M-497 ‘ Black Beetle ‘ New York Central Railroad 1966

A futuristic-looking experimental, jet-powered train designed by Don Wetzel to test high-speed rail on existing infrastructure . Some of you may recognise the engines – (GE J47-19) as they came off the highly distinctive Convair B-36 Peacemaker . It reached 183.68 MPH on July 23 , 1966 . The noise was absolutely horrendous and those engines were expensive guzzlers . The jet exhaust was a hazard . So , commercially it was non-viable . And that , as they say , was that .