Comments on: How Fast Should Trains Run? https://blog.model-train-help.com/2014/05/how-fast-should-trains-run.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-fast-should-trains-run Model railroads and model trains Thu, 29 May 2014 02:56:58 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: David Broad https://blog.model-train-help.com/2014/05/how-fast-should-trains-run.html#comment-5687 Thu, 29 May 2014 02:56:58 +0000 http://blog.model-train-help.com/?p=3160#comment-5687 This works for HO to within 2% but the flaw if there is one is accurately measuring the time it takes a train to run 3ft. Doubling the length halves the error caused by delay in clicking the stop watch but it does really need to be a straight and that gets complicated as you have to move viewpoint as the train runs.
I suggest measuring the train maybe a piece of masking tape showing 3ft (or 6) from the front of the train, and timing the train as it passes a fixed point.
I have posted elsewhere about measuring wagons, If you model pre 1970s UK standard British Railways 10ft wheelbase wagons are close to 20 feet long when coupled together, 22 of them are 440 feet which is 1/12th of a mile so will take 1/ 12th of a minute or 5 sec to pass at 60 mph, 10 sec at 30mph, 15 sec at 20 mph. This applies to all scales to main variable being coupling types, big ugly couplers can make 10% difference, At lower speeds halving the train to 11 wagons gives 5 sec for 30 mph and 10 sec for 15mph. I use this to measure the speed of full size trains from video footage as it is a fixed ration which remains largely constant irrespective of scale.

]]> By: shaun https://blog.model-train-help.com/2014/05/how-fast-should-trains-run.html#comment-5658 Fri, 23 May 2014 00:35:00 +0000 http://blog.model-train-help.com/?p=3160#comment-5658 Thank you very much for the speed info, it will be very handy when my N scale layout is completed

Regards
Shaun NZ

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