Trains of thought

[Kingdoms of Cal]

OC: for those interested in the purchase of CAT tech/trains (Cal can probably make and deliver them cheaper than most, mass production and all) and those intrested in the fed's train network, or construction of such.
----
The delegates to the conference were sent first class CAT tickets, this included first class flights on Cal airways. The delegates once they exited the planes were ushered onto the first class compartment of the mag-lev from Lactia international to acton street station. It was clean, comfortable and very fast doing five hundred miles an hour and was set out more like a plane than a train. They had been spared the insanity that was ground side there, one of the perks of travailing first class on the CAT is that they looked after you. Their luggage would follow them, despite the anarchistic nature of Cal when it came to mass transportation they knew a thing or two.

The delegates as they arrived were ushered from the mag-lev down a private corridor to the first class lounge in acton street station over looking the CAT lines. Some looked out over the lines and check there watches, the trains ran with in fifteen seconds of being exactly on time. Quite a feat considering some were coming from inleef and Tel was in the middle of the north south line. There were comfortable sofas, cushions and fine food and drink on tap. There were even hot tubs and elegant showers to fit all kinds. The CAT had recently adapted to non-humanoid shapes and now a number of the trains could accommodate raptoians is comfort even in standard class. The CAT did not just pride itself on speed but also comfort. So discovering that they were failing raptorians they had adapted the trains such, this would be even more important when the international lines and the emass link came in.

Once the delegates had all arrived they were ushered onto a CAT to the first class upper deck, rather than the usual steep stairs they walked up a spiral staircase into what looked more like a gentleman's club than a train. I was not dis-similar to the lounge, just long and narrow. Two elegantly dressed furs were on hand with wine lists and menus should anyone require anything. Any thing with in reason was there to be had, the wifi in the first class was 1Gb and anyone who requested a screen it was brought to them and train had it's own Cell for coms. It was advised that people did not use magnetic media as floor was filled with electro magnets to stop dead any furniture in the case of an accident, not like one of them had ever happened on the CAT network...well a one that they could have prevented as suicides do happen.

The Cat gently moved off, most never noticed they had left the station until they noticed the countryside passing by at speed. The CAT engineers had what they called the whiskey test, that was that a glass of whiskey filled to the brim should not spill on a CAT.

The delegates talk.

[The Union of Tinis]

"Kind of reminds me of the monorail network in Arx," commented Tinisian Secretary of Transportation Lakir. "Very gliding. I was so happy when the first train there took off from the station. I was only a speaker from my home town at that point, but it was still a nice sight seeing such a maiden voyage. It was 1987 I think. Imported most of the parts of coarse but we were more on the importing side of the high tech industry then. Exporting cheap labor and cheap sofas to pay for it. But my first ride was a little bumpy, but they had that fixed in a few weeks I think. Something about air dynamics or a loose bolt or something, not sure exactly. But all the same it was an amazing sight, and when I got my first ride, feeling, to be coasting along using magnets."

In the ten minutes of Secretary Lakir being in this particular group of guests they had all gained the impression that he was big into long winded stories with almost no point. This hinted that perhaps he wasn't much of a diplomat at all.

The ursine rubbed under his greying muzzle. "Now this, I doubt there's many loose bolts at all. Its hard to believe that a nation so into randomness are ultra freedom would have the work ethic to obsessively tighten everything so well, let alone model and design this baby. So I'm impressed by what ever ingenuity it took to get everyone in line and working on it. Greed perhaps, but I'm not going to judge them about that. I enjoy getting my bonus as much as the next Tinisian. I work what little tail I have off to get the positive public reviews. Did you know the total bonus donated to the transportation network of organizations exceeded one trillion Gerbiles last year? I only saw a few hundred thousand of that, probably the least of anyone in the whole mess, but you gotta be sure the line workers were happy."

[miokalia]

"All this can be explained by noticing the difference between a Calie kilometer, and a standard Metric kilometer. As it goes.", said secretary of Interior-pro-tempore, Elly Sorenson, somewhat jestingly.
"I'm sure there is an explanation for that. There's more to a train ride than smoothness.

Bolts, I'm sure there is an explanation for that too."

[Kingdoms of Cal]

A short desert vupine chimes in "I am Til Vilini en of the Tilen tribe, I am to be your point of contact for the part of the journey.

I am no politico, I'm an engineer, I can only say what I believe.

