Model train speed table/chart

[jwar]

Is there a speed table for figuring out train speeds.

I know its just a time, distance and speed formula. I have done that and taught it in boating classes, but wondering if one is one available for HO scale speeds.

Thanks in advance...John

[johncolley]

Here's an easy approximation way if you are in HO. It is fortunate for our purposes that HO is 1/87th of the real thing. It just so happens that 60 mph = 88 feet per second. So if you pick a couple of objects ( or set a couple of piles of ties) on your layout that are 12" apart and you run it in 1 second = 60 scale mph, 2 seconds = 30 smph, 4 seconds = 15 smph, 6 seconds = 12 smph, 8 sec. = 7 1/2 smph,10 sec. = 6 smph, 12 sec. = 5 smph. After you do this a few times your eyes will tell you your approximate speed. Happy railroading!

[Don Gibson]

A super-simple way is 1 foot / second = 60 MPH.(HO) John has done it longhand.

There are Electronic timer's that will measure your train's speed in HO each time through a measured section of track. $34 comes to mind.

[dwRavenstar]

Here's a free speed calculator that may help:

http://www.mcr5.org/NMRA/articals/speed.htm

dwRavenstar

[canazar]

Thanks for the link to the table. That was pretty cool. I havea bridge that is about foot long. I got my times now so I can play Weed Weasel when my freinds come over to operate and make sure they arent speedin to make time

[icmr]

Im glad this came up because I have been wondering about this myself.



Victor

Happy Railroading.[swg][swg]

[jwar]

Thank you Gentelmen,,,some how I knew it would be simple..easy to remember...

Take Care...John

[Oakhurst Railroad Engineer]

I use these on my railroad.  I use a stopwatch to time how long it takes my HO scale locomotive to travel 3 ft (the length of a piece of flextrack) and I use the following graph:

My Oakhurst Railroad runs geared locomotives that I only want to go 5-15 scale mph.  If you want to go faster, this figure is rescaled to handle speeds up to 100 scale mph:

Other scales will be different.  Good luck and keep those speeds down.  Most of us aren't supposed to be running "bullet trains" ...

 

[Oakhurst Railroad Engineer]

I use these on my railroad.  I use a stopwatch to time how long it takes my HO scale locomotive to travel 3 ft (the length of a piece of flextrack) and I use the following graph:

 

I am reminded that some flextrack comes in 39 3/8" (1 meter) long  sections, which could throw off the speeds by about 10% ... recalculation is a mathematical exercise I'll leave to the student ... as well as adapting the calculations for different scales ...

[pcarrell]

[fsm1000]

ow that's cool. Gonna link to it on my site later. Thanks for the info :)

[Don Gibson]

IT IS nothing more than a measured distance and a stop watch. MPH or Feet per Second.

ALL WORK.

SIMPLE SIMON: 12 inch ruler X 1 second = 60 mph HO. 2 seconds = 30 mph. etc.

HONEST ABE: $30 - $40 buys you a digital readout,in-between speeds, + you'll be a big hit at a Club.