It looks like our estimation of "Hyperloop thermal expansion problem solution" feasibility now comes down to your last sentence:
> I wasn't able to find cost figures for roller bearing capable of handling a 36 ton load.
I don't know, railroad car steel wheel? Max load per axle for train cars: 26 - 40 ton. Searching on alibaba.com for "train car wheelset" and "train car bogie" never comes up with more than $2500 per piece. Maintenance seems doable, if we look at millions of train car running around the planet.
> These are the questions that would need to be answered by a hyperloop proponent, not me. The burden of proof is on the person making the claim. The only claim I'm making is that no one has proposed a solution. The two sentences that the Hyperloop white paper devotes to this issue is not a solution.
Yeah, I agree with that sentiment. Luckily, we are not the people making an actual practical decision on Hyperloop. Like you said, we are just trying to get our minds off politics.