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.

[untabubba]

Stupid spell check! It should read "We took OUR lumps....."!

[untabubba]

Apparently these are still available. Note the date quoted. (2001) Marc (YES, I'm BORED!)

[untabubba]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5987041367&category=234&ssPageName=WDVW&rd=1 DUH!

[beastranger]

How many of you could write the book "101 things to do with a roll of caps"? Punk

[untabubba]

Number 1! Put the roll on end on a very flat stone, like flag stone, and whack it REAL hard with a hammer! POW! The whole roll at once! Any wonder I suffer from Tinnitis? Marc

[crazyd37]

I just put 6 different pairs of click clacks in my watch list. Hey its my b-day on Friday and guess what I am buying myself? They will be fun! Caps were the coolest but smellyist toys. I also did the whole roll thing! DZ

[untabubba]

Dot, The smell was the best part!!! May be another "guy thing". Can I get an "Amen" for cap smell? Will anyone else admit to (actually) ever tasting a burnt cap?!? Marc

[ginzokid]

Anybody but me ever bite down on one to set it off on a dare? Tasted just wonderful....if you are into sulpher and salt-peter and burned flesh..... So guys are stupid at a young age......Dot, I know what you are thinking.....young age? Now cordite and nalpalm have a different smell....but that's another story...."for the morning". Now back to our program. Has anyone actually tried the formula yet? I double dare you!!! ]:) B-)

[crazyd37]

I didn't really like the smell, but I did have fun setting them off like the rest of you "guys" did. I had mostly boy-friends growing up. Hey that hasn't changed much! Kick ball, even kick the can until one of the neighbors got so sick of us that they took the can away! were fun too. Stick ball was hard for me but it was played all the time too! (a coordination thing!) No, I haven't tried the formula. It's a math thing! But sometime soon I will even if it's only on the test track! DZ

[untabubba]

I know I have trains......I just can't get down to them. I have the formula written down, and I do have 2 lengthy straightaways. One is an uphill run (3% if I recall correctly), that should be interesting. Don't the 1:1s slow WAY down on a grade? I have company coming over the weekend. Frank always likes to see the trains run. This will add some new interest.....if we get down there! (They just love to "flop" on our deck and enjoy the view....and imbibe.) ]:) Marc

[untabubba]

Speaking of how fast your train is running..... I saw something yesterday that I found absolutely fascinating! I live out in "the sticks", okay? We have, what I guess is called, a "short line(?)" that runs through the area. The locos are royal blue with PPL for a "logo". Since we are in the sticks there are no crossing gates or lights or anything; just the little crossed sticks on a pole that say "Railroad Crossing". I was driving home from the store, and as I crossed the tracks I saw a loco's headlights headed my way. Being a "train-guy" now, I pulled over and got out for a close-up view. As the train approached the crossing the loco slowed way WAY down and a guy jumped off! (No horn was ever blown!) The guy runs ahead of the loco onto the road and starts waving a large orange flag to stop traffic. The loco crosses the road (a three car consist) and the guy runs and remounts the loco. To my absolute amazement...HE WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT OF THE LOCO!!! He jumped off the train, let it "run" by itself while he waved the flag, then jumped back on....all by himself! So, that, lady and gentlemen is untabubba's first "train story"! Marc

[flaretired]

I can't imagine what would of happened if he fell or got hurt some how while he was off the train. I also wonder how he would uncouple or couple cars he had to pick up or drop off. Maybe he was new and didn't know how to blow the horn, so he got out and waved a flag. Ha Ha. In Orlando belive it or not the trains are not allowed to blow their horns between 1:00am and 6:00am at night. I think the engineers get even here in Daytona. Chuck :}

[untabubba]

Chuck, Disney, Universal, et al, don't want their guests being disturbed....money talks...so what if someone gets run over by a train!!!!! I was (am) a great fan of Monty Python. They have a skit called "Twit of the Year" which involves a bunch of "Twits" in a race. In one of the legs they have to start a car and drive a short distance. One of the Twits manages to RUN HIMSELF OVER! The announcer says, "Good grief, it appears as though Nigel has run himself over!" As the engineer ran back to remount the loco, I got to chuckling about that scene!! (Although it would NOT be funny!) But still, my perverse sense of humor "went there"! ]:) 😮 :D Marc

[ginzokid]

Marc, One of two things here. I don't know for sure, but surmise there was an engineer on board that you could not see. There used to be such a thing called a "dead man's hand" device that would automatically stop a locomotive if the engineer let go of the throttle say from having a heart attack. I'm sure there is some electronic device today that does the same thing. The other thing is the possibilty that this loco was radio controlled with a hand held device. We have discussed those before. In any case, I'm sure the Federal Railway Administration would frown on the act you witnessed if it were as it appeared to you. I truly believe that the "flagman" you saw was just that and not the engineer. Which side of the train did this individual get down from and back up to? The left side by any chance? B-)

[beastranger]

I saw a show the other night on how GE locos were built. They have a button that has to be reset every two minutes when a yellow light flashes otherwise the engine shuts down. It may have been a privatly owned engine and consist. Punk