Steam and Secrecy

[ggreig]

The BBC are reporting an attempt on the world speed record for a steam car, which has been held by a Stanley Steamer for over 100 years:

British-built steam car unveiled

There was a fuller article about the technology which seems to have disappeared, but I'll add if it resurfaces. Update: it turns out to be an old article that got briefly revived due to the popularity of the new one:

Steam engines could be eco hope

And the improbably-named commentator on database development, Phil Factor, suggests that Charles Babbage's machines may have been more successful than popularly supposed:

The biggest secret?

Comments

[sharikkamur.livejournal.com]

That's a very interesting piece about Babbage. It wouldn't surprise me if a journal paper in the near future showing how the DE could be used in that manner.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Steam car looks interesting, ditto the Babbage thing. The latter fits in very nicely with an adventure I've sort of half written as it happens, gives me an idea to help finish it.

Whatever happened to the JCB diesel car that was being built for a land speed record attempt?

(googles)

OK, apparently set a record then broke it at 350 MPH in 2006.
http://www.jcbdieselmax.com/html/news_detail.php?id=71&table=news