You have to understand calie anarchy is not an all out every fur for them selves thing. We simply prefer to keep power as close to the 'bottom' as possible, so the gov has no power, nor should it, over what goes on between individuals. What a group decided to do, providing it harms no one, is left to the group. But we do understand that we do have to band together to achieve common goals. The engineers that designed this," she said tapping the side of the carriage " love what they do, I know I do. We are paid well but not bribed. The trainworks likes to leave us to do our best and trusts us to do so. If someone is not, we are the ones to tell them to leave, not the management. The same is true of the workers that build the lines and trains. We take pride in our work as we are not mere wage-slaves." she continued.

"There is a belief here that you should be able to achieve your best, that comes from the people, if you can't be bothered well. That is your problem, I and the other workers take pride in our jobs and so we can produce these trains, probably the most advanced and economical in the fed for very little money. Some take pride in design, some in production and some in efficiency. We agree on the best way forwards, but we all know it won't all go our way.

The MAT teams have different priorities form the CAT teams as do the HST crews,. The HST crews swallowed their pride and took on the CAT3 and gave up on there old HST design as the CAT3 was simply better for the job. We are all techs and from time to time you have to do that.

If the trainworks are indicative of Cal, I will confess I am not sure they are, I would say that our model of anarchy is very efficient." she finnished.

She got some odd looks, Cal was organised but from the bottom up, not the top down. It did make sense as the central government generally did not inter fear with moral matters and stuck to matters that a state should be concerned with, leaving the populas to figure out the rest (They knew sticking there nose in there would not be popular).

[Kingdoms of Cal]

The group fell into small talk about there respective rail networks and general conversation.

Vilini looked out of the windows to see the outskirts of drac beginning to shoot past, drac was odd as Calie cities went for many reasons the most obvious was it sprawled for miles. Most Calie cities were compact and highly populated as the auto mobile had never really picked up in Cal due to it's lack of oil. By the time a source had been secured the extensive public transport systems where in place so no one really saw a use for the new tech outside the rural areas. Even today cars are a rare sight in Cal, few people have a driving license and fewer people drive as the streets are simply not built for them and they are viewed and treated as expensive toys.

The other thing about Drac was it was very much the heavy industry centre of the commonwealth, it had the commonwealth major freight airport and more MAT, LAD and GRS lines winding threw it than any other Calie city....Well that and the architecture that was to say the least ad hock, most of the buildings having been made out of recycled parts. The upturned hull of a ship here, a converted fuel tank there and some very odd constructions. It was the desert drewen capital (opposed to the drewen capital) and the desert traders wasted nothing.

As the CAT entered Drac central station the group looked out over the place, it was just a massive shed, there were no pretensions of it's purpose. It was half station and half marshaling yard, grubby, dusty and very, very industrial looking.

As they left the train they noted that the CAT lines had platforms on both side to ensure quick exit from the train. they walked up an iron staircase to a bridge, as they walked over it a MAT train was loading, it was very less suable than a CAT tons of heavy kit was being loaded via Carin or just being placed into containers. It still looked fairly sleek.

What caught their eyes was what was on the platform they were approaching....a stream driven streamliner.

Vilini smiles "That thing is our last link it can do 140 M.P.H one of the best of it's kind. I think the engineers amongst you will like it."

A few people became a little exited, these things still existed?

Vilini smiles "We found a few down in emass....they are works of art!"

The train was an act of peotrey in motion despite how environmentally destructive it was...a steamer...who knew some one still had one working!?!?!

----
00C The Mallard, that kinda train.

[The Union of Tinis]

"Well I'll be," said Lakir quietly. But more obviously he began, "This reminds me of the old line that used to run by my house when I lived in Matabia. The city is built on a rocky delta of sorts, so there's several branches off the main river that flow through the city, and that is why there's plenty of bridges. Anyway, I lived near one of these bridges in the Furtown burrough. The trouble was the lines had to be elevated over the river high enough so that boats could go underneath. Before the bridges were built in the sixties, that's how people got around, except for the the train bridges. So it was tradition you see to keep that up. So all the bridges, even the new ones, had to be such and such a height, and higher on the main river. But all this would require and incline for the trains. The one near my place was a little on the steep side and there were a few times when an engine would find itself a little light on the brakes and end up almost derailing right there. But anyway, those were some fast trains too, but not intentionally."

Lakir's aid Mox nudged him and mentioned, "I'd bet you'd love to have a try at that sir."

"I think I would. But maybe another time. An old fur can play with the toys later, maybe after the deal, eh?"

[Kingdoms of Cal]

Vilini smile "Have a go now, why not, it's not like a deal can be signed in your absence. Is it?

There is space for two extra on the foot plate and I doubt out fifty mile journey will tax you much if your wish to drive it?

Our driver will let you take over once we are on to open rail, and you can take it over the ton."

[The Union of Tinis]

Mox shruged and Lakir laughed. "Fair enough, I'll have a go."

