History of Mass Transportation: The ''Crocodile of the Drinc'' Electric Locomotive in Cogne Museum

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Di Patafisik - Opera propria, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=175713586

Source: 

Link: https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrovia_Cogne-Acque_Fredde

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History of Mass Transportation: The Romanian Diesel Automotor Class 78-750

 

{Click on image to enlarge}

By Mirceacool at Romanian Wikipedia - Transferred from ro.wikipedia to Commons., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8459557

Source: 

Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolling_stock_of_the_Romanian_Railways

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History of Mass Transportation: The Skoda 242260-8 Electric locomotive class 242

 

By Rainerhaufe - http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bild:242.jpg, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4340624

Source: 

Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%8CD_Class_242

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History of Mass Transportation: The Vagónka Studénka Krokodýl (Crocodile) Autorail (1962–68)

By Vít Javůrek - http://www.mujweb.cz/www/mhd_jama/vlaky3/Krasa10/olrepc1.jpg, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6311434

Source: 

Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Czech_locomotive_classes

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Easily Scalable, Rapidly Deployable Mechanical Ventilator for Pandemic Health Crises in Resource-Limited Areas

 

Abstract

Background: 

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed critical shortages of mechanical ventilators, particularly in low-resource settings. Disruptions in global supply chains and dependence on specialized components highlighted the need for scalable, locally manufacturing alternatives for emergency respiratory support. 

Aim: 

To describe and evaluate a simplified, supply-chain-independent mechanical ventilator assembled from widely available automotive and simple hardware components, and intended as a last-resort solution. 

Methods: 

The ventilator is based on a reciprocating air pump driven by an automotive windshield wiper motor coupled to parallel shaft bellows and readily assembled passive membrane valves, only requiring materials available from standard hardware retailers, minimal tools, and basic manual skills. Ventilator performance was assessed through bench testing using a patient model simulating severe lung disease in an adult (R=20 cmH2O*s/L, C=15 mL/cmH2O) and pediatric (R=50 cmH2O*s/L, C=10 mL/cmH2O) patients. Realistic proof of concept was performed in four mechanically ventilated 50-kg pigs. 

Results: 

The device delivered tidal volumes up to 600 mL and respiratory rates up to 45 breaths/min with PEEP up to 10 cmH₂O, covering pediatric and adult ventilation ranges. In vivo testing showed that the ventilator maintained arterial blood gases within the targeted range. Technical details for ventilator construction are provided in an open-source video tutorial. 

Discussion: 

This low-cost ventilator demonstrated adequate performance under demanding conditions. Although not a substitute for commercial intensive care ventilators, its simplicity, autonomy, and independence from fragile supply chains provide a potentially life-saving option in resource-constrained emergency scenarios.

Competing Interest Statement

The authors have declared no competing interest.

Funding Statement

This work was partially supported by Sociedad Espanola de Neumologia y Cirugia Toracica (SEPAR) (grant 1381-2022). SEPAR had no involvement other than providing funding for the independently submitted research project.

Source: 

Link: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.04.08.26350386v1

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History of Mass Transportation: The CD/CZ ''Hydra'' Diesel Autorail (1968–70) by Vagónka Studénka

 

By Vít Javůrek - http://www.mujweb.cz/www/mhd_jama/vlaky3/Krasa8/libun18.jpg, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6584716

Source: 

Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Czech_locomotive_classes

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History of Mass Transportation: A Diesel multiple unit 854.206, Brno main station, Czech Republic

 

By Harold - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10217313

Source: 

Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Czech_locomotive_classes

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History of Mass Transportation: The CZ/CD Diesel Railcar class 680 (1974)

 

By Václav Vyskočil (Upload: Jagro) - www.vlaky.net: [1], CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5776155

Source: 

Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Czech_locomotive_classes

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History of Mass Transportation: The California Western Railroad #45 Steam Locomotive

 

By Baldwinlocomotiveworks - R.A. Sallinen III - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18159992

Source: 

Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baldwin_Locomotive_Works

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History of Mass Transportation: The Baldwin 2-8-0 Consolidation-type Stean Locomotive

 

By Alphageekpa at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=47213787

Source: 

Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baldwin_Locomotive_Works

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History of Mass Transportation: Baldwin Locomotive Works, 1896

 

By Horace L.Arnold - "Modern Machine-Shop Economics." in Engineering Magazine 11. 1896, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=36887873

Source: 

Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baldwin_Locomotive_Works

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History of Mass Transportation: The C&O class M-1 #500 Baldwin Steam Turbine Locomotive

 

By The only mark on the card is EKE. - eBay itemcard frontcard back, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17618573

Source: 

Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baldwin_Locomotive_Works

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History of Mass Transportation: A First-generation GTEL and a 1923 electric auto in Fremont, Nebraska in 1953

By Union Pacific Railroad - eBay itemphoto frontphoto back, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22868545

Source: 

Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas-turbine_locomotive

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History of Mass Transportation: the Swiss SBB Am 4/6 Gas Turbine Locomotive

 

By Unknown author - Schweizerische Bauzeitung, Band 119, Heft 20, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=29931439

Source: 

Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas-turbine_locomotive#/media/File:SBB_Am_4-6.JPG

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History of Mass Transportation: The UP 18 GTEL preserved at the Illinois Railway Museum

 

By User:JeremyA - Own work, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=601906

Source: 

Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas-turbine_locomotive

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History of Mass Transportation: A 44-ton 1-B-1 experimental gas-turbine locomotive designed by R. Tom Sawyer and built in 1952 for testing by the U.S. Army Transportation Corps

 By Kbh3rd - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5545061

Source: 

Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas-turbine_locomotive

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History of Mass Transportation: The Davenport 1597 Steam Locomotive preserved by Illawarra Light Railway Museum

 

By Hpeterswald - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=28169917

Source: 

Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davenport_Locomotive_Works

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History of Mass Transportation: The Zentralbahn De 110 005-6 Electric Locomotive in Meiringen BE, Switzerland

 

Par Paebi — Travail personnel, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1054053

Source: 

Link: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zentralbahn

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History of Mass Transportation: The FIAT Autorail TER RENFE, Madrid Atocha (1981)

 

Di Smiley.toerist - File:Madrid Atocha 1981.jpg, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19532692

Source: 

Link: https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_Ferroviaria

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History of Mass Transportation: The FS ATR 100 Diesel Autorail in Turin (1959)

 

Di Brooksbank - Opera propria, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=38676394

Source: 

Link: https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_Ferroviaria

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