heres an idea

[railroadboy]

if trains loose traction why not place rubber on the axles

[StellingSun]

If it is a full size train, the rubber would were off very quickly!

[Poppa_Zit]

If it is a full size train, the rubber would were off very quickly!

But then they could do "pit stops" and take either two or four tires. Best to do it on a "yellow."

[PBenham]

If it is a full size train, the rubber would were off very quickly!

This idea was really tried on experimental Budd railcars during the 1930s. Michelin made special flanged tires for the two test cars that ran on PRR and Reading. Neither worked very well. A larger stainless steel version was tried on the Texas & Pacific and failed as well. Budd kept at it, and after the D&RGW's Prospector they got it right, the RDC was successful. But, not with rubber tires.

There are two subway systems that use rubber tired vehicles: Le Metro en Paris,and Montreal,too. Both of these systems are more expensive to operate than conventional steel wheeled equipment. Part of Mexico City's subway was set up with rubber tired cars, but the system was too expensive to operate, and Mexico City gave up on the experiment in the '70s. The advantage was supposed to be in a quieter operation, not disturbing nearby residents. But, who wants to hear the alarms going off for hot tires (Montreal) which are loud and very irritating.

[egmurphy]

Part of Mexico City's subway was set up with rubber tired cars, but the system was too expensive to operate, and Mexico City gave up on the experiment in the '70s.

Mexico City's extensive Metro system still uses rubber tired cars.  Of course, that's a lot different from the idea of putting rubber 'traction tires' on steel wheels.  It's a great subway system, by the way. 

Regards

Ed

[njalb1]

At Disneyworld the monorail uses rubber car tires! The Mark VI has a higher passenger capacity as well as improved air conditioning, door systems and improved safety features. Each Mark VI train consists of six cars. The overall length is 203 feet with a capacity of 365 passengers.  The track consists of 26 inch wide, pre-cast concrete beams supported by concrete columns which are approximately 50 feet apart. Each monorail travels on rubber tires and is powered by a 600 volt DC propulsion system which includes eight DC motors rated at 112 HP each, with the power emanating from each side of the beam.  The 13.6 mile monorail system will carry over 150,000 guests to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot parks on an average day.

[Poppa_Zit]

Actually, years ago in France (I believe) Michelin manufactured pneumatic rubber train wheels with flanges.

PZ

[arkansasrailfan]

Putting rubber tires on locomotives....no, because when they wore out. It would take an hour per loco to change them all out, BESIDES, HAVEN'T YOU PEOPLE HEARD OF SAND??!!! Anyways, railroads, when the sand doesn't work, they just tack on more locos to get the train moving until the helpers are no longer needed.

[route_rock]

  LOL Poppa heres my speech in victory lane. " Well ya'al we had a little push today in the curves by Lisle but the BNSF Goodyear,moon pie,insert sponsor here,EMD did real good, we took a pit there on the yellow right there in Cicero, gotta thank my pit crew took 12 tires a full tank ( poor gas man has  a hernia but hell be fine) only took a few hours but we got out the pits took the lead and hit the checkered." Now I do a back flip like Carl Edwards and almost break my neck lol

[arkansasrailfan]

umm... just wondering(?) are you talking about a BNSF train that wore it's wheels out and all 12 of them had to be changed out but the train made it on time?..... i am not being mean.. am curious

[route_rock]

  LOL wyoming no problem. We used to do NASCAR speechs when I hostled for when Yard Control got us out in a hurry to our trains. Our shop forces would laugh saying " think about how long that Pit stop would be.So I always would say when blasting by " Next stop we are taking 12"

  Never really burned off the 12 wheels (some starts I had maybe took a bit off but hey I was in a hurry lol)just being a typical smart aleck.

[KCSfan]

if trains loose traction why not place rubber on the axles

Traction is lost when the steel wheels slip at their point of contact with the rail and has nothing to do with the axles on which the wheels are mounted. Obviously a rubber faced wheel could not withstand the weight of railway equipment - the rubber would be squeezed out and off of the wheel in one revolution. If you have and doubt about the forces involved try placing a penny on the rail and see what a passing locomotive does to it.

Mark

[alexweiihman]

if trains loose traction why not place rubber on the axles

 

Hey Thats what they do in Oguage!

[arkansasrailfan]

I don't recommend putting coins on the track 1.your wasting cash(joke) 2. it could shoot out and hit and KILL you.(serious). down in Arkansas, we've had a few people get killed by it. By the way, I saw a SD45P
lease unit AND a KCSdeMex AC44(ex-TFM)in gray. Yes KCSfan, you are right, and another problem is spending millions of dollars on rubber tires for locomotives (making them compatible, fitting them, you know what I mean), so I conclude, maybe your model trains has rubber tires that are easy to replace, but not on 10-ton pound diesel.