It is a car for transporting rocket motors for Air Force. One just left NASA in Fla. mty to get a new motor for a future launch from the cape.
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The rocket cars in the NASA train in Florida don't look anything like this. My guess is a Trident missle or a torpedo in a transport/loading tube.
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Its part of a vessel (tube), not a rocket engine. If you look at the sides there all bolted together and flanged. Flanges would create drag on a rocket and turbulence leading to poor flight.
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My guess is that it is on a manifest bound for San Diego and it is for the military base there.
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Mike, the train is an Eastbound. ;-)
Thanks for all the help guys!
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Great catch Steve! I spent time at Edwards AFB and Vandenberg AFB and never saw hardware arrive in this type of car. The 6-axles imply a heavy load.
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I'm going to say its a rocket launcher. What do the markings on the load say??
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| Posted by RoyH on November 14, 2008 | |
I blew up the photo-- all I could read was "DODX" on the rail car, so it's definitely military.
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It almost looks like a nuclear flask. If it is, I can tell you it's going to Yucca Mountain in Nevada. In the next few years, all nuclear waste will be transported to Yucca Mountain by rail.
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Judging by the picture, there a no placards visible (Federal Law), hence I question the presence of explosive or dangerous materials. However it may contain an empty missle.
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Its not a nuclear flask - its too lightweight. See Trains magazine for November 2008. The US nuclear flasks are much heavier in in design. I reckon it is for some missile component.
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To me, it looks like a shipping container that may carry either a jet engine, or rock engine, or may be a missile assembly. If it is heading to San Diago, my guess it for the US Navy / USMC.
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It is the tube for a trident missile. It isn't a booster, or a flask.
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