Transporting the Shuttle's Orange Tank :-)

[marook]

Hi All,

Back in february I started to work with LEGO trains again, after many years. One thing I wanted, was to see if I could make a train wagon to transport the Shuttles (set 10231) orange tank!

I don't have any Maersk trains or anything like it, but anyway, the build started.

So, after some trials and errors, I ended up with this design:

IMG_0502 by Marook, on Flickr

It's basically two ends with a long rod inbetween, normally seen on some huge trucks with special transport (like windmill parts etc..)

The end looks like this, up close:

IMG_0503 by Marook, on Flickr

And here is the middle facing side:

IMG_0504 by Marook, on Flickr

Loaded, it looks like this:

IMG_0505 by Marook, on Flickr

IMG_0507 by Marook, on Flickr

As far as I could meassure, it's 47 studs long without the tank loaded.

I still need something to fix the tank during transport, but it's actually quite stable, and runs LEGO curves fine..

Hope you like it..

Edited May 5, 2015 by marook

[Feuer Zug]

Not bad Schnabel car. Good use for the design, hauling the main fuel tank for the shuttle.

[zephyr1934]

Nice work and look at all of those 12v era parts put to good use. Of course now you need to build a car for the solid rocket boosters too, grin. Interesting payloads are always a great addition.

[dr_spock]

Good use of Technic pieces. You could make use of the Technic pin holes in the tank to pin it to your car.

Edited May 3, 2015 by dr_spock

[LEGO Train 12 Volts]

Amazing link system!

Very original idea

[cgarison]

Nice work on the External fuel tank car, the 12V wheel are very nice for this model.

Of course now you need to build a car for the solid rocket boosters too, grin. Interesting payloads are always a great addition.

In reality, the rocket booster cars are much to look at.

Interesting little nugget is that the diameter of the Space Shuttle solid rocket booster was partially determined by the width of a railroad tunnel that the segments had to pass through on their way to the Kennedy Space Center/Cape Canaveral, FL.

And I still have to make my way to KSC to visit the only retired shuttle on display that I have not seen, Atlantis.

[detjensrobert]

In reality, the rocket booster cars are much to look at.

<image>

Interesting little nugget is that the diameter of the Space Shuttle solid rocket booster was partially determined by the width of a railroad tunnel that the segments had to pass through on their way to the Kennedy Space Center/Cape Canaveral, FL.

And I still have to make my way to KSC to visit the only retired shuttle on display that I have not seen, Atlantis.

Interesting tidbit! I wonder why it says "DO NOT HUMP"; is the rest of Florida full of innuendos too?

[Dan-147]

Interesting tidbit! I wonder why it says "DO NOT HUMP"; is the rest of Florida full of innuendos too?

"DO NOT HUMP" refers to a sorting yard system where the cars are pushed over a "HUMP" (a small hill) and are allowed to roll down the other side. An operator in a tower remotely controls the switches further down as well as "braking tracks" on each track segment so the cars don't slam into each other with too much force. This braking system is not good enough for delicate loads so these are marked "DO NOT HUMP" so that they are not put through them. Overly long cars, such as Schnabel cars are also marked "DO NOT HUMP" as they might get caught up on the "HUMP".

Dan-147

[cgarison]

An operator in a tower remotely controls the switches further down as well as "braking tracks" on each track segment so the cars don't slam into each other with too much force.

Imagine the fun that could be had when rail cars with thermite filled rocket segments slam into one another in a rail yard.

[detjensrobert]

Oh, ok. Yeah, that would be bad if the booster 'sploded in the yard.

.

[dr_spock]

I take it that this is do not hump too.

[cgarison]

Yep, as well as it is not advised to hump this load either:

Although the Vogtle AP1000 nuclear reactor was so heavy that it broke the train that was carrying it.

[Phoxtane]

I take it they learned from experience.

I assume you're going to be adding stickers to your train cars? I'm certainly going to, once I have a couple built that'll be carrying sensitive loads.

[dr_spock]

I made DO NOT HUMP stickers for my MPM train. It was pretty easy with an inkjet printer.

MPM by dr_spock_888, on Flickr

Edited May 5, 2015 by dr_spock

[harnbak]

Cool idea!