Hope everyone was able to join the Dewey blog in celebrating Saint Paddy's Day (394.262) last week. Meanwhile, we know this is old news by now but we just came across it, and to be honest it has "quirky, offbeat news item suitable for wry, low-key recycling in the planet's fourth-best classification-themed web log" written all over it. It's British Rail's plan to build flying saucers powered by nuclear fusion, of course. Turns out the UK's national railroad, otherwise renowned around the world for its pinpoint timekeeping and delicious in-car dining, filed for a patent in 1970 for a super-speedy space vehicle -- a patent that was duly granted in 1973. But, fairly typically, BR didn't keep up with the patent renewal fees, and we never did get the Inter-City Spaceship. But you've got to love that a spokesperson for the UK government's Department of Transport was moved to make this statement last week: "We have no plans to introduce nuclear-powered flying saucers to the network." Well, it's good to have that confirmed. Interdisciplinary works on nuclear propulsion are classed at 621.485 under 621.48 Nuclear engineering; works on nuclear propulsion for spacecraft go in 629.4753 under 629.47 Astronautical engineering. Works on the physics of nuclear fusion (thermonuclear reaction) go in 539.764 under 539.76 High-energy physics; and the number for works on British Railways is 385.06541, adding T2—41 British Isles directly to 385.065 [Railroad transportation] Business organizations.
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