What happened to progress?

[Harlesden]

The Americans allegedly landed on The Moon in 1969, but in the past 42 years, there have been no significant moon-related developments.
We had supersonic passenger flights for a while but we have now reverted to subsonic.
Today's diesel and electric locomotives can go from 0-60 ten times faster than a steam locomotive ever could, but there has been no significant reduction in journey times compared to 60 years ago.
Up to the 1960's, the driver of a late running train would do everything in his power to put the train back on time, but these days, additional rules and regulations mean a train that is running late remains late throughout its journey.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Up to the 1960's, the driver of a late running train would do everything in his power to put the train back on time, but these days, additional rules and regulations mean a train that is running late remains late throughout its journey.

This brings to mind the stories of the BR Standard 2-10-0's running some passenger trains in the 1960's, when all sorts of strange "time recoupment" occurred by the use of some very unofficial high speeds being made by this class, which were eventually checked by some very angry members of the BR management.

 

[NSEFAN]

The Americans allegedly landed on The Moon in 1969, but in the past 42 years, there have been no significant moon-related developments.

There's not much on the moon though. The original moon landings were a vanity project to beat the Russians. We would be better spending our time reaching further out to the other planets and celestial bodies. The likes of Titan look much more interesting

Anyway, the electronics used to land on the moon had the equivalent computing power of a pocket calculator. The electronics on our planet has progressed rapidly since then.

We had supersonic passenger flights for a while but we have now reverted to subsonic.

They were too expensive to run, plus that crash didn't help their image. It seems that the majority of customers would prefer to take a slower flight if it means they can pay less. I know I would!

Today's diesel and electric locomotives can go from 0-60 ten times faster than a steam locomotive ever could, but there has been no significant reduction in journey times compared to 60 years ago.

That's not true. Many routes have improved greatly, especially for long distance journeys. You look at a 1950s WTT and compare it with any mainline 2011 WTT!

Up to the 1960's, the driver of a late running train would do everything in his power to put the train back on time, but these days, additional rules and regulations mean a train that is running late remains late throughout its journey.

As Paul has mentioned, efforts to regain time in the past were not always desirable. Speed limits are the for a reason. This is why timetables today have a lot more slack than they used to; it means the train can more easily regain time if it's running late. Time keeping is a big business on the railways but safety has to come first. Also, I'm not sure they had the concept of "paths" in the 1950s, but if a train is running late it and misses its path, then it can be more effective overall for the train to be delayed further or even cancelled so that other trains might remain on time.

 

[HST Power]

As NSEFAN correctly stated, the moon landings were merely a slideshow to compete with the Russians. The first man in space was a Russian anyway! Furthermore, the project became worthless because the American public lost a lot of interest in the moon once NASA had made a few return trips.

 

[newbie babs]

Thats for those that believe we landed on the moon, odd how techinology advances and yet exploration on the moon has not !!!

 

[HST Power]

Thats for those that believe we landed on the moon

Many still think they were staged. Try searching 'Area 51' on Google.

 

[bnm]

Cripes. Rose tinted spectacles and conspiracy theories in one thread. I despair. :roll::roll::roll:

 

[HST Power]

Cripes. Rose tinted spectacles and conspiracy theories in one thread. I despair. :roll::roll::roll:

No, I don't endorse such theories.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Many still think they were staged.

Also known as idiots, it's pretty impossible to fake something like that... The shadows etc can all be explained logically, which I'll attempt later (if challenged on this that is ).

 

[HST Power]

Also known as idiots, it's pretty impossible to fake something like that... The shadows etc can all be explained logically, which I'll attempt later (if challenged on this that is ).

Don't worry, as stated on the post above yours I have never supported such theories!!!

 

[passmore]

Also known as idiots, it's pretty impossible to fake something like that... The shadows etc can all be explained logically, which I'll attempt later (if challenged on this that is ).

It's a pity then many conspiracy theories fall flat on reality. Had I know it'd been faked, I wouldn't have sat in front of my old television without any sleep...

 

[yorkie]

"Many" - by what definition? A tiny proportion of people must think that, surely? All the credible evidence says it happened.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Haven't we covered conspiracy theories all ready?


Either way, the moon landings did happen. End of. The reason we didn't go back is that there ain't much up there. It's just dust and rock - all of which we have samples of.

