Real Speeds Today

[Anonymous]

Hello,
I asked the people over at MODEL railroading about scale speeds. Then I thought I'd come HERE and ask the guys that watch the "real deal" for a little help. Can anyone give me an idea of how fast todays trains travel. What's "top speed" for a freight on flat open ground...like in the mid-west? How fast do they go through more "urban" areas? See, I'm starting a hobby of modeling N scale and I'm wondering about observing "scale speed". So WHAT are the "real trains" doing these days?

[JoeKoh]

It depends how urban the area is.Around here CSX and NS trains normally go 60 mph on their mainlines.But if you have a work zone the train speeds are reduced.some urban areas the speeds are reduced to 40.
stay safe
Joe

[eolafan]

Here in the western suburbs of Chicago on the BNSF, the freights can go to about 60 to 65 and METRA or Amtrak can go up to about 70 or so. Jim

[wabash1]

NS frieght is allowed 50 mph and the intermodel is allowed 60 mph.

[Anonymous]

Alaska Railroad allows its trains to go up to 50 MPH on rare relatively straight stretches of tracks. But the terrain doesn't really allow the trains go too fast. Thru residential area of Anchorage train speed is limited to 20MPH for freight and 25MPH for passenger. Yard limits are 10 and 15.

[dehusman]

UP east-west main 70 mph.
Most other UP mains 60 mph

Then there are speed restrictions for the different equipment which varies from road to road. Look in the special instructions of an employee timetable. If you don't have one, search e-bay for employee timetable or ETT.

Dave H.

[dehusman]

Here is the link to the UP timetable pages on the public site. This should give you some info:

http://www.uprr.com/customers/timetable/

Dave H.

[heavyd]

Canadian Pacific Railway
60 mph for expedited- autoracks, intermodal
50 mph for non (fuel consumption) general merchandise
45 mph for any train with an empty gondola or bulkhead flat - safety, wind can derail cars
35 mph through designated populated areas with dangerous goods, safety
25 mph through same with special dangerous goods, safety
25 mph with a scale test, M.O.W. or snowplow equipment, safety

[RudyRockvilleMD]

The maximum allowable train speeds are set by the Federal Railroad Administration according to the class (quality) of track, the signaling available, and control features such as automatic train stop or cab signals. The railroads are allowed to set their own maximum track speeds within the limits set by the Federal Railroad Administration.

The maximum allowable passenger train speeds are higher than the maximum allowable freight train speeds on any given stretch of track. In general tracks which are used by Amtrak's passenger trains are maintained to Class IV standards which allows them to travel at 79 mph while freight trains on the same track are allowed to travel at 60 mph.

On the Northeast Corridor the maximum speed is as high as 135 mph in some spots.

[Anonymous]

It depends on the subdivision and the equipment being pulled and how it is loaded and placed in the train. I work on 5 subs and they range from 55-70 mph max freight speed, further restricted as I said by tonnage and equipment.
Ken

[mudchicken]

Rudy:

You still have portions of track out west protected by ATS inductors that allow Amtrak to get up to 90 MPH. Those stretches of track are getting fewer and far between as ATS inductors and shoes (found on the front truck of the lead passenger loco) go away. Freight locos typically do not have ATS shoes that I've ever seen.

Freight trains may be allowed in timetables to run up to 79, but most railroads have fuel conservation restrictions holding most trains to 65 or less dependent on the railroad. Freight railroads tend to also be more restictive on curve speeds than what FRA allows with its 3.5 inch unbalance. They usually calculate their speeds using a 1.75 inch to 2.5 inch unbalance to drop the speed figuring the center of gravity in a freight train is more erratic than a passenger train (think centripital force)....

Mudchicken

(everybody now keep an eye on Mookie, think she's getting a bit dizzy with the physics lesson)

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mudchicken

Rudy:

You still have portions of track out west protected by ATS inductors that allow Amtrak to get up to 90 MPH. Those stretches of track are getting fewer and far between as ATS inductors and shoes (found on the front truck of the lead passenger loco) go away. Freight locos typically do not have ATS shoes that I've ever seen.

Freight trains may be allowed in timetables to run up to 79, but most railroads have fuel conservation restrictions holding most trains to 65 or less dependent on the railroad. Freight railroads tend to also be more restictive on curve speeds than what FRA allows with its 3.5 inch unbalance. They usually calculate their speeds using a 1.75 inch to 2.5 inch unbalance to drop the speed figuring the center of gravity in a freight train is more erratic than a passenger train (think centripital force)....

Mudchicken

(everybody now keep an eye on Mookie, think she's getting a bit dizzy with the physics lesson)

Mookie's centripital gravity is unbalanced. But she is learning a new dance step - it's called a Libido!

[}:)]

Mookie