Schienenzeppelin

[Zoot Allures]

The Schienenzeppelin was an experimental railcar which resembled a zeppelin airship in appearance. Propulsion was by means of a propeller located at the rear: it accelerated the railcar to 230.2 km/h setting the land speed record for a petrol powered rail vehicle. Only a single example was ever built, which due to safety concerns remained out of service and was finally dismantled in 1939

What would happen if they put a propeller at the front and back?

Too bad they dismantled it

 

[dirkd101]

That's pretty neat zoot.

I've never heard of this. To speculate on your question, they may have thought of that, but there might have been an air bubble at the front, or an issue like cavitation with the front propeller or it caused too much drag.

 

[Zoot Allures]

That's pretty neat zoot.

I've never heard of this. To speculate on your question, they may have thought of that, but there might have been an air bubble at the front, or an issue like cavitation with the front propeller or it caused too much drag.

Cavitation is caused by air bubbles in water , as the propeller heats the water air bubbles form. Hugh issue with boats as the bubbles deform propeller. .

 

[dirkd101]

Cavitation is caused by air bubbles in water , as the propeller heats the water air bubbles form. Hugh issue with boats as the bubbles deform propeller. .

I know and I was looking for someone to correct this with the effect that is similar, but in air, with a turbulence and corresponding pressure drop with disrupted air flow. So the effect would be inefficient operation and stall.

It may have had something to do with the blades of the props being fixed and therefore causing more drag at higher speed, ass they would then be inefficient in their operation. I know in WW2 they had variable pitch props, so if they were available at this period, it may have worked well.