How fast is your train running? Do you know?

[ginzokid]

I ran across an interesting article yesterday in an old magazine of mine about how to make a "Speed Trap" for your trains to determine the scale speed. I can't believe how simple it is. The formula I'll give you in a minute looks weird, but it somehow takes into consideration the coefficient of friction. Don't ask. Just plug in the numbers and it works. How to make the "Speed Trap": Measure off a level straight section of track a minimum of 2 feet long and mark it with "mile posts" or something. The longer the section you can measure, the more accurate the figures will be. (I am fortunate enough to have a 6 foot section to use.) What to do: Run your train through the "Speed Trap" at the speed you feel is "right" and time it with a second hand or stop watch if you have one. Be sure the train is running at speed before it gets to the measurement area. The Formula: Take the measured distance and divide it by the seconds it took to traverse it. This will give you Feet/Second. Now Multiply this figure by 59.3. The result will be Scale Speed in MPH. The scale of your trains does not matter. The same formula works for all scales. Here are some of my figures. I ran the 2-8-0 through at 9 seconds which gave 6ft/9sec = .666 f/s x 59.3 = 39.5 smph. A 12 second run gave; 6ft/12sec = .5 f/s x 59.3 = 29.6 smph. The Shay and Climax were both run through at 25 seconds; 6ft/25sec = .24f/s x 59.3 = 14.2 smph. I next took a 4 foot section of my N scale test track and tried it with the only N scale engine I have, the Shay. Was I ever off on that one! First run was 5 seconds or 4ft/5sec = .8f/s x 59.3 = 47.4 smph. For a Shay, that was "Rocket" speed. Second run was 15 seconds or 4ft/15sec = .26f/s x 59.3 = 15.8 smph. Now that is better and you can see the comparison between both scales at the slower speed. Just for kicks I figured out the length of time it should take for "A mile a minute" in a 4 foot run; 3.95 seconds. Have fun with this guys and how about reporting any results you get. I learned to slow my trains down. What will you all learn... The Codfadda B-) Try it guys. I think you will find that what you "feel is right" might be a bit fast.

[flaretired]

Boy does that bring back memories. I did the same thing with cars but I used those CO2 bottles like you use in air guns. It got so popular that the kids in the neighborhood on weekends would set up a race course and see who had the fastest car. We even got our parents involved and they seemed to have more fun than we did. Chuck :) Marc You weren't the only one who liked firecrackers to blow up things.

[untabubba]

Hee-Hee-Heeeee! Marc

[ginzokid]

Oh yeah Chuck, I remember those CO2 cars and boats too. Living in Buffalo we had lake Erie to play in bfore it became polluted. Kids today don't have any fun! Remember those water rockets that you pumped up and sent into space? I think there is a new version of those out now. B-)

[untabubba]

There's one type of water rocket that has a big "plunger" like launching device. You load the thing full of water, seat the rocket and then JUMP on the plunger as hard as you can. Our physics teacher uses it for various demonstrations. The kids just go wild over it! Marc

[beastranger]

Lawn darts were always fun too. Punk

[ginzokid]

Maybe we should have started a new thread. Toys we have known and loved. Do trains count? B-)

[70novahound]

How about Rock'em Sock'em robots? I loved those things, and Klick Klacks too! CJ

[untabubba]

Anybody remember "Robot Commando"? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5987489547&category=2662&ssPageName=WDVW&rd=1 He had a "microphone" control (actually a lever that you blew on as you talked). The arms whipped around and threw "bombs" (little red balls) and the top of the head opened and shot a missle! He was awesome!!! Marc

[flaretired]

Okay here is another one. How many of you used to roller skate? What did you do when your skates wore out? Remember how you made skate boards. Chuck 🙂

[beastranger]

How many of you built a go cart with baby carriage wheels to push down the local hill? Punk

[untabubba]

I lived at the bottom of a hill! I thought I "invented" the skateboard when was 10, in about 1962! They were my sisters old skates....well it only took one skate. She had those "adjustable" ones that could slide to diferent sizes. They came apart into two pieces, one for the front and one for the back. When I got a little older (like 13 or 14) I actually had a skateboard with a "body" of sorts. I nailed a lightweight wooden crate, on end, to the front and nailed thin planks on top, as "handle bars". It was cool because I could steer it very well and carry stuff in it! Can you say "skinned knees"? Marc

[untabubba]

Punk, Of course! Like I said, I lived at the bottom of "the local hill". It is Collingdale Ave. and it's about 100 yards long and ends in a "T". That made it much safer "at speed", because the cross street wasn't very busy. We would take turns "spotting traffic" while others rode down the hill. Just had to be capable of making the turn onto Bartram.....lots of wipe-outs!! Fortunately Bobby MacBride's yard was flat with no fence! :D If you could put wheels under it, we rode it down that hill! It was great for sledding too!! From 1980 until 2002 I lived in a town called Media that had an annual "Soap Box Derby"! We ain't talking baby coach wheels here!! They have a street they keep all painted with "time traps" and everything! It's actually a very "high tech" sport. Marc

[untabubba]

I actually found some pictures of the Media Soapbox Derby! http://instagator.raceweb.org/rusty/Media.htm Marc

[crazyd37]

WOW, What a blast from the past! My grandfather built us all go-carts with motors and we used to race them around the Nabisco building on Route 208. (In NJ) I don't remember the name of the town, but it was sooo much fun. (and it smelled great while we were "racing") Then we graduated to snow mobiles when we got alittle older and he bought a big farm house in NY state with a lot of property. (near Utica in a town called N. Brookfield, I think) That was tons of fun too. Especially when my dad bought a speed type one. I would get up extra early and sneak out on that one. It really sailed! Roller skating was also fun. Yes, the ones with that "key" to tighten them. Now I can't roller skate to save my life. I have a pair of roller blades. I won't describe how I look on them! (still like new!) Ice skating is different. I loved that and wish my knees would allow me to do it. I still try from time to time though. My brother had Rockem Sockem Robots. They were fun too. Lincoln logs, engine kits. I was a master of Klick Klacks. (and had the bruises to prove it!) They were my FAVORITES. I wish I could find some now. I could go on and on. Thanks for the memories! Dot

[untabubba]

OH NO Dot! Klick Klacks were taken off the market because they were deemed "dangerous"! It seems there were a few incidents where they shattered into dangerously sharp shards and injured some kids. Of course law suits followed! HOW DID ANY OF US EVER SURVIVE?!?!? "Pre-lawyer", that's how! We took out lumps, instead of sueing someone because we were adventurous (stupid) kids! Marc Note the careful wording on this auction. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5987064060&category=30&ssPageName=WDVW&rd=1