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tater1337
Little Six

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 Posted - October 16 2020 :  12:43:48 PM Link directly to this topic  Show Profile  Add tater1337 to Buddylist
while waiting for deliveries of train related stuff, I decided to do a little math, can someone check me on this?

trying to gauge safe speeds to run trains at



max train speeds via wiki https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_speed_limits_in_the_United_States


freight trains to 49 mph on track without block signal systems.
Passenger trains are limited to 59 mph
Trains without "an automatic cab signal, train stop, or train control system "may not exceed 79 mph."

mph = (mph*5280) fph = (fph/87.1 ) (ho)ftph = ((ho)ftph/60) fpm (I should simplify this, but I thought i'd show my process to get the numbers)

so on a circle loop (113.1")
49 mph = 258,720 fph = 2,970.3 (ho)ftph = 49 fpm (about 5.1 laps on circle per minute, or 11.7 seconds a lap)
59 mph = 311,520 fph = 3,576.5 (ho)ftph = 59.6 fpm (about 6.3 laps on circle per minute, or 9.5 seconds a lap)
79 mph = 417,120 fph = 4,788.9 (ho)ftph = 79.8 fpm (about 8.4 laps on circle per minute, or 7.1 seconds a lap)

are my numbers off? I figured I'd try timing myself to get an idea how scale speed should look, since it seems the biggest way to have derailments is to run too fast
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microbusss
Big Boy






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 Posted - October 16 2020 :  6:02:42 PM Link directly to this reply  Show Profile  Add microbusss to Buddylist
Class 10 - Ludicrious Speed! GO!!!
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scsshaggy
Big Boy


scsshaggy

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 Posted - October 16 2020 :  9:34:00 PM Link directly to this reply  Show Profile  Add scsshaggy to Buddylist
The numbers look right. An approximate rule of thumb is that an HO mile is just a fraction over 60 feet. That means the number of seconds to travel one foot is the number of minutes to travel a scale mile. That makes it fairly easy to gauge speed, even on a course of unknown length.

Anyway, a quick check of your figures puts your results very close to this rule of thumb.

Carpe Manana!
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Chops124
Big Boy





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 Posted - October 17 2020 :  04:03:16 AM Link directly to this reply  Show Profile  Add Chops124 to Buddylist
Most Tyco runs about 80 to 120 SMPH.
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RP model railroads
Big Boy



DOUBLE NICKEL55

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 Posted - October 17 2020 :  10:03:47 PM Link directly to this reply  Show Profile  Add RP model railroads to Buddylist
quote:
Most Tyco runs about 80 to 120 SMPH.

Originally posted by Chops124-October 17 2020: 04:03:16 AM



True that, Chops. Especially PowerTorques.

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