Kyle I have seen a photo of the same tracks on railpictures.net before and it really is that bad. The locomotive was leaning over, kind of like a sailboat on a windy day. However as long as the train doesn't derail and gets to its destination, the track is still making money. Hopefully the customers don't expect fast service. The saying "there's a prototype for everything" is almost always true.
I have seen a photo of the same tracks on railpictures.net before and it really is that bad. The locomotive was leaning over, kind of like a sailboat on a windy day.
However as long as the train doesn't derail and gets to its destination, the track is still making money. Hopefully the customers don't expect fast service.
The saying "there's a prototype for everything" is almost always true.
Here's proof.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYHUTbyPUS0
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
I guess the point I was making was more in relation with my own layout. I've replaced about 2/3rds of the track and twinned it. I've used straight edges, levels, shims, ballast, you name it to get all the wobbles out. however there are still some and like some stains will never fully disappear! After watching this video I said to myself "loosen up" nothing is perfect! Yest I still have a bit more tweeking to do before I'm satisfied.
As said by B&O1952 "if the train doesn't derail, it's good."
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=5959
If one could roll back the hands of time... They would be waiting for the next train into the future. A. H. Francey 1921-2007
The MAW doesn't have an exclusive on bad track. I recall an 8mm movie shown by a clubmember on Okinawa 40 years ago of (I think) a Conrail train getting under way somewhere in the midwest. It looked like a WWII convoy passing the Ambrose Lightship in a nor'easter.
Needless to say, I model railroads prosperous enough to keep all track lined and leveled - at least, all through and frequently used track.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
riogrande5761 cacole It's not a case of the telephoto distortion making it look bad, it really is that bad when seen up close. I'm sure it is bad, but the telephoto shot does make it look worse - I've seen this effect more times than I can count in other photo's too. This is basic optics - all professional photographers are familiar with this effect.
cacole It's not a case of the telephoto distortion making it look bad, it really is that bad when seen up close.
I'm sure it is bad, but the telephoto shot does make it look worse - I've seen this effect more times than I can count in other photo's too. This is basic optics - all professional photographers are familiar with this effect.
Jim,I have seen the MAW track up close during a railfan visit..Its as bad as the video shows and in one area the the engine and cars leans to the right..I would not want to be a crew men on the former MAW.
When I was on the RR as a conductor and engineer, there were quite a few places with rough track. Some yards were like riding on the high seas! As far as my HO track work is concerned, my dad and I always went by the philosophy that if the train doesn't derail, it's good.
Looks like Strasburg RR track at the end of their season.
Dennis Blank Jr.
CEO,COO,CFO,CMO,Bossman,Slavedriver,Engineer,Trackforeman,Grunt. Birdsboro & Reading Railroad
Geez Steve I thought that engine was going to tip over !
I believe I'm addicted to these railroad videos! I have lately made a habit of just doing a search, I usually type in "railroad switching moves, videos" and it will bring up several great links that will show many, many railroad videos, from switching moves to fast freights to passenger trains to different derailments; you name it. I've seen all of the videos that have been mentioned here.
I don't know the link to it, but there's another, longer video on Youtube showing a former Illinois Central locomotive pulling the train, and some shots taken down the track from a distance.
This video has probably been posted before, but it's worth seeing again.
Steve S
riogrande5761all professional photographers are familiar with this effect.
Amateurs too! It's called "foreshortening".
I have the right to remain silent. By posting here I have given up that right and accept that anything I say can and will be used as evidence to critique me.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
The video goes to prove that you can drive a locomotive with your fingers crossed!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
I wish I had taken a video of a freight train I watched going through Niagara Falls, Ontario several years ago. The in-town track was wobbly but things weren't too bad as the engine ran through town at low speed. However, as the engine cleared the center of town and began to accelerate the cars that were still on the bad trackage at the top of Clifton Hill really started to rock back and forth. I said to my wife that we were rather stupid to be standing close to the tracks as the swaying got worse. Nothing happened of course, but I have to say that I was more than a little concerned watching the whole thing happen. The offending track has since been removed.
In all fairness, the new owners have put some money into the track and are working on it. But it'll probably never get above 10 mph unless there is a big upserge in business with the corresponding revenue to rebuild the track to higher standards.
Yes, this was part of the original Wabash RR mainline btw Toledo and St. Louis, built in the 1850s, that killed the canal boats. But, believe it or not, Wabash passenger trains Nos. 12 and 13 ran on this line btw Fort Wayne and Toledo to connect with St. Louis-Detroit trains at Fort Wayne into the late 1950s. The old Wabash 5th District btw Fort Wayne and Toledo would be fun to model, especially the Defiance area with its old factory buildings and ancient, weight restricted multi-span thru truss bridge over the Maumee River (still there).
Victor A. Baird
www.erstwhilepublications.com
bogp40The rolling stock looked awesome wobbling about, however the small steam would stall and derail. Don't try this, please continue to strive for decent track laying. Our locos rely on electrical PU, as well as some quite finicky pieces derailing on otherwise decent track.
I used a jewelers hammer and place dents in a section of flex track on one of my former ISLs and at slow restricted scale speed I had no issues.
Looked pretty good as the train bobbed and weaved over this section..
The rolling stock doesn't look much better either, The graffiti paint may be holding some of them together.
We had a club member attempt something similar to this, (no where to this extreme), on part of the HOn3 portion of the layout. The rolling stock looked awesome wobbling about, however the small steam would stall and derail. Don't try this, please continue to strive for decent track laying. Our locos rely on electrical PU, as well as some quite finicky pieces derailing on otherwise decent track.
Modeling B&O- Chessie Bob K. www.ssmrc.org
There are videos on Youtube of this train, the Maumee and Western (MAW), creeping along at idle speed of the locomotive. It's not a case of the telephoto distortion making it look bad, it really is that bad when seen up close.
I don't understand why the FRA hasn't revoked their operating permit.
No doubt, but none the less the track is deplorable condition and looks very spongy to me. If you were going to model this I think you'ld actually have to use some sponge as ballast. Wonder if its been done before?
It looks alot worse than it is due to the effects of a long telephoto lense compressing the distance and greatly emphasizing the irregularities. Call it special effects of photography.
http://trainfanatics.com/the-worst-tracks-ever-seen/?a=kb&var=TheWorstTracksWeHaveEverSeen-BOOST
Shook my head in disbelief.