Canada Turbos

SteveRG · **Joined:** Fri Sep 15, 2006 3:28 am **Posts:** 270

I heard Red Barchetta by Rush on the radio today and I made me wonder.
When Geddy speak of "hopping the turbine freight" and "as the turbo slow to cross the borderline" what is he exactly speaking about? Was it VIA rail and did they ever run turbos with freight in Canada? I always thought (from what I have seen and heard) that VIA was only passenger?
Then again, we're going back to late '70's to early '80's and "...before the motor law..."

PaulWWoodring · **Posted:** Thu Sep 04, 2008 9:00 pm

Most likely poetic license, although VIA ran the UA turbos into the '80's, only for passengers.

BTW, since you mentioned it, just exactly what is/was this Canadian "Motor Law" anyway? As a classic rock fan, I've casually wondered about that.

rjenkins · **Posted:** Fri Sep 05, 2008 10:44 am

It's pure fantasy. The song is a sci-fi story set in a future where ordinary internal-combustion engines are banned by this "motor law", so freight trains are apparently powered by some type of "turbine" and people drive around in "gleaming alloy air cars". It was inspired by a short story that appeared in Road and Track in 1973. Theres a good description of the song and the story behind it on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Barchetta

Gary Gray · **Posted:** Fri Sep 05, 2008 11:08 am

I remember that story in Road & Track, I was a rabid reader of car magazines while growing up. I think the sports car in it was a red MGB convertible. The story must have had an influence, because after I started driving I developed an addiction to MGB's that is nearly as severe as my train addiction, and just as persistent.

PaulWWoodring · **Posted:** Fri Sep 05, 2008 12:11 pm

Gary Gray wrote:

I developed an addiction to MGB's that is nearly as severe as my train addiction, and just as persistent.

Get to know your local parts dealer pretty well with that "addiction" to British Leland products, don't you? Kind of like being addicted to that Alco "chug", and nearly as expensive! (required historic railroad content<g>)

Dave · **Posted:** Fri Sep 05, 2008 1:06 pm

Fill it up with oil and check the gas....Lucas, prince of darkness. Nice memories of 1960's MGs and Sprites.

Good mechanical training for railroaders.

dave

Gary Gray · **Posted:** Fri Sep 05, 2008 1:07 pm

They are actually related addictions. The basic difference between working on an old MG and working on an old Alco is the size of the hammer...................:)

Gary Gray · **Posted:** Fri Sep 05, 2008 1:10 pm

Dave wrote:

Fill it up with oil and check the gas....Lucas, prince of darkness. Nice memories of 1960's MGs and Sprites.

Good mechanical training for railroaders.

dave

Remember the old saying about British cars..........If it ain't leakin' oil, then you've got real trouble because there's no oil in it.