made the worlds biggest, single piece (non-welded, non-assembled), cast metal object. There's a caveat .. its the largest "ring", as if some other shape is bigger
Over 50 feet in diameter, weights 150 tons, and is stainless steel. It is a component that will be used in China's fourth generation nuclear powerplants. Wherever this ring goes in such plants, it has to support 7,000 tons (14M lbs) of equipment.
sources: Record-setting ring forged for China's nuclear power unit, Scientists Develop World's Largest Weldless Stainless Steel Forging Ring----Chinese Academy of Sciences
Aside: I don't understand the technology (HTGC - high-temperature-gas-cooled) that well, but the fourth gen nuke plants are "gas-cooled" (helium) vs. water-cooled like most others.
NOT a new idea, but US (our scientists first proposed them in 1947, built one in the 60's, exited in the 80's due to funding limits) doesn't seem nearly as far along as other countries on the commercialization path.
China has two of them up and running right now. US is still working on it, with commercial partners, but we are behind it seems.
One are the biggest benefits of this technology and others in the running? high electricity generation/efficiency out of a given footprint, an inert coolant like helium does NOT become radioactive, low pressure operation, and a variant of the technology may make it easier to produce hydrogen (as fuel).
source: High-temperature gas reactor - Wikipedia, Generation IV reactor - Wikipedia
Over 50 feet in diameter, weights 150 tons, and is stainless steel. It is a component that will be used in China's fourth generation nuclear powerplants. Wherever this ring goes in such plants, it has to support 7,000 tons (14M lbs) of equipment.
sources: Record-setting ring forged for China's nuclear power unit, Scientists Develop World's Largest Weldless Stainless Steel Forging Ring----Chinese Academy of Sciences
Aside: I don't understand the technology (HTGC - high-temperature-gas-cooled) that well, but the fourth gen nuke plants are "gas-cooled" (helium) vs. water-cooled like most others.
NOT a new idea, but US (our scientists first proposed them in 1947, built one in the 60's, exited in the 80's due to funding limits) doesn't seem nearly as far along as other countries on the commercialization path.
China has two of them up and running right now. US is still working on it, with commercial partners, but we are behind it seems.
One are the biggest benefits of this technology and others in the running? high electricity generation/efficiency out of a given footprint, an inert coolant like helium does NOT become radioactive, low pressure operation, and a variant of the technology may make it easier to produce hydrogen (as fuel).
source: High-temperature gas reactor - Wikipedia, Generation IV reactor - Wikipedia
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3175375
Senior Member
67newport
Old Man with a Hat
Diplodocus Militaris, to get across WW1 era trench warfare and barbwire defenses, the 1915 Boirault engine was considered the interesting ancestor of the tank
The heaviest object ever directly weighed (note: NOT ever built -- plenty of heavier objects men have built over the centuries, "weighed" indirectly by their size and material composition - eg. the pyramids). The former launch pad 39B (Saturn V, Space Shuttle, etc)at Cape Canaveral, at over five MILLION pounds.
They had to jack it up to weigh it, in order decide HOW to take it apart and NOT breakup/damage the concreteunder/around the launch pad they wanted to keep. Actually rather fascinating project.
It has since been "remodeled" away (neaerly 5 million lbs of superstructre structure removed) from the specialized structure it WAS for the shuttle to be able to use it.
In other words, it was restored to the "clean pad" configuration it started with a late 1960's (able to launch many different kinds of rockets, vs. needing all the stuff the Shuttle need. Plus it gave NASA a pad they could lease of OTHER rocket-playing organizations).
All this demolition work was done over a decade ago.
sources: Photo Gallery: Space shuttle launch pad 'cleaned' of historic towers | collectSPACE, Space Shuttle Launch Pad 'Cleaned' of Historic Towers
Before
AFter - the clean pad configuration is achieved. Each different type of rocket has its OWN gantry now, same as the Apollo days ...
Intermediate Steps and Previous launchs.
five Minute Time Lapse Video of the demolition.
They had to jack it up to weigh it, in order decide HOW to take it apart and NOT breakup/damage the concreteunder/around the launch pad they wanted to keep. Actually rather fascinating project.
It has since been "remodeled" away (neaerly 5 million lbs of superstructre structure removed) from the specialized structure it WAS for the shuttle to be able to use it.
