(http://www.chapelcars.com/authors.jpg)
inside a preserved chapel car
It was something I was playing with way back as Andrew went roaring over our South Central Florida home. We saw limbs down, a few broken sindowns or downed power lines, but little else. My good friend Bill who started his working life on top of a power pole for Florida power, volunteered to go in and repair lines in order to escape his desk. As they entered ground zero, it baceme shockingly apparent that there was nothing to repair. In fact big ol country Bill, giant of a man and southern from the tip of his toes to the hair on his head called me crying, "Bob, I just had to talk to somebody, Oh God Bob, there isn't two blocks still attached one to another, not even that much left" He went on to say "Where do we start, there is nothing left, nothing," Our conversation drifted to ways to help and where rescue of rehab projects were ongoing at that moment.
(http://www.chapelcars.com/cover.jpg)
Book on Chapel Cars makes me think with a war on terror, maybe we should revisit this idea.
I remember reading about "chapel cars" a group of rolling missions that were owned by several churches, Southern Baptist (1), General Baptist (8-9) Catholic (3-4) etc... These cars roamed the branchlines of America bringing church services, weddings, funerals, bible studys and missionary aid to those in need. Most seem to have been abandoned by mid depression era. At least 2 are preserved and another might be.
(http://windhoffsg.com/custom/lrz_e01.jpg)
Europe thinks it a worthy idea, but is going for a different more local approach.
Well folks this got me thinking... "WHAT IF"
WHAT IF, We citizens of Jacksonville founded a international railroad rescue mission train.
We start with one train based in Jacksonville...It could roam ANYWHERE in North America and Mexico, as needed.
If the idea catches on, we move to the pacific Northwest, Midwest etc... Later we could even see growth to Colombia and other countries.
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2230/2525733754_d125eb6f05.jpg?v=0)
Swiss Railroads have a Tank-Fire and rescue train. I'm thinking bigger, 911, Mt. Saint Helens, San Andres Fault, Katrina etc...
WHAT IS IT - THE WHAT IF?
2 former Amtrak locomotives, with head-end-generation of electric power for the train (older trains used steam heat and steam generators aboard diesel locomotives) So every car has up to date electrical current, wires, circuits etc...
Gutted Locomotive booster unit, converted to complete small town power plant.
Baggage Car ONE, Loads of survival gear, and outreach gear - ATV's with stretchers - Mini-Police-search-rescue ATV's - fuel, engine shop and parts. Onboard mechanic.
Baggage Car Two, The electrical line car, everything including extra hangers, brackets, wire, all the toys a power and light company could want, also major flood lights and gas powered fans.
Baggage Car Three, Watercraft, jon-boats, motors, spare parts, props, work shop.
Baggage Car Four, Wood Shop, complete stock of wood supplies, 4x8 plywood, 2x4's, etc... A complete woodworking shop onboard.
Baggage Car Five, Wood Shop wood storage.
Baggage Car Six, Roofing tarps, shingles materials and tools.
Coach, crew coach for movement to scene
Sleeper, Sleeping car roomettes for staff.
Sleeper, Sleeping car roomettes for staff.
Sleeper, Sleeping car bedrooms and drawing rooms for professional and executive staff.
Dining car.
Lounge Car designed for crew entertainment
Baggage Car Conversion, food and medical service storage.
Lounge car conversion, Doctors reception, offices
Sleeping Car conversion, complete doctors clinic
Sleeping Car conversion, Lab and Dental surgerys
Sleeping Car conversion, Surgery Suites
Sleeping Car conversion, Complete hospital overnight stay
Sleeping Car conversion, Complete hospital overnight stay.
Sleeping Car conversion, Complete Social Services office space.
Sleeping Car conversion, Complete Social Services office space.
Chapel Car, open to all faiths
Sponsored Chapel Cars
5 Express Box Cars, equipment storage
2 Express Reefers, frozen storage
5 Food Service Tank cars with pure water.
1 coach-cafe, conversion for National Guard or Police Staff HQ
1 Sleeper Conversion, National Guard or Police quarters.
2 former Auto-Train Auto Carriers, emergency and staff vehicles with built in ramp conversion
2 trailer train type piggyback flat cars, for buses, fire equipment and other large vehicles or aircraft.
2 RDC cars, for use in passenger shuttle service.
(http://www.cbu.edu/~mcondren/IRM/BN-5383-IRM-7-7-07-1.jpg)
Used equipment and rebuilds, it might not look like much, but even sized to the need, it sure could work.
Well that's about the whole train, about 44 cars long, though the "train" could be flexed according to need. When a tropical storm slams into a city, or an earthquake or tornado swarm wipes out a reigon, this train could be on the scene in a couple of hours to a couple of days, A complete, weather proof, CLEAN, working enviroment from which to stage all manner of operations, search, rescue, emergency surgery, mental health, dental emergencys, tend to fires, food shortages, mass feedings, clean water, patrols, even a base for churches to operate from. Maybe it's an old idea who's idea has come again? What do you think?
OCKLAWAHA
This idea reminds me of the Ringling Brothers Circus Train. The first half of the train is passenger cars where everyone lives, and the second half is their equipment.
http://www.youtube.com/v/doms_xArZ2c