Fuel economy-What if we replaced tires with steel train wheels?

50% of all energy produced by engines in cars/trucks, simply warms the tires. What if we rigged Semi-Trucks so that they could hop on train tracks, then hop off when they hit the right towns?



I'm not talking about containers, I mean to let the driver actually run his truck on a train-track, but use metal wheels instead of rubber tires.Fuel economy-What if we replaced tires with steel train wheels?
It has already been invented. It was originally called piggy-back trains. Semi-trailers were transported on railroad flatcars. Now it is containerization or intermodal freight. Goods can be transported in the same container via truck, railroad, or ship. More efficient loading and unloading of freight. More effecient use of resources. We cannot build tracks to every place of business.
What about the cars that have to put up with truckers on interstate highways lol. I hate when the trucks coast in the left lane, shouldnt be done but it happens

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Fuel economy-What if we replaced tires with steel train wheels?
I think it's a bad idea.



Train tracks allow traffic in only one direction. The idea of a half-million people getting on and off the tracks at will would probably bring them to a standing stop before lunchtime. Just one breakdown would mean that trucks and trains and everything else would be backed up for miles behind him. And you just KNOW that some cowboy would jump on and go the wrong way, "cause it's only a few miles to where he has to deliver the load, and there probably won't be anyone coming then".



I'd bet the farm that this idea has been thought of already, and left behind by the people that know railroading. Besides, the ride on steel wheels would be murder.
Scheduling problems.



What if one truck breaks down? Ties up the rails.



Cost of maintaining the rails and signals.



Insurance costs.



Piggyback is the only viable answer.



There are trailers that ride the rails without rail cars.Fuel economy-What if we replaced tires with steel train wheels?
Where do you get the 50% from? How does heat get from the engine itself to the tires? A Majority of the energy is lost to heat in general. If anything the engine itself heats up. The tires heat up due to friction with the road. Friction is a good thing, especially when its wet and slippery out. The steel wheels of the train also heat up due to friction and friction is needed to prevent the wheels from spinning in 1 spot getting you nowhere fast.



"There are lies, damn lies and statistics"- Desraeli



"46.3% of all stats are made up on the spot"
ever try stopping something quickly with steel wheels on pavement? chances are, it wont happen quickly... steel wheels wouldnt provide enough traction to travel on pavement, let alone try to turn.. seems like you're going backwards in time, when tractors used steel wheels to plow in the fields.....
don't no where 50 % came from but BS....1 brakedown and system stops...too complex
First of all, correct your statement, its not 50%, its only about 1.3% of the energy that the vehicle generates, is converted into heat(its an average, fast moving and high load vehicles, generate more heat).....



Replacing tires with steel, not a bad idea, but putting them on tracks, sure it is, you know how complex the programs are that manage the arrival and departure of these trains and decide which train will go where so as to use them efficiently and still making some gaps for the rest.....

just imagine the scenario you just said as if hundreds of blind people running on a race track, they'll collide and fall, and this is what its gonna happen...

you are saying to implement this coz it will cut off some cost of energy, but its not gonna pay as much that you are gonna spend on the laying down and maintenance of these tracks....



Instead, if we all start using gps, with a program making out shortest path for a given set of co-ordinates(origin and destination) connected with a central database(over internet), controlling traffic and increasing fuel efficiency of cars, will be another option to what you suggested and this can even be implemented, think of it as if no traffic jams, shortest and fastest path to the place, booking of parking slots prior to arrival, etc etc.....

this will enhance the present day road travel system.....
Isn't it more costly to build railroad tracks than keep up asphault? Unfortunately at around the time we went from Horses to rails...they should have kept with that idea then instead of shifting to streets. If we go back to rails I think the start up costs would be crazy high because you are talking about building not only rails, but stations, etc. Everyone talking about no money in the budget as it is.



Nice thought though.
Think you have your facts wrong here 50% ? Look out here comes the 9.15 from liverpool st.