I guess these questions are regarding my tech?
Is there a loss over distance, electrically?
Are the rails levitation susceptible to interference induced currents generated by something like solar magnetic storms, static electrical fields, an EMP, or microwave radiation?
Is it possible to discharge a rail intentionally or unintentionally?
1) No more than over regular wires. If the lines running parallel to the track are high voltage, feeding the track itself through transformers every few kilometers, it should be ok (no different than electric trains)
2 & 3) There is no current in the rail other than what little is generated at the instant the train passes over it, and the levitation itself is done by magnetism - permanent magnet attracted to steel - not by electricity. I guess maybe a very powerful EMP can disrupt the levitation, and that may be enough for the train to shift and scrape/crash on the rails. I don't know how powerful it would have to be. Nice idea for something to test in the lab
(and gives us an excuse to build one legally)
Another point, the entire line would be limited in acceleration time, 0-350mph, by the most acceleration sensitive items. A tomatoe may only handle an accelration of 0-350mph in 15 seconds while a refrigerator could withstand accelration from 0-350mph in 7 seconds. Therefore, the entire lines shipping time doubles by adding tomatoes to the shipping line.
I suspect a bigger factor will be keeping the motor from overheating, or the motor wiring from getting bent or ripped out from too much exertion from high acceleration. Also, hopefully, most of the rail line will be travel at constant high speed rather than fast starts and stops. Honestly, though, I haven't considered high G acceleration for anything other than a gas gun for space launches (uses exploding gas behind the train rather than electric motor)
If you had multiple load and unload points in between start of line and end of line, how would you handle shifting cars, or cargo, on and off of tracks?
Platforms will be difficult to remove due to their attraction to the rails. I was thinking the platforms would just be flat cars, and cargo will be removable boxes that lock on top of them. Cars can also be shifted between tracks, though at low speed.
How would you handle track length, if your not shifting cars off?
The track would have to be 3x the distance of the actual start and end transportation points.
A loop would be more efficient I guess, but would that work with the electrical systerm in the rails?
A loop, or a low speed shift where a train comes in front-forward, then shifts and leaves back-forward can work (trains are symmetrical, so can travel forward and backward). Trans that simply slow down while overhead traveling cranes that take off or deposit cargo can work too.
How about Canada's logging, mining industry? Or even there great expanse of wild from east to west?
Good idea about Canada. I'm looking for a place with a lot of really cheap unused land, since that is the most expensive part of building this. Though logs and mined ore aren't perishable, so moving that slowly and cheaply is still best. Perishables like food, or people, moved across the country would work better. Thanks for the Canada idea.
