JAMES CRAFTI hadn't seen this topic before either,
Oh, yes, this topic has been going on for at least 50 years that I'm aware of. I remember going to a couple bars in my youth where the patrons would request the dancers to "get 'em going in both directions".
maxman What about a monorail? Don’t they run in one direction and circle the same place over and over again?
What about a monorail? Don’t they run in one direction and circle the same place over and over again?
DoughlessA railroad runs in both directions
Yep. I was really happy when I finally put my balloon track in, as it made it really easy to get things running in both directions.
They had a balloon track around the roundhouse in Vancouver to turn'em around or it would be a dip in the Pacific.
Though my trains run both CW and CCW on the same lap.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
maxmanWhat about a monorail? Don’t they run in one direction and circle the same place over and over again?
The only Monorails I have ridden are in Seattle and Walt Disney World Resort.
In Seattle, they go back and forth, at least on the route I rode.
In Walt Disney World, the original route goes in a loop from ther parking lot, to the Contemporary Hotel, to the Magic Kingdom, and then back to the parking lot.
Newer routes added in the resort can be loops or back and forth. All WDW monorail trains have control cabs at both ends.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
doctorwayne It's almost difficult to believe that this thread is still on-going, although it's at least wandered a bit into some more interesting conversations. I'm still wondering, though, who the heck runs their trains in only one direction? A railroad goes somewhere, then comes back from that place, not circles around to the same place over and over again. Wayne
It's almost difficult to believe that this thread is still on-going, although it's at least wandered a bit into some more interesting conversations.
I'm still wondering, though, who the heck runs their trains in only one direction? A railroad goes somewhere, then comes back from that place, not circles around to the same place over and over again.
Wayne
A railroad runs in both directions, but as you know, a freight train never runs back on the same track pulling the exact same string of cars......
An oval with a reversing loop is the same thing as an oval without a reversing loop, unless you run passenger trains.
- Douglas
On my first HO scale layout back in 2004, I modelled the C&NW, so I ran trains counter-clockwise on the outer main and clockwise on the inner main. I have retained that directional theme on my current layout even though the C&NW is not the main road name on my layout anymore.
Rich
Alton Junction
Although I had 2 loops on my last layout to both is the answer, as a child when I had one now I think about it it always went clockwise.
I do prefer to run both ways though from a wear point of view on my steam locomotives. Paranoia, aspbergers or good mechanical sense. Who knows.
SeeYou190I think people will be able to read a clock face for at least another generation or two.
And —
DIAL a phone.
Regards, Ed
BEAUSABRE we're raising a generation that may have never seen an analog clock face, just digital, and have no idea what we mean.
I have nothing but analog clocks in my house, I like to be able to see the passage of time, not just numbers changing on a display.
Through decades of kids coming over to our house... all of them could read a clock face and tell time.
I think people will be able to read a clock face for at least another generation or two.
Unless, you're modeling the Chicago and Northwestern, I'd run clockwise. C&NW would run widdershins, Ya know, we have a problem, we're raising a generation that may have never seen an analog clock face, just digital, and have no idea what we mean.
Wolf359The only exception to this would be my Shay, which I usually run counter-clockwise so I can see the Shay motor on the loco's right side when it runs past me.
Yup, no matter what your layout's track plan is, Shay Locomotives can only run facing one direction.
doctorwayne richhotrain ...Every layout that I have built includes a track arrangment to reverse the direction of trains and return them back where they came from.... Yeah, my first layout, a 4'x8', had an elevated crossover to effect a change of direction, and an inside loop to perform the same task. Perhaps that's why I never saw any appeal to NASCAR racing. Wayne
richhotrain ...Every layout that I have built includes a track arrangment to reverse the direction of trains and return them back where they came from....
Yeah, my first layout, a 4'x8', had an elevated crossover to effect a change of direction, and an inside loop to perform the same task.
Perhaps that's why I never saw any appeal to NASCAR racing.
That's why I used to love stock car racing so much. The stock cars ran CW and CWW simultaneously.
I usually run clockwise. I never really gave it any thought until now, but I guess I just like the way it looks from my perspective better than counter-clockwise. The only exception to this would be my Shay, which I usually run counter-clockwise so I can see the Shay motor on the loco's right side when it runs past me.
richhotrain...Every layout that I have built includes a track arrangment to reverse the direction of trains and return them back where they came from....
The trains should be able to run Eastbound for a while, then Westbound for a while.
Or you can say the trains are running Northbound, then have the next trains run Southbound.
Empty cars in one direction, loaded cars in the other direction.
Watch my videos on-line at https://www.youtube.com/user/AndrewNeilFalconer
Wayne, I think that is the difference betwen "toy" trains and "model" trains.
Ron
JAMES CRAFT Then I realized the point: For a double main, the westernmost (left-hand as you face north) track is traveled north and the easternmost (right-hand track as you face north) track is traveled south. I think that's right, although my brain is being damaged by thinking about how this would work for a train traveling north and then turning east: e.g., would the east-bound train have to switch from the left-hand to the right-hand rail?
