Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
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magnetic helmets powered train

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Seeing as all trains run on leccy these days, and sometimes the leccy goes down.

I suggest a drop-down set of coils in the manner of those airline oxygen masks. Each commuter is supplied with a magnetised steel helmet*.

At a press of a switch the seats retract and by running down the length of carriage and then the other side enough current should generated to propel the stricken train to the nearest station, or pub**, whichever is the closest.

*obvious choice of WWI German one with the spike on it, medieval knight helmet with visor, coal scuttle, full-face M. Thatcher as the iron lady, the man in the iron mask mask, anonymous etc and so on,,,,,

**speaking of which, why not build pubs along the cuttings, and by dint of a mobile phone app, order and pay for your drink in advance, collect out of the window with a hooked pole and ...er...drink it. Plastic glasses would seem the best bet.

not_morrison_rm, Apr 14 2014

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       [+] Even though it would be much better to just stick with the old ropes, yokes and harnesses, indulging the passengers like this, by not sending them out into the rain does have a certain je ne sais quoi and indigence dabei which defibulates the contrary somewhat.
skoomphemph, Apr 14 2014
  

       How much reaction force is pulled on each helmet?
RayfordSteele, Apr 14 2014
  

       Wouldn't it be easier just to deploy pedals?
scad mientist, Apr 14 2014
  

       No, a bit and no in that order.   

       Perhaps it's forgetting to add the Biggles helmet, with two large rare earth magnets in them things covering the ears.   

       In this way stranded passengers can zoom around with arms extended, making strafing noises and still manage to move the train, a bit. How could pedals compete?   

       Seeing as there is quite a big of iron in blood, you could probably do this without magnets, if you could magnetize blood somehow? Then degauss it to prevent it all clumping together in the small intestine....
not_morrison_rm, Apr 14 2014
  
      
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