Idea: earlier linear induction motors

A patent for a working linear induction motor was filed as early as 1905, yet no railway used them before the '80s. They could have been put into practice much earlier, at the time of mass electrification. As traction doesn't depend on adherence to the rails, they can climb much steeper gradients. This would be incredibly useful for mountain routes.
So is this possible?
 
A patent for a working linear induction motor was filed as early as 1905, yet no railway used them before the '80s. They could have been put into practice much earlier, at the time of mass electrification. As traction doesn't depend on adherence to the rails, they can climb much steeper gradients. This would be incredibly useful for mountain routes.
So is this possible?

You'd have the cost of maglev without the benefits. It's much, much easier to put a handful of motors on a train than to unwind the motor and spread it out over miles of track, which is pretty much what you're talking about here, IIRC.
 

FDW

Banned
You'd have the cost of maglev without the benefits. It's much, much easier to put a handful of motors on a train than to unwind the motor and spread it out over miles of track, which is pretty much what you're talking about here, IIRC.

Yeah, but taking the motor out of the train allows for the train itself to much, much lighter, and also allows for smaller profile tunnels than what you need for 3rd Rail and Overhead Wire powered systems. I can imagine the LIM coming into use earlier than it did OTL, but not any earlier than say 1955-1960.
 
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