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Imaginary Trains
Last one for now, I think I'm done with trains for a bit, thanks for letting me share these here! cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/8581002 > Another (very quick) take on the [caustic soda locomotive](http://www.douglas-self.com/MUSEUM/LOCOLOCO/soda/soda.htm) concept based on [this comment](https://slrpnk.net/comment/7782028) on my [last postcard](https://slrpnk.net/post/8409948) about what a version with swappable boilers might look like. > > The idea is that instead of pumping out the caustic soda to dry it, they would instead unbolt and lift off the boiler, probably using an overhead or gantry crane, and replace it with an already-dry one. The dilute one would be inspected, and placed on a concrete containment pad where it could be connected to a [solar steam generator](https://inhabitat.com/old-fashioned-steam-engines-could-solve-solar-energy-storage-problem/concentrated_solar/), so the superheated steam could dry the caustic soda. This is actually pretty similar to how they apparently did it historically, except using a coal boiler and obviously without removing the boiler from the locomotive. > > Ideally, this would be a bit safer as the boiling hot caustic soda would remain contained for the majority of the time, with less risk of spills during the drying process, and the extra boilers and frequent inspections could help prevent corroded parts from disabling a locomotive and stopping a train line. It might even be faster, depending on how complex the hookup process is. > > In the end, it’s probably not a whole lot more practical, but I really liked the idea (suggested first by Carrier\_Indomitable over on r/trains, and then with some cool visual details by @WaterWaiver@aussie.zone on the last post.
This is the only other train art I've done that would fit this community, but I'm hoping to make one more somewhat soon. I hope it fits okay! cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/1997731 > The second photobash in what I hope will be a series; a bit larger and more visually interesting than the first. I've started thinking of these as 'postcards from a solarpunk future.’ They might not show the width and breadth of this world, but nice scenes of what this fictional solarpunk society would consider aspirational, or values worth showing off. > > I feel that for a genre/movement with such a focus on intentionality, there's a lot of AI art setting the tone online, along with a tendency to accept anything that looks partway futuristic and green, even if it's a massive cityscape or sort of generically utopian. I want to try to pull the visual aspect towards a more lived-in, human future that sets out to show possibilities/options. > > My goals for this one were pretty simple: I wanted to show a setting where cars are no longer the priority, and to show that a solarpunk society will embrace new technology and infrastructure where it's a good use of limited resources (in contrast to the focus on reusing what’s here that I'm trying to include in other images). I also wanted to show that there’s room for more than one solution (and more than one kind of lifestyle) as with the bicyclist towing a kind of traditional-looking wagon. > > As with the other photobashes, there are ruins in this scene. One of my overarching goals is to keep these pictures from looking utopian or like some kind of scratch-built future. Things will be messy, resources will be scarce, and tasks will go undone. As in our world, the debris of abandoned projects will pile up around human society, no matter how good its intentions are. I’m pessimistic enough to see bad times ahead, but I want to emphasize in these that that doesn’t mean giving up. For me, that’s a big part of the appeal of solarpunk, that the people in it keep working to mitigate the damage at any level they can access, and will try to rebuild more deliberately, carefully when they can. So these scenes are a little postapoclyptic, with hopefully a more inclusive, vibrant, and colorful society on the other side.
cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/8409948 > One of my goals for my [postcard](https://jacobcoffinwrites.wordpress.com/postcards-from-a-solarpunk-future/) series is to show a rebuilding society that prioritizes reducing waste and externalities, and examining what weird technologies might appeal to them because of those goals/limitations. So I've been wanting to do a scene of a [caustic soda locomotive](http://www.douglas-self.com/MUSEUM/LOCOLOCO/soda/soda.htm) ever since [I first heard about them](https://slrpnk.net/comment/2627767). > > Soda locomotives were a type of fireless steam locomotive that barely made it out of the prototype phase, where the boiler is surrounded by a tank of ‘caustic soda’ (usually one of several possible chemicals), which generates heat when mixed with water. The heat produces steam in the boiler, which is used to drive the pistons, but instead of being released, its condensed and added to the soda to create more heat. This goes on until the soda gets too dilute to produce more heat, but it can be 'recharged' by drying it out again. > > These never really took off because it took more coal to dry the soda at the station than to just run a conventional steam locomotive, and electric trains quickly came into their own and filled the niche of quiet, low-pollution trains for inside cities and tunnels. > > But I feel like these could pair well with solar steam generators (another late-1800’s design) stationed along the tracks, to create analogue, solar-powered trains. These could run on existing unpowered tracks, without requiring any new electrical infrastructure, just the isolated drying stations. > > The train crew would just exchange wet soda for dry and start again (looks like that took about 45 minutes). The cool thing is that this arrangement could be asyncronous - the station can dry out the caustic soda, then store it for when the train shows up. The train can run on cloudy days or at night, as long as they get enough sunny days to dry out big batches of soda at the stops along the way. And the solar concentrators can be huge and optimized for their location because they don’t have to move. > > The focus of these postcards isn’t on technological utopias so much as on societies that are reexamining how to do things as they rebuild, anachronistically combining all kinds of tech. So trains and solar concentrators built with 1800’s technology seem like an easier starting place. > > The concentrators require fairly simple materials (mirrors or polished metal) and math to make (plus some simple mechanical timing or basic motors/electronics to get them to follow the sun without a human turning a crank). > > Most of the descriptions I've seen of drying the caustic soda mention pumping superheated steam through the dilute mix from another (coal) boiler, so it seems like you could use almost any design from [the earliest solar steam generators](https://amp.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jul/27/augustin-mouchot-french-pioneer-solar-power-engine) to something like [these modern ones](https://inhabitat.com/old-fashioned-steam-engines-could-solve-solar-energy-storage-problem/concentrated_solar/) depending on the society’s manufacturing capabilities. The solar concentrator/boiler I referenced for the art is [a design from 1901]( https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Solar-steam-engine-for-water-pumping-near-Los-Angeles-circa-1901_fig1_338391519). > > (The most common modern design for solar steam generation I've seen is that sort of mirrored-trough-and-vaccum-lined-tube system. I mostly went with the big round reflector because I was worried the trough design wouldn't read as distinct from photovoltaic panels in this art style.) > > The trains could run with minimal pollution using these simple technologies, and even if their range is lower, or they're not as fast, that might be a trade off this society would accept. > > Ideally they would use existing tracks and passenger or freight cars, and only need new infrastructure around whatever station fueled them up on their route (or at a destination). I think this applies to the compressed air locomotives just as well as the caustic soda ones. > > (If you don’t like the idea of caustic soda locomotives, but you still want this idea to work, another option with a shorter range is compressed air locomotives. Instead of drying the soda, the station would be using a solar steam engine or windmill or water wheel to run an air compressor, steadily filling a tank which would be used to top up locomotives on their route. This would still allow for isolated infrastructure to power a train along unpowered rails. IRL these mostly saw use in mines.) > > The locomotive in the scene is based on a real-life fireless locomotive. They’re similar, but filled with super-hot steam by external sources. They seemed like a good reference for what a caustic soda locomotive might have looked like had the concept reached a more polished, production format. But they don’t really fit my goal for tolerating intermittency as they’d need the heat source to be going when they stopped for a refill.
