Snowpiercer is forced to keep moving for electricity and warmth. With the world completely frozen and the last remnants of life aboard the train, electricity and heat are a must as all life would die in the new ice world without it.
shareFair enough, but why does it need to move to produce electricity and warmth?
shareIt's never specified in the show other than it must keep moving at a certain speed to continue creating power.
There are also a few vague references to "perpetual" in the show, implying that Snowpiercer's engine is a perpetual motion machine. As such, once it slows or stops, they have to use their reserves to get it going (or back up to speed) again.
As Knox is fond of pointing out, however, the things that keep it operating are not perpetual. Like the monitors and other equipment.
Although none of this is explicitly stated in expository dialog, it can be inferred from the actions and dialog that we do see onscreen.
It probably would have been a good idea to say it had to keep moving to stay in the sunlight because it wouldn't be able to withstand the cold on the dark side of the Earth, although that obviously raises a few big logistical questions.
It would have been a start though. Rather than the premise that it has to keep moving to make power, which is silly because why not just have a fixed facility with the same power plant and not have to expend the colossal amount of extra energy needed to drag 1000 rail cars - as well as heat and power all of them.
not bad, but yeah, Yeah , it'd have to move at 900mph
I cant really think of any solid reasons
Its nuclear powered and without a load on the engine it would blow? nah thered be ways round that , like park up and plug a shitload of space heaters in.
It probably would have been a good idea to say it had to keep moving to stay in the sunlight because it wouldn't be able to withstand the cold on the dark side of the Earth, although that obviously raises a few big logistical questions.
It would have been a start though. Rather than the premise that it has to keep moving to make power, which is silly because why not just have a fixed facility with the same power plant and not have to expend the colossal amount of extra energy needed to drag 1000 rail cars - as well as heat and power all of them.
Yes, exactly. The idea that it goes across the ocean and even up to the Arctic makes it even more ridiculous. A bunker or a stationary resort with worker housing could get across the same class divide without such a ludicrous premise.
shareIt's some kind of physics breaking perpetual motion machine that creates it's own energy through inertia, slowing down drains energy.
shareafter watching the series , i liked it and decided to to give it a magic bullshit pass
shareThere's a bomb, if it falls below 50 it will explode.
sharePop quiz...
shareMaybe it’s because the snow and ice build-up on the tracks. If they don’t continue to move (and plow through the ever-accumulating snow), they’re dead stuck. Plus, movement generates kinetic energy. A moving car generates heat easier and quicker than a parked car. Maybe they invented an engine that can re-channel that energy.
shareMaybe it’s because the snow and ice build-up on the tracks.
The thought was not so much about preventing ice buildup....but rather, DEALING with the inevitable buildup. A train with such considerable size and momentum would be able to blast through the snow accumulation on the tracks, so long as it keeps perpetually moving.
shareIt's pretty clear from the show it has to do with maintaining speed to continue generating power.
If the speed dropped below a certain threshold, then they would have to use their reserves to get it back up to speed.
It was always a balance between the speed of the train (and power output) and the safety around corners and power usage. When they slowed for the big curve, they had to go on to some sort of power rationing, so they didn't deplete their reserves during the slow down.
That makes sense. I kinda gave up on the show after about 6 episodes in, Season 1.
Cool concept. I just kinda fell off. Glad it made it to Season 2.
I haven't see the series and have no plans to do so, but the promotional spots made me check this board for the answer to that same question.
If I was writing this, I'd have the propulsion system nuclear, and the reason the train has to be kept in motion is because if it stops, the moving parts will freeze.
I realize that still leaves unanswered questions, but it's better than a perpetual motion apparatus I guess.
You are correct that this leaves unanswered questions. Your idea that if it stops, then the moving parts would freeze is a good one, but it doesn't account for why it has to be a train in the first place. A nuclear solution could be done in much better environments than on a train. For example: in an underground bunker.
I know you say that you have no plans to watch the show, but during the first season it was clear that this a perpetual motion machine. If the speed dropped below a certain threshold, then it would consume power rather than generate power. Then they would have to use their reserves to get it back up to speed.
I guess underground bunker makes more sense regardless of what sort of apparatus is available. If the Snowpiercer locomotive contains some sort of over-unity machinery (as long as it's running above a certain speed by your description), then it could also be used underground driving a stationary load, like generators, but then the story wouldn't be nearly as interesting.
I always suspend my disbelief when watching any program (and would do so with the impossible idea of over-unity), but I was just curious as to how they explained the idea of a never stopping train.
Yeah, it makes little sense. With shows like this, you have to either accept the premise or not. Just like The Walking Dead - you either accept the dead come back to life or you don't.
* side note * just because I'm willing to suspend disbelief for the premise of a show, doesn't mean and can accept any nonsense that takes place in the show. I don't know how many times on the old imdb boards that any criticism of TWD was met with "it's a show about zombies and you're worried about [insert nonsensical thing here]! herp" Yes, it's a show about the dead reanimating. That doesn't mean that people should be able to flap their arms and fly. /end rant
Even if there were some reason that it did actually have to be a train that carried momentum. Why not run in a big flat circle? Why does it have to circumvent the globe in such a circuitous route?
Why does it have to circumvent the globe in such a circuitous route?
That may be too subjective to answer.
My wife and I find it entertaining enough, mostly since it's so unlike anything else on right now. But I've also always had a propensity for "hate watching" anything that is preposterous. I did the same during the early seasons of TWD. I just liked to point out how stupid, asinine and ridiculous a lot of it was. I somehow get a twisted satisfaction from this.
Thanks for your honesty. I suppose it won't kill us to watch an episode. We're catching up on Yellowstone and Cobra Kai and are looking for something else.
I mean, with Sean Bean and Jennifer Connolly, it can't be terrible...
We watched the first episode last night. I streamed it and couldn't get closed captioning (is there a way with a streaming box?), and since everyone mumbles these days, I didn't get all the exposition.
My understanding is that the train was built and people bought their tickets, except those who forced their way on. If they shot some of the people who attempted to barge their way on, why do they allow other train jumpers to stay at the back of the train now? Couldn't they starve them out even if they didn't have the personnel to force them off?
I don’t know why it would be less interesting in a bunker. For me it would be more interesting because I could imagine that maybe something like this could happen someday, which is part of the appeal of science fiction.
sharethat movie is "The Divide"
shareHuh, okay. Any good?
share/tt1535616 5/10
It's just a few people in a bomb shelter for days. Cheyenne Mountain Complex type situation would be more interesting.