Atomic was the buzzword in the late 40s and the 50s. The first nuclear-powered generator lit a light bulb in 1948. By 1955, when this (wisely-unsigned) artists rendition of a fanciful atomic powered train was drawn, the first nuclear power station had only just come online in the USSR, the US would have to wait until December 1957.
The artist seems to have ben referencing the already obsolete C&O M1 steam turbine- adding a bubble canopy- and I suspect the idea wasn't ever taken seriously, very few mobile non-military reactors have ever been built. The first nuclear powered cargo ship, the NS Savannah, was launched in 1962 and decommissioned in 1970. The two other nuclear cargo ships, launched by Germany and Japan, were also not considered successes.
the US even made or attempted to make a nuclear powered bomber airplane, that could stay aloft for weeks without re fueling.
ReplyDelete