In other words, it was restored to the "clean pad" configuration it started with a late 1960's (able to launch many different kinds of rockets, vs. needing all the stuff the Shuttle need. Plus it gave NASA a pad they could lease of OTHER rocket-playing organizations).
All this demolition work was done over a decade ago.
sources: Photo Gallery: Space shuttle launch pad 'cleaned' of historic towers | collectSPACE, Space Shuttle Launch Pad 'Cleaned' of Historic Towers
Before
AFter - the clean pad configuration is achieved. Each different type of rocket has its OWN gantry now, same as the Apollo days ...
Intermediate Steps and Previous launchs.
five Minute Time Lapse Video of the demolition.
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3175375
Senior Member
I lifted this from Facebook:
On December 31, 1899, Captain John Phillips was navigating the passenger-cargo ship SS Warrimoo when his crew informed him that they were approaching the equator.
Captain Phillips had his navigator double check their position, and then adjusted the course and speed of the Warrimoo so that at exactly 12 a.m., the ship lay astride the Equator at exactly the point where it crossed the International Date Line.
The forward part of the ship was in the Southern Hemisphere and in the middle of summer. The rear part of the ship was in the Northern Hemisphere and in the middle of winter. Half of the ship was on 31 December 1899, while the forward half skipped a day ahead and into 1 January 1900.
The ship was therefore not only in two different days, two different months, two different years, two different seasons and two different hemispheres but also in two different centuries all at the same time.
Read more articles:
The Floating "Noah's Violin" Brings Rebirth Of Venetian Art, Music And Culture To The World | CAAOX
On December 31, 1899, Captain John Phillips was navigating the passenger-cargo ship SS Warrimoo when his crew informed him that they were approaching the equator.
Captain Phillips had his navigator double check their position, and then adjusted the course and speed of the Warrimoo so that at exactly 12 a.m., the ship lay astride the Equator at exactly the point where it crossed the International Date Line.
The forward part of the ship was in the Southern Hemisphere and in the middle of summer. The rear part of the ship was in the Northern Hemisphere and in the middle of winter. Half of the ship was on 31 December 1899, while the forward half skipped a day ahead and into 1 January 1900.
The ship was therefore not only in two different days, two different months, two different years, two different seasons and two different hemispheres but also in two different centuries all at the same time.
Read more articles:
The Floating "Noah's Violin" Brings Rebirth Of Venetian Art, Music And Culture To The World | CAAOX
67newport
Old Man with a Hat
Next Generation US Submarines. Coming to an ocean near you in 2034 (artists' unofficial rendition of planned boat).
Not biggest (in dispalacement/length) ever, but perhaps most technologically advanced as one might expect for something predicted to be in use into the 22nd century
source: U.S. Navy Outlines the Next-Generation Attack Submarine SSN(X) Program - Naval News
"SSN(X) could feature new technologies such as:
. Laser weapons,
. Conformal bow sonar,
. Quantum technology,
. Larger weapons stowage compartment to accommodate more systems such as weapons and UUVs,
. More torpedo tubes to deploy the systems mentioned above,
. Very large flank arrays,
. Quieter electric drive propulsion,
. X-rudder for better maneuverability,
. VLS for cruise missile and future hypersonic weapons
An industry official stated that the SSN(X) might have a beam (i.e., hull diameter) greater than that of the Virginia-class design (34 feet), and closer to that of the Navy’s Seawolf-class SSN design and Columbia-class SSBN design (40 and 43 feet, respectively).
An April 2021 CBO report on the December 9, 2020, 30-year Navy shipbuilding document states that in constant FY2021 dollars, the SSN(X)’s average unit procurement cost is estimated at $5.8 billion by the Navy and $6.2 billion by CBO.”
Not biggest (in dispalacement/length) ever, but perhaps most technologically advanced as one might expect for something predicted to be in use into the 22nd century
source: U.S. Navy Outlines the Next-Generation Attack Submarine SSN(X) Program - Naval News
"SSN(X) could feature new technologies such as:
. Laser weapons,
. Conformal bow sonar,
. Quantum technology,
. Larger weapons stowage compartment to accommodate more systems such as weapons and UUVs,
. More torpedo tubes to deploy the systems mentioned above,
. Very large flank arrays,
. Quieter electric drive propulsion,
. X-rudder for better maneuverability,
. VLS for cruise missile and future hypersonic weapons
An industry official stated that the SSN(X) might have a beam (i.e., hull diameter) greater than that of the Virginia-class design (34 feet), and closer to that of the Navy’s Seawolf-class SSN design and Columbia-class SSBN design (40 and 43 feet, respectively).