Source: [IMG_0123 | David Schleinkofer](https://www.flickr.com/photos/38157193@N05/3586466863/in/album-72157631787198359/) > I painted this for Science Digest Magazine in the 80's. It shows a futuristic train that could fly through a vacuum tunnel at 600 miles an hour. Art is for sale. [Hi-res version (2795 × 1994)](https://live.staticflickr.com/3392/3586466863_e3c50f4f2c_o.jpg)
Source: [S T A T I O N : W A T E R by AbueloRetroWave](https://www.deviantart.com/abueloretrowave/art/S-T-A-T-I-O-N-W-A-T-E-R-850193990) > -Water noises- DeviantArt profile: https://www.deviantart.com/abueloretrowave/gallery [DeviantArt RSS Feed](https://backend.deviantart.com/rss.xml?type=deviation&q=by:abueloretrowave+sort:time+meta:all)
Source: [ROUTE THIRTY EIGHT (by beeple - ArtStation)](https://www.artstation.com/artwork/gJBvQQ) > everyday [06.20.19] ArtStation profile: https://www.artstation.com/beeple RSS Feed: https://beeple.artstation.com/rss
Source: - [Twitter](https://twitter.com/AnthonyBrault8/status/1733636475055399420) - [Nitter link](https://nitter.cz/AnthonyBrault8/status/1733636475055399420#m) - Nitter RSS Feed: https://nitter.cz/AnthonyBrault8/rss
Source: [2023.1.8 Practice (by Cycle Circle - ArtStation)](https://www.artstation.com/artwork/xYagr1) > have fun~ ArtStation profile: https://www.artstation.com/zombie012 RSS Feed: https://zombie012.artstation.com/rss
Source **with more sketches**: [Steam locomotives (by Longque Chen - ArtStation)](https://www.artstation.com/artwork/mwVqv) > I have designed whole sections of steam locomotives for ground supply teams. The different sections provide functions such as carrying oil, water, food, ammo, even for cooking, and there has a church section for praying. ArtStation profile: https://www.artstation.com/chenlongque RSS Feed: https://chenlongque.artstation.com/rss
Source: [Airborne Trains (by Alejandro Burdisio - ArtStation)](https://www.artstation.com/artwork/29nOya) > Personal Work ArtStation profile: https://www.artstation.com/burda RSS Feed: https://burda.artstation.com/rss
Source: [TypeProton](https://typeproton.tumblr.com/post/714749478170656768) Tumblr archive: https://typeproton.tumblr.com/archive RSS Feed: https://typeproton.tumblr.com/rss
Source: [The Underground (by skiegraphicstudio - ArtStation)](https://www.artstation.com/artwork/aYnyDJ) ArtStation profile: https://www.artstation.com/skiegraphicstudio RSS Feed: https://skiegraphicstudio.artstation.com/rss
Source: [MOONPOWER (by beeple - ArtStation)](https://www.artstation.com/artwork/GXzv6V) > everyday [03.03.19] ArtStation profile: https://www.artstation.com/beeple RSS Feed: https://beeple.artstation.com/rss
Source **with more renders**: [Transport Miniverse - Trains Vol.1 (by Csaba Szilagyi - ArtStation)](https://www.artstation.com/artwork/yD6dVQ) ::: spoiler Description > Ongoing hobby project. You can buy the wallpapers - and support the project - here: https://artstn.co/m/VmGlj > Still WIP -and probably will go for years - but really wanted to make an album for what's done already! > https://discord.gg/r9RUZ4uyaK > Created a Discord server for this project, come to hang out and we can discuss topics like why the 1873 Camel No.217 locomotive is so weird > Wrote a few Blog posts about the project too, how it started, how I got here, what might be next, etc. Check it out if you are interested: > https://www.artstation.com/csabaszilagyi/blog > The last thing I finished is a video, that I can use on my mobile as a live wallpaper on the lock screen. So every time I grab my phone I can see the tiny trains transport all the likes and love reactions to their destination. > I am thinking to prepare these as a package and put them up to the store. Stay tuned if you would like to see these on your screen. ::: ArtStation profile: https://www.artstation.com/csabaszilagyi RSS Feed: https://csabaszilagyi.artstation.com/rss
Source: [ETERNAL TRAIN (by Rostyslav Zagornov - ArtStation)](https://www.artstation.com/artwork/9mBeAq) ArtStation profile: https://www.artstation.com/attemme RSS Feed: https://attemme.artstation.com/rss
