Kai Fu Han

Chapter 537 The Train
The kind of motorcycle Liu Zhijie is talking about is what Liu Xinqi recorded in "Imagination Notes".

"Imagination Notes" recorded heavy-duty trucks, which can pull [-] tons of cargo at one time; and high-speed rail trains, which can run [-] miles per hour. Liu Zhimu integrated these two types of trains.

You know, in the later generations before Liu Xinqi traveled through time, there was no cargo train built that could pull [-] tons of cargo at the speed of a flying bird.

Even if Xinghan League has the guidance of Liu Xinqi, scientific research can avoid some detours, but all theoretical foundations, applications, materials, manufacturing, etc. need to be moved forward step by step. If they really want to create a product that can pull 100 tons of cargo A freight train that can reach the speed of a flying bird will take [-] years no matter what.

"Let him move and take a look." Liu Xinqi ordered.

"it is good."

After Liu Zhimu received the order, he began to direct, and the researchers and craftsmen on site began to make preparations.

Another half hour passed after a series of preparations such as checking the track and checking the locomotive were completed.

Finally, after Liu Zhimu said "start", the craftsman operating the steam locomotive began to add coal to the bottom of the boiler. Someone nearby was assisting in turning the blower to blow fresh air rich in oxygen into the combustion chamber.

The blower must be artificially powered when it is started. When the steam engine starts to work, part of the power can be borrowed from the steam engine power system, and the blower can work on its own.

As the water in the boiler is boiled, you can hear the gurgling sound of boiling, and steam overflows from the vent at the top of the boiler. As the pressure of the boiler increases, more and more steam overflows, and finally the sound blows. A brass whistle indicating adequate steam pressure.

Then the craftsman opened several switches in succession, and the mechanical mechanism for transmitting power was linked, and the steam turbine began to rotate. At first, the gear was low and the power was high, and the steam locomotive began to move forward slowly.

faster and faster.

Bang!

The steel wheels made a crisp sound as they crossed the first rail connection point.

Bang!Bang!Bang! …

It can be seen that the speed of the locomotive has caught up with the walking speed of normal people. Liu Xinang couldn't help but follow the locomotive and watch this behemoth move forward on its own.

"So awesome! So awesome!" He smiled like a child.

"It's really powerful." Even Gao Yuan, who had seen a marine steam engine, couldn't help agreeing.

After more than ten breaths, the speed of the motorcycle has exceeded the speed of human running.Liu Xinang chased for a while and found that he was the only one following the motorcycle stupidly. He awkwardly returned to stand next to Liu Xinqi.

The entire test site is very empty. Standing in the observation area, you can clearly see the locomotive speeding on the test track.

"With this steam locomotive, we won't have to worry about logistical issues when we head westward in the second half of the year." Liu Xinang said happily.

"It's a beautiful idea." Liu Xinqi broke his fantasy.

"What's wrong? I think this motorcycle is very mature and ready for use." Liu Xinang was confused.

"Look carefully, what is the locomotive running on?" Liu Xinqi reminded.

Only then did Liu Xinang notice the steel track on the test site. The track was laid on wooden sleepers, and underneath the sleepers was a thick layer of stone ballast.

"Can't this motorcycle run on the road? Wouldn't it be better to change it to wider wheels?" Liu Xinang asked. "It's too difficult. It's impossible for a normal road to carry the weight of a motorcycle." Liu Xinqi replied.

Liu Xinqi was not very clear about the specific difficulty. He looked at Liu Zhimu and asked him to continue explaining.

"This steam locomotive and the carriages mounted behind it are too heavy. Such a heavy weight makes the wheels put too much pressure on the road surface. Moreover, because the load is too heavy, the wheels have to be made very strong, and strong means hard. Therefore. , the pressure of the wheels on the road is rigid, and running on ordinary roads will crush the roadbed. Secondly, there are pedestrians and carriages on the road, so the steam locomotive cannot run too fast, otherwise the braking distance of the super heavy locomotive will be too long. The impact cannot be avoided," Liu Zhimu explained.

"There are also other reasons. For example, after mounting a freight car, the length of the entire train will be very long. If there are no track restrictions, the steering will not be able to be controlled."

"So, compared to running on the road, running on a dedicated track has many advantages." Liu Zhimu concluded.

"I see." Liu Xin'ang understood: "In other words, if this motorcycle wants to go anywhere, the road must be repaired first?"

"That's right. Don't look at it. This railway is just stones, sleepers and rails. In fact, there are several layers underneath the stones. It is not simple to build." Liu Zhimu said.

"Then how long does it take to build a special track from Penglai to Damingfu?" Liu Xinang stopped asking about details and directly asked about the results.

Liu Zhimu counted a few words.

"From Penglai to Damingfu, if it passes through prefectures and counties along the way, the distance should be between 1300 and 1500 miles."

"It is estimated that it will take more than ten years from surveying and mapping, determining the route, designing, and then constructing."

Finally, he added: "This is only when there are sufficient funds, logistics, rails, sleepers, stone ballast, etc., as well as sufficient manpower."

No one has ever built a railway before. Liu Zhimu simply made an estimate based on the time it took him to build the railway around the test site.

"It's been so long, what use will it have then?" Liu Xin'ang muttered, "It seems there is no hope."

"How could it be useless? Building railways is not just for fighting." Liu Zhimu retorted.

"Okay." Liu Xinqi interrupted the argument that the two were about to start and made a suggestion: "What if it is built in sections? Divide this railway into a hundred sections or a thousand sections, and then start construction at the same time. I believe this will It should be much faster. The sleepers and rails can also be laid in one place and then transported along the repaired railway with rail cars. This will definitely be much faster."

"How many people will it take?" Liu Zhimu said.

"This time we fought with the Jin Kingdom and captured more than 10,000 prisoners. We are worried that we have no place to use them." Liu Xinqi replied.

"In this case, the only thing that limits the speed of railway construction is the casting speed of rails. Our steel production is limited, and it is estimated that it will still take seven or eight years." Liu Zhimu thought for a while and replied.

The sleepers of this era were made of wood, and wood was plentiful on the mountain.The same is true for stones. As long as there are people, there will be as many as you want.

"Then expand steel production and build steel plants wherever there are iron ore and coal mines. Our base of Xinghan League has expanded so much, I believe there must be many places suitable for building steel plants." Liu Xinqi said.

"Here, how much money will it cost!" Liu Zhimu didn't dare to calculate. Such a high-profile campaign would be more expensive than engaging in several large-scale wars.

"Don't be afraid of spending money. Money is money when it flows, otherwise it is just waste paper and waste stones. As long as the money is spent and something is created, it is worthwhile."

(End of this chapter)