I do not fully understand these physical descriptions:
"...a tubeway lay like a wall, invisible save for supporting members and an electromagnetic coil. A coach hung in its vacuum, boxiness relieved by vivid hues and broad windows. The passengers funneled jostlingly and joyously to the gangtube and through." (p. 447)
"...a smaller coach slid to a stop, connected to the gangtube at that point, and discharged a few people." (ibid.)
"Filled, the coach decoupled from the gangtube and slipped forward..." (p. 448)
"...the gangtube made connection to the carrier's airlock. Valves opened at either end. They passed their cards through the gatepost and went on in. Valves shut. The gangtube withdrew. The mini accelerated..." (p. 450)
6 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
Wasn't there, at one time, pneumatic tubes in some cities connecting many buildings together? And were used for "same delivery" of mail. I imagine some that, except on a far larger scale, is what we see being used on the Moon.
Sean
Sean,
This is on Earth.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
Oops! But the location wasn't clear from the bits you quoted.
Sean
Sean,
Indeed not.
Paul.
I think this is a system of evacuated tubes, probably with maglev carriers inside. The magnetic levitation & the vacuum allows fast travel with neglible resistance to drain kinetic energy.
The carriers would need to connect to the side of the tube when stopped to allow passengers to get on & off, without letting air into the long tube.
Kaor, Jim!
That helps to clarify what Anderson may have meant.
Ad astra! Sean
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