If You're Listening 03 Black Swans | Burning Hill
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Jan 21, 2026 In a captivating exploration of transport evolution, the discussion reveals how rapid advancements led to unexpected stagnation. The Concorde promised supersonic travel, yet the Boeing 747 emerged as a surprising game-changer. Listeners dive into intriguing letters from 1959 predicting instant travel delights, only to confront rising costs and oil shocks. The mystery of why cities dismantled tram systems unfolds alongside Melbourne's unique tram preservation efforts. Ultimately, this episode unveils how unforeseen events have stunted our journey toward faster travel.
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Trams Burned On A Hill
- Matt Bevan recounts Randwick depot workers burning up to 15 trams at a time on a hill after removing motors and wheels.
- The ritual highlighted how short-sighted decisions erased extensive tram networks across Australia except Melbourne.
Past Speed Gains Skewed Expectations
- Letter writers in 1959 imagined routine near-instant travel via flying saucers and time machines in the future.
- Their optimism came from recent rapid gains in travel speed, creating false linear expectations.
Why Long Flights Were So Expensive
- 1950s long-haul flights were slow, costly and fuel-intensive, making air travel inaccessible for most.
- High fuel use per passenger and staffing drove ticket prices until changes in capacity and efficiency reduced costs.
