With limited resources, a corrupt Communist bureaucracy and decaying national infrastructure, it is perhaps natural that the Soviets would have Frankensteined together such an answer to their transporation problems by slapping a jet engine on top of a train.

Apparently, this prototype was actually quite successful. Built in the early 70's, this jet-engine locomotive could reach about 180mph, which would make it the fastest thing on tracks thirty years ago and still one of the fastest trains in the world.

Of course, they didn't come up with the idea themselves. We can apparently thank the Ford administration for that...

Cold War Silliness [Say No To Crack]