Source **with animated process**: [2023.11.5 Practice (by Cycle Circle - ArtStation)](https://www.artstation.com/artwork/qewJZN) > have fun~ ArtStation profile: https://www.artstation.com/zombie012 RSS Feed: https://zombie012.artstation.com/rss
Source: [Transport Concept (by Luis Esteves - ArtStation)](https://www.artstation.com/artwork/nYdD6r) ArtStation profile: https://www.artstation.com/luisesteves RSS Feed: https://luisesteves.artstation.com/rss
Source: [Cartographer's Locomotive (by Joseph Chan - ArtStation)](https://www.artstation.com/artwork/OoaOzK) > Design for a vehicle bringing an explorer-type character on a long journey. ArtStation profile: https://www.artstation.com/joseph-chan RSS Feed: https://joseph-chan.artstation.com/rss
Source: [HYPERSCAPE (by Félicien Nourry - ArtStation)](https://www.artstation.com/artwork/Rn3QmA) ArtStation profile: https://www.artstation.com/felicien-nourry RSS Feed: https://felicien-nourry.artstation.com/rss
Source: [Ghostrunner II Train (by Mace Skinner - ArtStation)](https://www.artstation.com/artwork/kQX6Qz) > Was happy to be a part of Digital Stick team and do my part in Ghostrunner 2 ArtStation profile: https://www.artstation.com/maceskinner RSS Feed: https://maceskinner.artstation.com/rss
[Upscaled hi-res version 5120x3626](https://iili.io/cbies.png) Sources: - Fan website: [Popular Mechanics Art - John Berkey Art](https://johnberkeyart.com/popular-mechanics-art/) ::: spoiler with a picture of the magazine & poster [](https://johnberkeyart.com/popular-mechanics-art/) ::: - Scanned by [Humanoid History (@HumanoidHistory)](https://twitter.com/HumanoidHistory/status/1123888137699241985) - [Nitter link](https://nitter.cz/HumanoidHistory/status/1123888137699241985) - Upscaled hi-res version and scan attribution found on reddit: [u\/acoolrocket comments on Futurerail by John Berkey (1988)](https://www.reddit.com/r/RetroFuturism/comments/bkxwlu/futurerail_by_john_berkey_1988/emk5m54/)
Source: [TypeProton](https://typeproton.tumblr.com/post/718625804540575744) Tumblr archive: https://typeproton.tumblr.com/archive RSS Feed: https://typeproton.tumblr.com/rss
Source: [Metro-3 - Alexey Starodumov - Behance](https://www.behance.net/gallery/5427987/Metro-3) ::: spoiler Description: > Metro-3 > > Alternative 40-50 years in the USSR. The war with Germany won. A trophy found that the experimental samples of plasma-turbofan engines Wehrmacht allowed Soviet designers, after substantial transformation, a monorail train on a turbine-powered. An experimental monorail branch under the name "Metro-3". Branch goes from the center of Moscow, the Palace of the Soviets out of town. Modelling: 3dMax, rendering: V-ray, post-processing: Photoshop. Work in 2012. Design, visualization, rendering, 3d modeling, post-processing, concept formation and design - Alex Starodumov. > > Work Metro-3. Awards: > 2012: Work in the tape of the best works on the site ARTTalk.ru. ::: RSS Feed: https://www.behance.net/feeds/user?username=megadot
Source: [FLYING KOI /// - Maxime Devauchelle - Behance](https://www.behance.net/gallery/96252001/FLYING-KOI-) RSS Feed: https://www.behance.net/feeds/user?username=Maxime_Devauchelle
Source: [Sci-fi Train by epos221](https://www.deviantart.com/epos221/art/Sci-fi-Train-498827064) > The model presented Sci-fi train was developed according to the concept of the customer. The project includes: train, wagon, rail and cover. > > Author: Grigory Dolzhenko > Polygons: 3,975 > Texture size: 4096x4096 DeviantArt profile: https://www.deviantart.com/epos221/gallery [DeviantArt RSS Feed](https://backend.deviantart.com/rss.xml?type=deviation&q=by:epos221+sort:time+meta:all)-
Source: [Sci-Fi train by Nushulica](https://www.deviantart.com/nushulica/art/Sci-Fi-train-470106095) > Collab with https://tc-designs.deviantart.com/ > > Cinema 4D without textures: > https://i.imgur.com/YwNWIms.png > > Cinema 4D with textures: > https://i.imgur.com/tzognXc.png > > Cinema 4D & PS: > https://i.imgur.com/s2Qya55.png DeviantArt profile: https://www.deviantart.com/nushulica/gallery [DeviantArt RSS Feed](https://backend.deviantart.com/rss.xml?type=deviation&q=by:nushulica+sort:time+meta:all)
