PROPELLER-DRIVEN TRAIN (Dec, 1958) By Frank Tinsley THE
propeller-driven monorail train zooming out of New York’s
Pennsylvania Station accelerates from zero to 115 mph in a
little over one mile. Its destination, Washington, D. C, will be
reached in record time. This revolutionary streamliner may soon
become a reality. Curtiss-Wright Corp. has proposed powering
high speed passenger trains with air propellers utilizing C-W’s
Turbo-compound airplane engine. Pennsylvania Railroad is
considering this project, a possible solution to the American
railroads’ quest for economic and lightweight rolling stock. The
Mi-designed PDT would be a monorail slung from an overhead
track. Its jointed cylindrical body lends itself perfectly to
effective streamlining and propeller drive. The PDT engine at
the rear is run by remote control from the cab at the front of
the train. Instrument readings are made via closed-circuit TV.
The three-bladed propeller is reversible, serving as a pusher in
forward “flight” and as a puller for br