Last year James May (from Top Gear fame) tried to run a model train 10 miles from Barnstaple to Bideford in Devon. Unfortunately he did not complete the chalenge. Now he is having another go and this time racing againt a German team from Miniature Wunderland.
You can watch the episode on BBC iplayer or there are some clips on YouTube
http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/b0120z75/
(iplayer may not work outside the UK)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9fjrmn1jy0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sM3vApgN4GQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71D7ph8_jdw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15m1frpSs8E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLoDgz_eEzE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aheCDOBtzz8
Enjoy
Paul
I'll have to watch this. My British wife introduced me to Top Gear recently. Looks like it may be a fun watch.
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Another Top Gear fan here that is very happy to see James May carry on with the Toy Stories. Thanks for posting the links. Hopefully the show will appear on BBC America before too long as well.
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Thanks for posting Paul! I just watched the whole series and it was the first time I smiled today. I would about bet the Scotsman had a can motor in it.
What do you think Simon? I believe you have one. Ten miles at full speed has to be hard on a 30 year old plus motor design.
Ken
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cudaken Thanks for posting Paul! I just watched the whole series and it was the first time I smiled today. I would about bet the Scotsman had a can motor in it.
Ken,
the Triang 'Scotsman' has a Ringfield 3-pole motor in it. Once they're run-in, they run forever, as long as you can find replacement carbon brushes every once in a while.
Jon
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Jon, sure did not make it the first time around. I was happy to see it make it with its Chuffing sound still working.
He was sure playing up on that 'realistic chuffing sound' wasn't he?
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That was the most outrages thing I've ever seen. I Loved it. Thanks for posting.
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I loved the original -- I'll be watching this one shortly.
He actually had the guys from Miniatur Wunderland helping him the last go-round!
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That was cool!
I think I injured my knee (slapping) & laughed too hard, from watching that little .020 or .049 engine have it's mishap. ROFL!
When he said in the first segment about the straightaway reaching a blistering speed of 2 MPH, I got to thinking that seems like of slow, until I did the math.. if an HO scale train can do 100 MPH (scale), that is really 1.14 MPH in real life. I had never thought about my GP-38's or Dash 9's like that.
I have to admit, that was one of the coolest things I have ever seen! 10 Miles! I cant event imagine. Beyond my wildest dreams.
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Time to steam the Scotsman up Captain Slow
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Top Gear season 11 eps 1 featured a race challeng based on what if it was 1947 instead of 2007. In it they raced the fastest car in the world then, the Jag XK120, the fastest bike, a Vincent Black Shadow and the Peppercorn steam engine recently built from scratch. It is one of the best races they have done in a long time.
Have fun with your trains
vsmith Top Gear season 11 eps 1 featured a race challeng based on what if it was 1947 instead of 2007. In it they raced the fastest car in the world then, the Jag XK120, the fastest bike, a Vincent Black Shadow and the Peppercorn steam engine recently built from scratch. It is one of the best races they have done in a long time.
Oh yeah, Race to the North with Tornado. I love that episode
canazar I have to admit, that was one of the coolest things I have ever seen! 10 Miles! I cant event imagine. Beyond my wildest dreams.
Although you have to remember that this was his SECOND shot at it. His first attempt involved 5 different locomotives. His Flying Scotsman (with realistic chuffing sound! ) died at the first turn the first time out. Each of the other four then died in its turn, with the last one -- a Triang Bullet Train Prototype -- dying at Instow, about 7 miles from the starting point.
Applying the lessons learned, it looks like only two trains failed to complete the journey: the Sauerkraut Special and the Hair Dryer Express. Even the German steam loco managed to limp in to the finish line. They didn't show it, especially, but I'll bet they had a lot of repair parts with them this time.
I've only had time to watch the first segment but that is hilarious! I don't know if it's the British humor or the idea of the whole thing. And here I wasn't going to read this thread!