Source: [The Winged Railroad | April 1937. | Paul Malon | Flickr](https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulmalon/4731536713/in/album-72157623905824465/) [Hi-res version (1984 × 2854)](https://live.staticflickr.com/1131/4731536713_0292778824_o.jpg)
Source: [train by kazimdoku](https://www.deviantart.com/kazimdoku/art/train-56848898) > train( photoshop + 3d max ) DeviantArt profile: https://www.deviantart.com/kazimdoku/gallery [DeviantArt RSS Feed](https://backend.deviantart.com/rss.xml?type=deviation&q=by:kazimdoku+sort:time+meta:all)
Source: [Patriots Train Concept by Apostolon-IAM](https://www.deviantart.com/apostolon-iam/art/Patriots-Train-Concept-263268701) > Train concept that I painted for Molotov Games. It's a battle hardened El-Train in a post apocalyptic Chicago. It was a good chance for me to change up my style and do something different. DeviantArt profile: https://www.deviantart.com/apostolon-iam/gallery [DeviantArt RSS Feed](https://backend.deviantart.com/rss.xml?type=deviation&q=by:apostolon-iam+sort:time+meta:all)
Source: [Tramway2 by JulienHauville](https://www.deviantart.com/julienhauville/art/Tramway2-895563694) > An other frame about my project DeviantArt profile: https://www.deviantart.com/julienhauville/gallery [DeviantArt RSS Feed](https://backend.deviantart.com/rss.xml?type=deviation&q=by:julienhauville+sort:time+meta:all)
Source: [Drive by t1na](https://www.deviantart.com/t1na/art/Drive-497277476) > Drive > Wallpaper for 100 themes challenge: goo.gl/7Y5BTH > Facebook fan page: www.facebook.com/t1naa > > Photoshop CS6 > Thanks for viewing my work. Check my other similar works. > If you like my work +fav it or +watch me. DeviantArt profile: https://www.deviantart.com/t1na/gallery [DeviantArt RSS Feed](https://backend.deviantart.com/rss.xml?type=deviation&q=by:t1na+sort:time+meta:all)
Source: [minimoss /post/189682466854/train-twitter-instagram-print-shop](https://mini-moss.tumblr.com/post/189682466854/train-twitter-instagram-print-shop) Tumblr archive: https://mini-moss.tumblr.com/archive RSS Feed: https://mini-moss.tumblr.com/rss
cross-posted from: https://lemm.ee/post/9550351 > Source: [Decopunk City (by Lexi Ash - ArtStation)](https://www.artstation.com/artwork/Qzll0l) > > > Brief: > > - Retro-futuristic mega-city with art deco influence > > - Towering buildings and walkways > > - Public transport pods > > - Billboards/ posters > > ArtStation profile: https://www.artstation.com/debbieash > > RSS Feed: https://debbieash.artstation.com/rss
Artwork: https://www.pixiv.net/en/artworks/98399885 Artist: https://www.pixiv.net/en/users/2924751
Source: [SVN — Autumn train](https://svndvn.tumblr.com/post/711951486405525504/autumn-train) Tumblr archive: https://svndvn.tumblr.com/archive RSS Feed: https://svndvn.tumblr.com/rss
Source: [COUNTER/Weight Maglev to the Blue Sky Dome (by Ben Nicholas - ArtStation)](https://www.artstation.com/artwork/g3mnG) > Fanart for Friends at the Table ArtStation profile: https://www.artstation.com/belgianboolean RSS Feed: https://belgianboolean.artstation.com/rss
Source **with more renders**: [Le Ciapog Station (by Piotr Krynski - ArtStation)](https://www.artstation.com/artwork/298xzK) > Sooo, I'm still waiting for Half-Life 3 :') > Used a bunch of different kitbash parts, scans from Sketchfab + the train is a remodeled Sketchfab scan, and also used a lot of my own assets (mainly facades from the shipyard pack https://artstn.co/m/aJYy1 ArtStation profile: https://www.artstation.com/krynski RSS Feed: https://krynski.artstation.com/rss
Source: [The Art of Klaus Bürgle – Never Was](https://neverwasmag.com/2021/12/the-art-of-klaus-burgle/)
Source: [Created Yet Unloved (by Nate Rudichuk - ArtStation)](https://www.artstation.com/artwork/kDEaAy) > Check out my Instagram for more content: https://www.instagram.com/p/CBL2FhPjDKX/?igshid=3swvoj1d3q1u ArtStation profile: https://www.artstation.com/naterudichuk RSS Feed: https://naterudichuk.artstation.com/rss
Source: [SPIRITED AWAY-Vol 2 by AbueloRetroWave on DeviantArt](https://www.deviantart.com/abueloretrowave/art/SPIRITED-AWAY-Vol-2-836649104) [DeviantArt RSS Feed](https://backend.deviantart.com/rss.xml?type=deviation&q=by%3Aabueloretrowave+sort%3Atime+meta%3Aall)