 

[newbie babs]

I never mentioned conspiracy, i just believe in what I see. Have not bought a newspaper in over 9 years because its all media hype and crap.

Everyone has the right to believe or not to believe I just wonder why technology has grown and other things like landing on the moon or like paying a cheque into an account and it still taking 5 days have not got faster.

Its funny how some people think your an idiot if you have an opinion that does not match theirs. I call that being an individual.

 

[exile]

The Americans went to the moon just often enough to establish there was no money to be made by going there. Anyway,60 years ago - London to Glasgow was over 8 hours, to Manchester or Liverpool 4 hours, to Paris by train and ferry 8 hours. Not only that, there were no early trains from Manchester, Liverpool or Leeds into London so you'd be lucky to get there by lunchtime and would have to be heading back around 6-6.30 pm.

 

[SS4]

Of course "progress" is ill-defined and open to interpretation. The emergence of the Tea Party in the USA is definitely not progress.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Also known as idiots, it's pretty impossible to fake something like that... The shadows etc can all be explained logically, which I'll attempt later (if challenged on this that is ).

Everyone has the right to believe or not to believe I just wonder why technology has grown and other things like landing on the moon or like paying a cheque into an account and it still taking 5 days have not got faster.

Its funny how some people think your an idiot if you have an opinion that does not match theirs. I call that being an individual.

Trouble is, opinions occur over religion, sport, politics etc, things where there are two sides or more to it. Things like the moon landing only have one logical explanation, ergo there's no real place for opinions. It's a bit like saying that grass isn't green and that's your opinion.

I say 'your' generally, not directly

 

[newbie babs]

MattE2010 you can`t say that the moon landings have only one explanation, that`s your view. And as you say there are two sides or more to it when opinions are given.
I just hold a different view to you and so we should agree to disagree about the moon

The moon was 1 of the two things I mentioned though

 

[ralphchadkirk]

MattE2010 you can't say that the moon landings have only one explanation, that's your view. And as you say there are two sides or more to it when opinions are given.
I just hold a different view to you and so we should agree to disagree about the moon

The moon was 1 of the two things I mentioned though

What is your reasoning for believing that the moon landings were faked?

 

[newbie babs]

ralphchadkirk the thread is What happened to progress, not my view on if the moon landings took place or not, but why has their not been much progress since

 

[ralphchadkirk]

ralphchadkirk the thread is What happened to progress, not my view on if the moon landings took place or not, but why has their not been much progress since

Threads evolve. Of course, if you refuse, as is your right, to put forward your argument then MattE2010 has every right to disregard it completely.

 

[newbie babs]

I don`t argue, too old for that

 

[ralphchadkirk]

I don't argue, too old for that

Put forward your point of view then :roll: It is odd to say that there are always two sides to everything and then refuse to put yours forward!

 

[newbie babs]

The thread is on what happened to progress and not POINTS OF VIEWS, my personal views are mine and I don't see an argument would help anyone, unless you don't want to discuss the thread but instead cause an argument.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Discuss the moon landings all you want here:

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=51234&highlight=theories

TBF, if you aren't going to explain your opinions, then your argument is pretty weak.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

The thread is on what happened to progress and not POINTS OF VIEWS, my personal views are mine and I don't see an argument would help anyone, unless you don't want to discuss the thread but instead cause an argument.

I want to understand people's reasoning behind believing the moon landings were faked. If you refuse to to so, then that is your prerogative.

 

[newbie babs]

Your right ralphchadkirk it is a woman prerogative but I joined in this thread to discuss progress and if I disagree with the moon landings then by the definition of prerogative I can .

If I wanted to discuss the moon landings then I would.

BUT

You both should now get back to the thread

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Yes, of course you can disagree with the moon landings, but the refusal to tell anyone why is what baffles me.

 

[bnm]

The human race progresses and evolves, that's hard wired into us. One or two examples (Concorde, rail journey times) do not mean progress has stopped. Progress isn't linear, it goes in many directions.

 

[passmore]

"Many" - by what definition? A tiny proportion of people must think that, surely? All the credible evidence says it happened.

I wasn't talking about the 'credible evidence' in my post, of course everyone knew it happened. As for 'many', that's just semantics. Most conspiracy theorists have a grasp on reality but not when it comes to peddling their theories.