World records that will never be broken

[whs]

We always think that records will be broken and improved eventually. Well that is not so. E.g. the world speed record for steam locomotives from 1938 at 126MpH can never be broken. Why - because nobody builds faster and new steam engines. It is too costly and also there is a lack of skills these days.

Can you think of any record that will most likely never be broken.

 

[Berkey]

Perhaps a technicality, but if anyone holds a world record for yards in an international sanctioned event, which no longer recognizes such measurements and only uses metric? i.e. 100 yard dash compared to 100 meter.

There was a big debate at my high school about 12 years ago (feeling old ) about whether they should remove the records from the public display form such events as, they could never be broken since they would never run events measured in yards so they felt it was a waste of space however, they still remain as it is still an accomplishment of its time.

 

[whs]

Good and interesting point. And does that apply to all countries of the commonwealth. I suppose those were the ones that used yards.

 

[Berkey]

Good and interesting point. And does that apply to all countries of the commonwealth. I suppose those were the ones that used yards.

In the states, I believe in the late 70's sports, at least high schools and colleges to the best of my knowledge, converted to the metric for most sports. However, I do believe that distances of a mile or more are still measured in such measurements for track and field and such. I'm not sure how many other countries actually recognized a sanctioned event measured in yards off the top of my head, but if they did, I doubt they'll be broken.

 

[whs]

In the US I am always puzzled why the country sticks to inches, feet, etc. where the whole world is metric. At least the car and machinery industry converted. And that for a simple reason - the odd measurements made it nearly impossible to sell their products outside the country. Nobody there was eager to make a big investment into another set of tools.

 

[wasnotwas]

re post #1 - apparently, there's a big argument raging about the statue of Sir Nigel Gresley, designer of the Mallard, specifically whether there should be a duck alongside the great engineer. It's quaintly British that there should be fisticuffs over a steam train and a duck.

Duck and cover: there’s no row like a railway enthusiasts’ row | Opinion | The Guardian

 

[whs]

Here are a few links for trains:

https://youtu.be/MdD3LOnv1TY
https://youtu.be/c_WHak77EwE
https://youtu.be/xfT-HiwO8_o
https://youtu.be/TbGIIK_xma8
TGV https://youtu.be/EOdATLzRGHc

And then I have attached a PDF with various compilations I made.

 

[Barman58]

Wolfgang, why is your PDF in DOCx format

 

[DavidE]

I opened the DOCx file in W10 where i don't have MS Office installed.
It opened fine for me with the built in WordPad.
I didn't try to open with LibreOffice or WPS, i just opened it with my default program.

Thanks Wolfgang for the post/links, really cool info from what i've seen so far.
Can't rep you for this

EDIT:
Ah, i now see why you asked whs, PDF was stated, and then attached a DOCx file.
I'm slow

 

[whs]

Wolfgang, why is your PDF in DOCx format

Sorry Nigel. I wanted to attach the PDF but then this did not attach and I had to use the .docx. I guess I should have updated the post.

 

[whs]

Hi David, I am glad you find it interesting. And don't worry about the reps. As you can see, I don't even show them.

 

[DavidE]

When i was a youngster steam locos were still in use, but being replaced by diesel.
I had no idea there were ever as many flavors of steam engines until i saw your video 1 link.
Live and learn

One of the video's mentioned a project underway to build a new steam engine.
Will it ever really happen or is it vaporware ?
Who knows, but if someone does it, MAYBE a new Steam Loco speed record is possible.

 

[whs]

I don't know whether they will really build a new engine. Their schedule was for 2017 or so and they had only a small amount of money up to now - I think they talked about 20K$.

 

[chefduane]

I am the owner of a Wilesco Steam Engine similar to the one here in the attached picture. Small tabletop model. I've had it for about 25 years and it still functions perfectly! I have a generator attachment that can light a few light bulbs, etc. Sometimes I fire it up for kids and do a steam power demo. It is truly amazing when they are totally dumbfounded by steam technology. I was doing a demo with a small lightbulb when one kid asked me "where does the electricity come from?" A look of confusion clearly overcame him when I explained the mechanics of steam/electric technology. Some/most/many kids are totally ignorant that much of the world ran on steam for many, many years.

 

[whs]

Thanks for posting. I had a very similar steam engine when I was a kid. It got lost in my 25 moves.