Martian Rail Link

[leighant]

How about the reverse of a model railroad representing another planet? How about a model railroad on a base on another planet to represent an earth railroad for the entertainment of astronauts?
I got to thinking about this several years ago because of the problem of scaling down momentum and gravity on our models. You can use a momentum throttle etc and run a train at scale speed but if a train turns over or if you have scale coal rumbling down a coal chute, etc, it falls at real speed instead of scale speed. It goes "plop" instead of "rrrrrrRRRRRRRRRROARRRRRrrrrrrrrkathunnnnnnnnnkkkkkk...."

Now on the moon, the gravity is 1/6 of earth's. The acceleration due to gravity is a second devirative of displacement.
So we square the gravitational proportion, 1/6 to get the corresponding lineral modeling scale, 1/36.
A model train in 1/36 scale (close to many G gauge models) would operate with scale momentum and gravitation effects on a model railroad located on the moon in a manner that would look correct to the astronaut-modeler. If that narrow gauge steamer plunged off a trestle, it would take a correct-appearing 2, 3 or 4 seconds to tumble to the bottom of the ravine instead of the inappropriate 1/2 second we see on terrestrial layouts (those built on earth).

Outdoor layouts may be a bit of a problem however.

[FJ and G]

Martian canals that criss-cross the planet would make an excellent ROW for hi-speed rail corridors; better claim it now before the highway folks do.

Dave Vergun

[RedLeader]

Mars surface is just to cold for pipes to carry any liquid (water, gas, oil, etc). Pipes would be used as some kind of vacuum transporters for powder iron ore to be sent from the mine to the furnace. The problem with gondolas is the dust. The surface of Mars is like walking over baby talc powder. Tank cars may be use for liquid transportation with some kind of heating device, sort of anti-reefers.

Some areas of the planet are constantly attacked by dust storms the size of NY, you'll definately need a dust remover MOW car for those buried tracks (I just can image Pyke's Model M Snow Clearing Machine all painted in a very worn away white finish, all covered with rusty dust cleaning the rails after a dust storm.)

Keep it realistic (please avoid green midgets or any purple poeple eaters). Since Mars would be a new fast growing colony, lots of heavy weight equipment would be used, like giant cranes, dozers and so. Imagine the kind of brisge you could model to cross one of those 3 mile wide canyons!!!

[FJ and G]

Red Leader,

Appropriate forum name for this topic!

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Since Mars has a thin atmosphere, can I assume that you can hear the train coming, whistle blowing?

[trainfan1221]

Don't we have enough problems on Earth?

[philnrunt]

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainfan1221

Don't we have enough problems on Earth?

All the more reason to go to Mars!
With few environmental regs,- and a ban on lawyers- you could have common sense solutions to problems- track sprayers to damp down the dust near the tracks,mountains of mine tailings scattered here and there, but the storms would be a problem. Thats where the Meterological section would come in, giving warnings to stock up on supplys due to an approaching storm. Then you run emergency extras to your outposts hoping to beat the weather.
You could have abandoned and storm-damaged rolling stock off the sdie of the tracks due to being just a tad slow.
As for the heavy equipment , you could detail them up just about any way you wanted, no one could say they were wrong, and you might even be able to use the Ertle stuff with scaled down cabs, 'cause terraforming a planet would need huge machines.
I would think that the lesser gravity would not make that much of a difference, a 200 ton loco would still be plenty heavy. Instead of ore jennies, you might be able to use wood chip cars due to the weight difference, but that would be modelers license.
I wonder what an Alco 251 would sound like ?!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by philnrunt

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainfan1221

Don't we have enough problems on Earth?

All the more reason to go to Mars!
With few environmental regs,- and a ban on lawyers- you could have common sense solutions to problems- track sprayers to damp down the dust near the tracks,mountains of mine tailings scattered here and there, but the storms would be a problem. Thats where the Meterological section would come in, giving warnings to stock up on supplys due to an approaching storm. Then you run emergency extras to your outposts hoping to beat the weather.
You could have abandoned and storm-damaged rolling stock off the sdie of the tracks due to being just a tad slow.
As for the heavy equipment , you could detail them up just about any way you wanted, no one could say they were wrong, and you might even be able to use the Ertle stuff with scaled down cabs, 'cause terraforming a planet would need huge machines.
I would think that the lesser gravity would not make that much of a difference, a 200 ton loco would still be plenty heavy. Instead of ore jennies, you might be able to use wood chip cars due to the weight difference, but that would be modelers license.
I wonder what an Alco 251 would sound like ?!

No environmental regulations? That's just briliant, if humans with your menataiy decided to occupy Mars our species will have two trashed planets on our hands.

[philnrunt]

Hmmmm, so you say if HUMANS with my mentality etc... why would you make a point to say HUMANS-sounds like we might have a MARTIAN SYMPATHIZER here, one of those alien troublemakers that helped to start the Mars First program back in 2525!
C'mon Scott218 (if that is your REAL name) what does it hurt if we humans mine your planet to the bedrock and replace it with our nuclear waste? We did it here and nobody is the worse off for it. The NFL was glad to have 5 handed receivers with eyes in the back of their heads. It will just give your planet a better redder glow. Hey, isn't that a song?
Yeah, I think it's a good idea too,Scott218! Good to have you on board![;)]

PS- if that winkingsmiley didn't come out, it was my first ever attempt to use one. I want to get as slick as lupo and the rest with them.

[FJ and G]

One way to spur growth of railroads on Mars would be to have a transcontinental race to circle the planet with a railroad; pitting 2 companies against each other with the promise of land grants. Then, the railroad could sell off land to real-estate speculators and soon, Martian colonies would be sprouting up all over the red planet.

Being a jingoist, I would claim the planet for the United States and make it our 51st state.

dave

[philnrunt]

Dave- great idea, unless you have a repeat of the Promontory fiasco and the RR's miss each other by a few yards and just keep building, encircling Mars with track from pole to pole!
"Sure we can get that intercooler to you, you're on the mainline."
" How long will it take?"
"Trains pulling out of the spaceport now, it should be there in about...six years."

[Anonymous]

this topic is so funny