Wouldn't it be interesting to see what it would be like to have a train layout on the space station? All the cars and engines would need metal wheels and strong magnetraction. The coal loader would be sending the fake coal towards the wall. You would have to run the trains slow so they don't go off the track in the curves. Plasticville people would have to be glued down. You could build track that loops just like Hot Wheels or slot car track. If you had a siding going straight to the edge of the table without a bumper you could drive the train right off of it and it would continue going straight and not land on the floor.
Modeling the "Fargo Area Rapid Transit" in O scale 3 rail.
Back when I was a teenager (during the Eisenhower administration) there was a science fiction story published which included reference to having a model railroad aboard a spacecraft to stave off boredom on a long mission. I misremember title, author and plot, but the model railroad stuck in my memory.
As I recall, it was rather more like a roller coaster than a two-dimensional track pattern.
Chuck
tomikawaTTBack when I was a teenager (during the Eisenhower administration) there was a science fiction story published which included reference to having a model railroad aboard a spacecraft to stave off boredom on a long mission. I misremember title, author and plot, but the model railroad stuck in my memory. As I recall, it was rather more like a roller coaster than a two-dimensional track pattern. Chuck
That reminds me of one of the Tyco sets that had magnets under the locomotives and cars which held them to the track as it went half-way up a wall, did a loop, and jumped across a gap in the track...
Sounds like an interesting set!
Ive acctually thought of this before. I think it would be cool to have a gradual grade and then all of a sudden the track curves up the wall
"No childhood should be without a train!"
Maybe we could do something like this right here on earth:
Suppose we build a layout on the inside of a drum with a diameter of about 20 feet, oriented with its axis horizontal. If we spin it at a rate of about 2 1/2 seconds per revolution, the centripetal acceleration is about twice that of gravity. So a train on a circumferential track will see its apparent gravitational force fluctuate between 1 and 3 times normal. There will be a component along the track that will vary sinusoidally between 1 and -1 times the acceleration of gravity, causing the train to speed up and slow down with each revolution; but I think it would stay on the track.
The biggest problem would probably be how to start and stop the thing. It would be nice if the train could run backward in place at the bottom until the drum were up to speed, then quickly stop and reverse direction. But that would require it to run at over 800 scale miles per hour, probably faster than even a toy train can go. So we would need some way to clamp it to the track--industrial strength magnetraction, so to speak--until the drum reached full speed, and to reclamp it in order to stop the drum safely.
Bob Nelson
lionelsoniSuppose we build a layout on the inside of a drum with a diameter of about 20 feet, oriented with its axis horizontal.
I'd like to see that; I could never make it through the spinning barrels at the FunHouse at Lakeside, in Denver, as a kid
Charlie
About a couple of years ago, someone had a video of an electric train running upside down from a track suspended from the ceiling. I guess that was strong magnitraction.
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I think that was in reply to a thread I started. But I don't remember which thread that was.
back about 4 or 5 years ago there was a guy out in CA that made trains with very strong magntraction basicly .He used beeps for the engine as to there light weight compare to others and some light train cars I use to have his info but its long go it was avertised in CTT or OGR I remember as I was thinking of getting it.
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ChiefEaglesAbout a couple of years ago, someone had a video of an electric train running upside down from a track suspended from the ceiling. I guess that was strong magnitraction.
Sorry, but I suspect camera trickery
Due to "space" constraints (pun intended) the layout would probably have to be more like the "T gauge" 1:250 trains shown in the March 2010 RMC. Their magnets are strong enough that trains can run on track that is upside-down, so should work fine in zero gravity.
T-Gauge is actually 1:450.
The wheels are magnetized, but not all cars have magnetic wheels else the drag will be high.
Since some of us seldom change scenery or consists for months and are mesmerized just by watching the train move in the same pattern, why not seal the layout in a clear, atmospheric controlled case and enjoy.
When did T gauge come out? And I thought Z scale was small. With an O scale layout you could have a 1/9th scale outdoor layout contained in it.
T-Gauge actually came out 7 years ago, but was in constant development to enable a range of items to make it a complete system. Has won awards at the Nurnberg Toy Fair a couple of times. It was not available in USA till last year when distribution started in the US/Canada. Until then people could order via mail order from Japan and UK.
Now it can be ordered locally and customers can get warranty coverage also.
As for using this in creative ways, yes, people are using this as Train / Kids Ride etc. in larger scale layouts already.
For information on where to get it, in keeping with the rules of the forum, please contact me off-list/forum.
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