PmWiki | IronLegion / ScienceAndTechnology

The great factories have stopped, but some of their products endure.

Oxen have reclaimed their job from tractors, by and large, although it's not unusual for towns to have one or two threshing or harvesting engines that make the round of the farms each season to supplement manual labor.

The Objectivists have access to a mysterious source of electricity; the Legion produces and sells woodgas engines to use in railcars and trucks; trains and tonks are mostly steam powered. Internal combustion engines in the post-oil age are operated either by woodgas, or corn ethanol - the latter giving much better horsepower, but at the dire cost of taking away bread from the table.

Horses are once again man's other best friends, and due to the cost of bullets all but the most elite pistoleer will carry a sword or an axe.

Most telegraph cables have fallen into disuse a long time ago, but radios exist - extremely hard to replace vactubes for voice, or more commonly spark-gap for morse.

In a post-apocalyptic world where resources are scarce and technology has regressed. Morse code communication is more reliable than voice communication since it can transmit signals over long distances with less interference and distortion. Additionally, since the majority of the population may not be able to read or write, using Morse code allows for communication to occur without requiring literacy skills. It also allows for secrecy and security since Morse code can be harder to intercept and decode than spoken words.

The large newspapers printing presses have stopped, although precious few books are still printed - usually Bibles and reference manuals. Most people know how to read, although illiteracy in the younger generation is greater than in the last, for possibly the first time in history.

A "Second Train" has been under reconstruction by John Glatt, marking it as a rebuilt hybrid of the USS Akron and Macon. It is a resurgent zepplin, complete with parasite ground attack aircraft. It's taking a while to obtain the helium necessary to fill it up though, as Glatt would prefer not to use hydrogen at all if possible, due to its flammability.

The maximum speed of Iron Legion trains in this setting would depend on various factors such as the condition of the tracks, the type of locomotive used, and the amount of fuel available.

Assuming that the tracks are in decent condition, and the Legion has access to a mix of steam, semi-diesel, and diesel locomotives, they could potentially travel at speeds ranging from 20-60 mph. However, they would likely prioritize fuel conservation over speed, as coal and diesel would be valuable resources in this world.

In general, speeds of around 30-40 mph would probably be the most common, as this would allow the trains to cover significant distances without burning through fuel too quickly.

In this post-apocalyptic setting, river travel occurs in several ways. Small boats and rafts made from scavenged materials like wood, metal, and plastic are used to navigate the rivers. These boats are usually propelled by oars or poles, but some even use makeshift sails if conditions are favorable.

Larger and more sturdy boats can be constructed from more advanced materials, like steel or concrete and these boats are often powered by engines or steam, although fuel sources for these are limited and difficult to come by.

Many boats use natural currents to navigate the rivers. Individuals or groups construct rafts or other floating platforms and allow the current to carry them downstream to reach their destination. This method is slower and less controlled than using boats, but it is an effective way to travel longer distances without the need for a motor or fuel.

Of course, river travel in a post-apocalyptic setting comes with its own set of dangers and challenges, including unpredictable currents, debris in the water, and potential encounters with other survivors or hostile groups.

Additionally, some communities may use rafts made from logs or scrap materials to travel downstream with the current. These rafts may be propelled with oars or poles, and may have makeshift shelters or structures built on them for living accommodations. However, they are at the mercy of the current and can be dangerous to navigate through rapids or around obstacles. Another option for river travel is using canoes or kayaks, which are more maneuverable and can navigate shallow waters, but are not as suitable for transporting larger amounts of goods or people. Lastly, there may be communities that have salvaged old steamboats or paddlewheelers, which can travel both upstream and downstream, but they require significant fuel and maintenance and may be a target for piracy or other dangers on the river.

Spike Rig:

A Spike Rig is an invention used by barges to crawl against the current on the great rivers Mississippi and Missouri. A water wheel somewhere on the barge, usually aft, powers a set of reduction gears -- often a transmission scavenged from a truck -- that reels in a cable connected to spikes. Sometimes a man on horseback plants the spike along the shore, other times a spring-loaded cannon fires it into the riverbed. Spike Rigs generally operate in pairs. This allows barges to use the river's own motion to slowly move against the current. Of course, the cables are vulnerable, and the barge will quickly start going in the wrong direction if they snap or the spikes are yanked off.

for iron legion:

A Spike Rig is an invention used by barges to crawl against the current on the great rivers Mississippi and Missouri. A water wheel somewhere on the barge, usually aft, powers a set of reduction gears -- often a transmission scavenged from a truck -- that reels in a cable connected to spikes. Sometimes a man on horseback plants the spike along the shore, other times a spring-loaded cannon fires it into the riverbed. Spike rigs generally operate in pairs. This allows barges to use the river's own motion to slowly move against the current. Of course, the cables are vulnerable, and the barge will quickly start going in the wrong direction if they snap or the spikes are yanked off.