Do you run your trains at scale speeds?

[cnw1995]

There was an interesting post on LIonel's blog that contained a 'scale speed' chart - I've seen them for smaller scales in MR over the years.

I like to have an idea of how fast Ivor is going (usually not very, especially when he is carrying passengers or cab riders. I think there's a function in TMCC or DCS to show your speed. Do you like to track this or even care?

If I'm allowed to cross-post this, here it is: http://lionelllc.wordpress.com/2013/04/17/scale-speed/

[Toytrainguy]

I suppose FAST has a scale speed associated with it, but I am unaware of what the actual number is.  My son likes to see the trains fly around the 4X6 layout.  I will usually have the outer loop run at a speed that he enjoys and I will switch the inner loop at more realistic speeds.  Though sometimes I take pleasure in sitting and watching the trains run around the track at a speed just below flying off the rails.

[rtraincollector]

Doug I had a scale speed thing at one time until this computer crashed and lost everything. it would tell you by scale you would put in how fast it took to go xx of feet which you added I think like up to 4' and it would tell you how fast your going. my self I don't use them as race cars anymore lol I use to when younger but not anymore I like watching them go at a slow pace.

[Firelock76]

Wellllll, on occasion I do like to run 'em with the smoke units turned up full blast and going as fast as they can without going orbital, cackling like a fiend while I do it.   Fun-fun-fun!

[rtraincollector]

Here you go remembered where I had gotten it from and was given the link again http://www.mcr5.org/NMRA/articals/speed.htm

[KRM]

Doug,

Hard to imagine any postwar trains running at scale speeds.  On the high end or low end, maybe in the middle. As long as they stay on the track, good with me. I would think TMCC and Legacy can do it.

[Major]

I run my AF trains as slow as they will smoothly operate. I found that the ones made in the 40's with the smoke in the tender or without smoke run very nicely at relative slow speeds.  Of course I sacrifice smoke production since the voltage is too low to produce much smoke.  I do not like trains speeding around a layout.  I prefer watching them move in a more realistic manner.

[dsmith]

Thanks for the link to the speed chart.   On my 027 Lionel Postwar layout, for frieght trains I like to run them as slow as they will consistently go and passenger trains a little faster.  I have been wondering about scale speeds and here is what I came up with,  so with a stop watch I checked the speeds that my trains typically run.

Lionel Postwar Freight Cars on 027 track land curves - 30 mph

Lionel Passenger Cars - 45 mph.

Since Lionel Postwar is somewhat smaller than true 1:48 scale, I would guess that the speeds would be a little higher, perhaps 35 and 50 mph.

Here is a video of freight trains running on my 5' x 9' 027 layout.

 

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[cnw1995]

What a great layout, David!

[RRaddict]

I usually run mine at the scale speed of as fast as possible without derailing.  I just wish I had a bigger layout I would love to see the top speed of my Lionel PW F-3's. It's unrealistic I know but fun yes not if I can just get one of thos Adams Family exploding bridges I will be in business.

Kev

 

[dsmith]

I checked the speed of my Lionel #60 Trolley and the average speed is about 25 mph, which sounds about right for a trolley.

Next I tried my MTH handcar that has scale sized workers and the speed is 15 mph.

[musicman37]

According to my iphone calculator, 110 feet is a mile for O gauge trains. Take 60 seconds to run that lemgth, and your train os barrelling along at 60 mph. For layouts that dpn't have the space for 110 feet of track, easy math can get you to 30 seconds for 55 feet of track. Even on a 4X8 layout, you could take a few laps to get to the 55 foot mark and time it.

[overlandflyer]

if there is any time i'd like to see trains run at (or less than) scale speeds it is when a video is being made.  so many times i've followed a pointer to a "take a look at my train" clip only to see a 3 minute blur showing little to no detail.

[steinmike]

I guess the answer is that sometimes I do and sometimes when I'm just running trains, I really don't care.

I used the old PRR secondary track through the Delaware Valley in the late 1950's (the Bev-Del Branch) as the model for my layout, and used an old Employee Timetable to determine what would the maximum speeds for first generation diesels pulling passenger and freight consists.  The old timetables are a great source of information.

As someone else already noted, there are 110' in a 1:48 scale mile.  So, if you have 55' feet of track in a run and the train completes the run in 30 seconds, you are running at 60MPH, if you take 60 seconds to complete the run you are running at 30MPH.

Typically I run passenger consists at a scale 50MPH and freights at no more than 30MPH.

[rtraincollector]

overlandflyer

if there is any time i'd like to see trains run at (or less than) scale speeds it is when a video is being made.  so many times i've followed a pointer to a "take a look at my train" clip only to see a 3 minute blur showing little to no detail.

I've notice and kevin can contest to this a lot of time once you upload it to the photo host for some reason it speeds up the train more than it is really going.

[sarpilot]

Hey Dave,  Nice track plan! That is a heck of a lot of action packed into a 5x9. Well done!

R/STEVE