An April 2021 CBO report on the December 9, 2020, 30-year Navy shipbuilding document states that in constant FY2021 dollars, the SSN(X)’s average unit procurement cost is estimated at $5.8 billion by the Navy and $6.2 billion by CBO.”
Photos of Vintage Auto Dealerships, Repair Shops, and Gas Stations
from another thread ... I too had/have never seen water transport of vehicles.
Dunno to what/if any extent barge traffic includes vehicles today, but but map below shows major rivers/ports still in use for ores, crops, and other materials suitable for barge transport.
sources: An autorack on a barge and autos on a ships, Mississippi River and Waterborne Freight | Bureau of Transportation Statistics
Mississippi near St. Louis 1949
Paddle-wheel steamer on the Ohio near Cinncinnati circa mid.1930's.
The Sprague, built 1901, retired 1948 froms of Mississippi service was the largest (~1,000 ft long, ~300 ft wide) stern-wheeled paddle boat ever made for INLAND river service.
Lost to a fire when it was a museum in Vicksburg, Miss. though some parts of it survive to today in Vicksburg.
circa 1940's. The Ashland, taken from Cairo Bridge (over the Mississippi, connects Illinois & Missouri).
1947, a purpose-built car carrier (~500 cars, 500 ft. long) heading from Cincinnati to Memphis (on Ohio River heading to Mississippi River)
1947 Pontiacs on the Ohio River in Louisville KY.
Unknown Great Lakes location, 1932; Think City of Bangor wreck in an earlier post. (#1909)
from another thread ... I too had/have never seen water transport of vehicles.
Dunno to what/if any extent barge traffic includes vehicles today, but but map below shows major rivers/ports still in use for ores, crops, and other materials suitable for barge transport.
sources: An autorack on a barge and autos on a ships, Mississippi River and Waterborne Freight | Bureau of Transportation Statistics
Mississippi near St. Louis 1949
Paddle-wheel steamer on the Ohio near Cinncinnati circa mid.1930's.
The Sprague, built 1901, retired 1948 froms of Mississippi service was the largest (~1,000 ft long, ~300 ft wide) stern-wheeled paddle boat ever made for INLAND river service.
Lost to a fire when it was a museum in Vicksburg, Miss. though some parts of it survive to today in Vicksburg.
circa 1940's. The Ashland, taken from Cairo Bridge (over the Mississippi, connects Illinois & Missouri).
1947, a purpose-built car carrier (~500 cars, 500 ft. long) heading from Cincinnati to Memphis (on Ohio River heading to Mississippi River)
1947 Pontiacs on the Ohio River in Louisville KY.
Unknown Great Lakes location, 1932; Think City of Bangor wreck in an earlier post. (#1909)
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67newport
Old Man with a Hat
1927 - A fender stamping press at the Ford Motor Company River Rouge plant, Dearborn, Michigan
67newport
Old Man with a Hat
This the old Budd press shop dating back to the 20´s. It is basically the parent company of of Budd in Michigan. lately bought by Thyssen, Germany.
The plant was located in Berlin-Johannisthal and it produced cars parts and a lot of press parts for other applications.
The plant was located in Berlin-Johannisthal and it produced cars parts and a lot of press parts for other applications.
3175375
Senior Member
F-102 First flight: October 24th 1953
F-104 First flight March 4th 1954 (XF-104)
F-106 First flight: December 26th 1956
Nike Hercules First flight: 1958 (Nike Ajax 1954)
Here is a great article about the Century Series of aircraft The Century Series
#Avgeek #AviationHistory #VintageAirplane #centuryseries
F-104 First flight March 4th 1954 (XF-104)
F-106 First flight: December 26th 1956
Nike Hercules First flight: 1958 (Nike Ajax 1954)
Here is a great article about the Century Series of aircraft The Century Series
#Avgeek #AviationHistory #VintageAirplane #centuryseries
