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Why Locomotives Require A Long Distance To Brake At Signals On A Model Train Layout
by Mike S
Friends watching your model railway layout may possibly be wondering why your train slowed to stop at signals.
All right, here is the perfect answer to give them...
Railroad signals serve a similar objective as the traffic lights for automobiles on the roadways. In reality, highway signals were developed based on the railroad signals, not vice versa.
On a road an amber signal appears before a red light as a warning to prepare to stop. On streets, orange signals can be timed depending on numerous factors as the quantity of traffic and the current speed on the area of road. The braking distances for vehicles will be factored into the timing for the orange signal before it turns red.
Not like trains, road vehicles and trucks don't call for much space to stop. A car weighs about 3,500 pounds or 1.75 Tons. The other difference is that cars and trucks can swerve to evade a crash. That's why the orange warning signals on roads are sited on the same signal set as the red danger signal.
Locomotives, however, are big and need considerable time and distance to stop. The standard coal train has six power units of two hundred tons each, and 115 cars of 120 tons each. The weight of the train is 15,000 tons. Trains may possibly need from half a mile, to a mile and a half to come to a total stop.
Here is an example of a train in use at 55mph hitting a motionless sedan.Multiply 55 (the train speed) by 15,000 which equates to 825,000. After that divide this by the weight of the auto and train jointly. After impact the train is still moving at 54.9936 Mph.
This is why, trains require a warning signal well ahead of the point where they should stop. This is one of the largest differences between the train signals and road signals.
So now you have the textbook answer to give to visitors when they ask why you brake locomotives when approaching signals on your model railroad layout.
I'm sure your visitors will have a lot more questions around your model railroad layout. Discovering this pastime for the first time is akin to entering a entirely different world. Stuff that most model railroaders take for granted are foreign to the average person. Imagine if you weren't occupied in the hobby and someone began chatting about scratchbuilding, modules, gauges, DCC, reefer and the like. You would almost certainly have a empty look on your face.
So, my advice is not to bamboozle your visitors with a lot of technical jargon that could dishearten them. Maybe demonstrate the signals in action, or show them how you designed those magnificent mountains. If they are especially receptive after that possibly you could start getting a little technical.
The point I am making is simple; we all know more than we assume we do on this subject. It's just when strangers begin asking questions that we understand how much we really know.
About the Author
Mike suggests you join an online model train club like modeltrainclub.org as it has useful resources for both newbie and experienced model railroader.
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Modified signals for use on Lionel fast track since conventional signals do not work with this newer track system.
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