Then I realized the point: For a double main, the westernmost (left-hand as you face north) track is traveled north and the easternmost (right-hand track as you face north) track is traveled south. I think that's right, although my brain is being damaged by thinking about how this would work for a train traveling north and then turning east: e.g., would the east-bound train have to switch from the left-hand to the right-hand rail?
If it's hurting your brain, you may be overthinking. (And you actually have the directions backwards.)
The convention for "double-track" (without CTC) was to have each track designated for travel in one direction only. Therefore if a line is considered to be an east-west line, one track will be "westward" and one track will be "eastward". The common convention was "right-hand running", which meant normal direction of travel was to be operating on the right hand track.
Just think of it as exactly the same as driving your car on any 2-lane street in North America not marked as "One Way". Drive in the right lane, not the left (oncoming traffic).
However Chicago & North Western was an exception to this, having some lines that were "left-hand running" with trains operating on the left-hand track (like driving in England).
If these tracks were signalled with [passive] ABS (automatic block signals), signals would only be provided in the direction of travel for each track.
There are very few examples remaining of these sorts of double track lines; most have been upgraded with full bi-directional CTC signalling on all tracks, and are now "2 [or more] main track" lines - which IS semantically different from "double track" as described above.
If a double track line crosses and/or joins with another line, switches and crossovers will be provided at the junction to accomodate whatever moves are necessary for trains to move from one line to another on the correct track. There were also be periodic crossovers between the tracks throughout any double track territory so trains can switch between tracks if required - there are/were rules to allow a train to run on the "wrong" track "against current of traffic" but required special orders from the dispatcher to all trains on that track in order to safely protect it.
Chris van der Heide
My Algoma Central Railway Modeling Blog
When i am using clockwork locos, I run them so that I can insert the winding key from the near side. In almost all cases that means locos face to the left, so on an oval they will run clockwise.
Mike
davidmurray richhotrain m sure some people thought that I was joking when I wrote that, but I was being sincere. With all due respect to Fred, how do you get a last name like Jolly From his father/grandfather/etc,
richhotrain m sure some people thought that I was joking when I wrote that, but I was being sincere. With all due respect to Fred, how do you get a last name like Jolly
From his father/grandfather/etc,
But, I'm guessing his forefathers used a much longer name like Jollczwksky and wound up having it shortened at Ellis Island which was often the case.
richhotrainm sure some people thought that I was joking when I wrote that, but I was being sincere. With all due respect to Fred, how do you get a last name like Jolly
SeeYou190 richhotrain I once worked with a guy named Fred Jolly. It would be interesting if Holly Molly married him - - - Holly Molly Jolly. That would be reported as as the Molly-Jolly wedding. You would probably have a bunch of ravers show up thinking it was a party, then the police would shut it down. -Kevin
richhotrain I once worked with a guy named Fred Jolly. It would be interesting if Holly Molly married him - - - Holly Molly Jolly.
That would be reported as as the Molly-Jolly wedding. You would probably have a bunch of ravers show up thinking it was a party, then the police would shut it down.
SPSOT fanStrangely, the layout my Grandpa has that I first ran model trains on usually runs couter clockwise too, because that is how the switches where arranged for the yard to be trailing point.
The only oval loop railroad I had was the first N scale layout I built in high school.
Now that I think about it, the inner loop always ran clockwise because of the direction of the tunouts in the yard. The outer loop just has a passing track. I usually had it set up with one train running each direction.
richhotrainI once worked with a guy named Fred Jolly. It would be interesting if Holly Molly married him - - - Holly Molly Jolly.
This is something I've never heard before!
Gulf Oil Should I occasionally reverse the direction so as not to place undue wear on the same outside wheels?
Should I occasionally reverse the direction so as not to place undue wear on the same outside wheels?
For me, as the OP mentioned, I switch directions ever so often to reduce the wear and tear on wheels, but also just for variety. Usually when I can the consist of my train or the locomotive or whatever, I'll flip direction just because.
Still, I think I naturally run the train counter clockwise... I have no idea why...
Strangely, the layout my Grandpa has that I first ran model trains on usually runs couter clockwise too, because that is how the switches where arranged for the yard to be trailing point.
Regards, Isaac
I model my railroad and you model yours! I model my way and you model yours!
However, if you follow sports or horse racing, it's counterclockwise! For some reason, when I exercise, I walk the track counterclockwise, and so do most of the other people there. I don't know why.
i think its mother nature same goes for when we are at store flea market etc ...people tend to stay to the right ( maybe because of how we drive)
a few years back when I was member of local YMCA they had indoor walking track...MWF Sun...one direction TuThSat the other
SeeYou190 richhotrain I once dated a girl named Holly Molly. I was involved with three girls in a row named Holly, and in Nashville I lived on Holly Street. My car had a Motorcraft carbeurator. -Kevin
richhotrain I once dated a girl named Holly Molly.
I was involved with three girls in a row named Holly, and in Nashville I lived on Holly Street.
My car had a Motorcraft carbeurator.