Invisible Themepark

Category: Railroad

Cutaway drawings of locomotives, railcars, and structures related to railroads.

  • BZhRK Barguzin Russian Rail Missile Had Precedent with Peacekeeper Rail System, 1986

    BZhRK Barguzin Russian Rail Missile Had Precedent with Peacekeeper Rail System, 1986

    Peacekeeper Rail Garrison Car Cutaway, 1986
    Peacekeeper Rail Garrison Car Cutaway, 1986

    Over at Popular Mechanics, Kyle Mizokami reports that Russia is developing a rail-mounted system of mobile ICBMs that will constantly rove the country, making “the country’s nuclear arsenal more mobile and thus more difficult to locate in wartime.”

    Fantastic idea.  But it’s hardly a new idea.

    The Peacekeeper Rail Garrison Car Program was developed by the U.S. Air Force in the 1980s, during the Reagan Administration, as a way to keep the upcoming LGM-118 Peacekeeper (MX) ICBM on the move and disguised in the event of nuclear war.

    The 50 missile launchers would be installed in pairs in 25 trains specially built by the St. Louis Refrigerator Car Company.

    The program was disbanded in 1991 with the easing up of tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States.

    If you like illustration art, it’s interesting to note that this drawing of a railcar with a missile inside looks like the style of cutaways from the 1960s–lurid colors, chunky brush strokes.

    Source:  Flickr / X-Ray-Delta

  • Super Dome Train Car Cutaway, 1952

    Super Dome Train Car Cutaway, 1952

    Super Dome Train Car Cutaway 1952

    Sightseeing “dome” rail cars were not new in 1952, but to this point these VistaDomes, as they were called, had extended only partially along the length of the car.  With the new Pullman super dome car, this “greenhouse” area now extended 73 feet, the entire length (more or less) of the car, accommodating 68 passengers.

    The half-inch thick glass top was double-walled, air conditioned air flowing through the plenum during hot summer months.

    Downstairs was a 28 seat diner with full electric kitchen.

    The Napa Valley Wine Train is one of the few outfits running Super Dome Cars, though in their literature they mistakenly refer to them as VistaDomes.

    Click to Enlarge to 1251 x 762 px

    Source:  Popular Science, July 1952

  • Two Story Duplex Pullman Rail Car Cutaway, 1932

    Two Story Duplex Pullman Rail Car Cutaway, 1932

    In 1932, the time of this cutaway, this two-story Pullman berth intended to offer four rooms:  two up and two down.  Each room would have its own daybed, sink, and toilet.

    The article implied that this arrangement was still in its testing phase, and that if it met “with favor,” the company would build more.

    According to Rails West, this so-called duplex car was eventually built in large quantities.

    Click to Enlarge to 631 x 634 px:

    Two Story Pullman Rail Car 1930
    Two Story Pullman Rail Car 1932

    Source:  Popular Mechanics August 1932

  • Railroad Boxcar Sweeper Arm Cutaway, 1950

    Railroad Boxcar Sweeper Arm Cutaway, 1950

    This unusual device, made by Stephens-Adamson Co. of Los Angeles, CA, reached deep into boxcars that had loose contents and swept the contents out of the open door.

    As it turns out, Stephens-Adamson Co. is still around today.

    Click to Enlarge to 1350 x 517 px:

    Railroad Boxcar Sweeper Arm Cutaway 1950
    Railroad Boxcar Sweeper Arm Cutaway 1950

    Source:  Popular Science March 1950

  • Old vs. New Locomotive Cutaway, 1920

    Old vs. New Locomotive Cutaway, 1920

    It was a fairly accurate prediction, in 1920, of the difference between the bulky locomotive of the day vs. the predicted streamlined version.

    The article claimed that more locomotives had been built in the last 15 years than in all of history–perhaps true.

    It was also claimed that, by streamlining the locomotive and cutting down on wind resistance, it could achieve speeds of up to 150 mph.

    Click to Enlarge to 912 x 205 px

    Old vs. New Locomotive Cutaway, 1920
    Old vs. New Locomotive Cutaway, 1920

    Source: Popular Science Monthly February 1920