Taking cues from Vilini, Lakir climbed aboard leaving undersecretary Mox with the group.

[Kingdoms of Cal]

They arrived at the train works, Mox was covered in coal dust and oil but for once was quiet. He wasn't going to tell a story, he had a new one. No one in Tinis had driven a stream train over at one thirty miles per hour. Everything was mechanical no electronics, how a train should be driven, he didn't even mind a bit of singed fur.

As the rest disembarked he looked at the engine and though "I wonder if they will lend us one up north.....no the green lot would never allow such a thing.".He walked off as it discharged a load of steam and the crew pulled the whistle "Gud on ya!!!" they shouted. Mox walked far prouder than before.

As the rest exited the train Mox was asked for his boiler suit, he decided to keep it on. He was being given approving looks form the workers. The others that were on the footplate smiled and gave a half salute.

He joined the group as they walked past, some wanted to know what it was like, some shunned him.....he didn't care.

As they walked past the front of the train they were met by a Vulpine in a smart suit who ushered them forwards until they stood before a very sleek train. Well a power car, for those in the know.

"This is the prototype CAT 6" she swung her hat and the eyes followed.
"A duplex configuration for large scale transit between major cities in your nations and between. Top efficient cursing speed four hundred miles per hour.

Very light and adaptable, it's shared boogie design minimises weight, the passengers and luggage will more likely be a larger weight than the coaches"

She wished them on.

"This is the CAT 7, simplex design, for the lines that are important but require less capacity.....well and the annoying political situations. The ones where some city does not need a CAT line but is a problem not to give them one.

Look at CAT 4 usage* here, run them down back up lines, it makes having them look good. Not that your political leaders would ever do that."

"There is one thing about CAT trains, they need specialist track to be efficient, that is not cheap. But we have the means to provide it at cost and it is a one off cost."

"Questions later"

They walked on and was another some what more....well blatant train and a drewn desert fox stood by it.

"This is a MAT, this is still a prototype it can pull five hundred mega ton on it's own
without extra power cars...we are not sure what the system can pull." he walked to the back and kicked a very square car. "That is an additional power car."

"No fannying about with shared boogie, you name it it'll pull it. Though for top speed containerisation is required. Top speed one twenty."

"But for the weight involved it does need specialist lines.....you can't stop the things quick."

The group was beaconed over by Teerie.

"Right to the real world. I have to give them their credit for the transit between major cities and wan....bragging rights they are the best.

Sorry I'm Ha, head engineer of the HST network. That is a HST, I'll let it speak for it self"

The train before them was a five carriage long train, but the power car at the front and back had space for seating

"Out trains run at 'only'" She did the quotes with her fingers and continued " one fifty' good enough for most lines and will run on most lines, though not at there best. Give them a good straight length of line they are fine, but they are electric...but we have plans to fix that as there are lines here that will never be economical to electrify."

"Anyway go on, Oh yeah, were up to being seventy five percent more efficient over the last generation over they're poor fifty"

The walked on and saw an old soaked leefen (Black Puma...well all leefens were)
"I doubt you care, welcome to local and lite rail.

lets get this over with, with that is a short range commuter train top speed eighty, cursing speed about the same if it ever has the chance to make it. Ninety eight percent efficiency increase on the last gen.

Next you see a new single car tram"

A few people raised an eyebrow, trams to them were street cars. This thing looked more like light rail.

"Small wheels large capacity" the leefen said uninterestedly.
"The two car version for larger capacity, and the two car duplex

Look I know none of you care about this side of stuff but I'll be up with the rest for questions....Yea we have a three car and a three car duplex and four car, extra."

----
The group was taken upstairs. Mox couldn't help but notice leefen flipping off the guide, his Calie wasn't that good but he was rather sure that what the leefen had told the guide to do was physically impossible.

----

A few minutes later the engineers were all open to questions, oddly their guide was keeping their distance of the oil soaked leefen.

"Look questions, I got a leaking prototype to fix." indicating her self.

---
*The calie line is for political and back up means only.....none of the west cost baronies are worth a line.

[Kingdoms of Cal]

A few engineers slipped off from the group to have a look about. It was clear that the trainworks were advanced, very advance CATs and MAT were using superconductors and optical tech. Even the HST were not that shabby, then they noticed some thing. It was a labeled the C yard, covered but looking at the trains most, except CAT's and MAT lead power cars, were here with a space for fuel cells.

"Right what you you doing here with out protective gear?!?!?"
"Sorry we got cut off from the group" the KZ representative said.
"OK I'll show you the way."
Most were figuring out how to use the nice rectangular space, as they were lead up stairs.